Southern Illinois University’s baseball team will play a three-game road series against Evansville starting Friday, April 9. The Salukis aim to build momentum in Missouri Valley Conference play after taking two of three games from Illinois State last weekend and narrowly losing a midweek contest to Southeast Missouri State.
The matchup is important for both teams as they look to improve their standings within the conference. Southern Illinois enters the series with a 12-19 overall record and a 3-3 mark in conference games, while Evansville stands at 11-19 overall and 4-2 in league play.
Andrew Evans, who was recently named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season, is expected to start Friday’s opener. “In the midst of an already spectacular season, Andrew Evans put together his best performance of the 2026 campaign in Southern Illinois’ 4-3 win over Illinois State Friday night,” according to a team statement. The right-hander leads The Valley with 50 strikeouts and holds a 1.47 earned run average, which ranks second in the conference and thirteenth nationally.
The Salukis return several key players from last year’s lineup that set school records for home runs and offensive production. Michael Mylott and Gabe Petrucelli are among those leading hitters back this season. On the mound, experienced arms such as Meade Johnson and Dylan Petrey anchor a pitching staff that has posted solid numbers so far.
Head coach Lance Rhodes is now in his seventh season at SIU, having guided the program to back-to-back forty-win seasons for the first time ever during his tenure. Rhodes reached his two-hundredth win with SIU earlier this year.
Looking ahead, Southern Illinois was picked second in this year’s Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll behind Murray State. Six Saluki players were also named MVC Players to Watch before opening day.
