Southern Travels to Cape Girardeau for Midweek Matchup with Rival SEMO

Tuesday, April 21

Cape Girardeau, MO

6 PM

Southern Illinois University

SEMO

Jackson Dibble puts a ball in play during SIU's 6-2 win over Bradley Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Peoria, Ill.

Photo by: Jordan Kruse

Southern Travels to Cape Girardeau for Midweek Matchup with Rival SEMO

04/20/2026 | 5:35:00 | Baseball

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois baseball aims for revenge as it travels to SEMO for a midweek matchup Tuesday night in Cape Girardeau.

FOLLOW THE GAME

Tuesday — 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch

THE PROBABLE STARTERS

Gio De Grauuw (0-1, 4.32 ERA) vs. TBA

AROUND THE HORN

The Salukis earned their first sweep of the 2026 season with three wins against Bradley over the weekend. They scored 10 runs Friday and 13 Sunday, the first time they had scored in double digits multiple times in a set.
Troy Shepard delivered his best performance of the 2026 season in Saturday's 6-2 victory over Bradley. The Washington State transfer tallied a Division I career-high 12 strikeouts and carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, officially ending with just one hit allowed through eight full innings pitched. The southpaw is tied for third in the Missouri Valley Conference with 56 strikeouts, second in opponent batting average (.198) and ranks fourth in strikeouts per nine (9.45) and WHIP (1.18).
Cecil Lofton slashed .467/.619/.800 during Southern Illinois' 3-1 week, which included a sweep of Bradley, the team's first of the 2026 season. The Resaca, Ga., native had three extra-base hits and six RBIs, including a grand slam in Friday's 10-1 win over the Braves. Lofton is tied for the SIU lead with six home runs on the season, and leads the Missouri Valley Conference with six sacrifice flies. He ranks 10th among hitters with a .350 batting average in league play.
SIU hit a school-record 113 home runs last season, with a large portion of that power returning, led by Michael Mylott and Gabe Petrucelli. The pitching staff also brings back experience, including weekend starter Meade Johnson and reliever Dylan Petrey, while several newcomers are expected to play key positions early in the season.
Consistent with previous seasons under Rhodes, the Salukis have over 20 new pieces as the season begins. The roster consists of 13 seniors, 15 juniors, three sophomores, and just two freshmen.

RHODES AT THE HELM

Lance Rhodes is in his seventh season as head coach, guiding SIU to back-to-back 40-win seasons for the first time in program history (2021 & 2022). He owns a 212-138 record at SIU, reaching the 200-win mark in a March 3 victory over North Dakota State.

THE MATCHUP

Southern Illinois (16-22, 7-5 MVC) vs. SEMO (28-12, 10-5 OVC)
Common non-conference opponents: Illinois State, Miami (OH), UT Martin, Lindenwood (SEMO: 8-5, SIU: 2-5)
SIU leads the all-time series 62-34-1, but SEMO took this season's first matchup 6-5 on April 7.
The Redhawks took two of three at Tennessee Tech over the weekend.
SEMO is a strong offensive team, near the top of the Ohio Valley Conference in several offensive categories, leading the league with 187 walks taken and a .413 on-base percentage.
The Redhawks are the best defensive team in the OVC and third in the nation with a .986 fielding percentage.
The pitching staff has been solid, tied for the Ohio Valley lead in saves (13) and has allowed the fewest walks (114) while leading the league in strikeouts (339).
Dakota Joggerst leads SEMO batting .361, and Cal Sullivan paces them with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs.

MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

Southern Illinois was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. Murray State was selected as the conference favorite, followed by SIU, UIC, Illinois State, and Indiana State.

Six Salukis were named to the MVC Players to Watch list:

Simay led SIU with a .351 batting average last season, while Petrey was a key arm out of the bullpen and earned All-MVC Honorable Mention honors.

The Salukis have an experienced roster, including only a handful of underclassmen, and rely heavily on leadership with experience in the Saluki Baseball program.

IN THE BATTER'S BOX

Southern Illinois returns big offensive production from last season's lineup, including several of the team's top run producers and power hitters. Petrucelli and Mylott headline a group that helped set the program's single-season home run record.
The Salukis are 32nd in the nation with 22 sacrifice flies.

ON THE MOUND

SIU brings back key arms to anchor the pitching staff, including Meade Johnson and Dylan Petrey. The Salukis have also added several transfers, including Andrew Evans, who has been the Friday starter this season. The Kansas State transfer features a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s with multiple wipeout pitches and has been one of The Valley's best arms early on.
The Salukis are currently second in The Valley with a 5.32 team ERA and lead the league in opponent batting average at .244, allowing the fewest hits per nine (8.06, 39th in NCAA) and leading the MVC in Ks per nine.
The bullpen has collected eight saves, tied for second in the conference.

HISTORIC 2025 OFFENSE

SIU ranked 25th nationally and second in the MVC with 500 runs scored in 2025, and led the league with 8.8 runs per game.
The Salukis were 42nd nationally with 603 hits.
SIU ranked 10th nationally and first in the MVC with 113 home runs.
Southern ranks sixth nationally and led the MVC with a .555 slugging percentage.
The Salukis were tied for 30th nationally and tied for second in the MVC with 124 doubles.
SIU was second in the MVC and ranked 28th nationally with 17 triples.
The Salukis were tied for 24th nationally and led the MVC with 33 sacrifice flies.
SIU was second in the MVC with 81 stolen bases.
The staff posted five shutouts, tied for 21st nationally and second in the MVC, and boasted 12 saves.

LEAD DAWGS

Kye Watson was the top Saluki hitter in the opening series at Oral Roberts. The freshman from Lititz, Pa., went 5-for-11 at the plate and hit two solo homers in his debut series for Southern. The Coastal Carolina transfer leads SIU batting .308, and has two triples on the season, tied for eighth in the MVC.
Julio Guerrero is tied for the MVC lead with 17 stolen bases and is tied for the SIU lead with six home runs. His recent surge has him ranked in The Valley's top 10 of slugging percentage (.571, 7th), hit-by-pitches (9, T-10th), and sacrifice flies (3, T-10th).
Cecil Lofton leads the MVC with six sacrifice flies and is tied for the team lead with six home runs. Jaden Flores is tied for 10th with three sac flies and tied for the MVC lead with five sacrifice bunts.
Kristian Sprawling has been a baseball magnet, taking 15 hit-by-pitches in 75 at-bats.
Andrew Evans is second in The Valley and tied for 17th in the nation in ERA (1.81) and has 69 strikeouts, leading in the MVC. He also sports the league's third-best opponent batting average at .201, and the best WHIP (1.04) among qualified pitchers.
Troy Shepard is second in the league with an opponent batting average of .198, eighth with a 4.05 ERA, fourth with a 1.18 WHIP, and tied for third with 56 strikeouts.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Baseball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiBaseball, and on Instagram at @SIU_Baseball. Fans can also download the Salukis Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.