Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's baseball team is set to begin its Missouri Valley Conference play against the University of Illinois Chicago this weekend at Itchy Jones Stadium. The series has been adjusted to accommodate potential weather issues, with a game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.

Fans can watch the games on ESPN Plus with commentary from Luke Martin and Mike Trude or follow live updates via Twitter @SIU_Baseball.

The probable starters for Southern Illinois include Jackson Payne, Meade Johnson, and an undecided pitcher for the third game. UIC will counter with Dillon Schueler, Tommy Egan, and Brandon Bak.

UIC comes into the series with a 3-16 record, having played most of their games on the road. Their leading hitter is Luke Nowak, boasting a .366 average. On the mound, Tommy Egan leads with a 2.51 ERA over 14.1 innings.

In previous matchups between these teams since UIC joined the MVC, each has won three games apiece at their respective home fields.

Southern Illinois was picked to finish second in the MVC Preseason/Midseason Poll announced on March 17. Key players like Jaxon Holder and Alec Nigut have been recognized as Preseason All-MVC selections.

The Salukis have shown power at bat this season with 32 home runs and lead in several offensive categories within their conference. They also demonstrate strength in pitching with notable performances from Alec Nigut and Sam Frizzi.

Head coach Lance Rhodes is in his sixth season, having led SIU to significant achievements including back-to-back 40-win seasons in recent years.

For more updates on Southern Illinois baseball, fans are encouraged to follow their social media accounts or download the "Salukis" Mobile App.