Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's baseball team is set to face Arkansas State in a midweek game at Itchy Jones Stadium. The game is scheduled for Tuesday in Carbondale at 6 p.m. The Southern Illinois Salukis are seeking to bolster their record, currently standing at 24-11 overall and 7-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Last weekend, the team experienced a setback against Indiana State, losing two out of three matches. Despite this, they remain strong contenders as reflected by their statistics. "Southern is 17-0 this season when leading after six innings," a spokesperson noted.

The Salukis enter the matchup with significant offensive credibility, boasting seven players with .300+ batting averages and leading their conference with 304 runs distributed evenly over each game so far this season. As it stands, the Salukis have scored 10+ runs in 13 of their games already, maintaining a ranking of 17th nationwide for home runs and 23rd nationally in slugging percentage. The team has been particularly effective late in games, with a combined score of 115-65 over the last three innings.

Southern Illinois' pitching staff also looks promising. According to statements from the baseball team, Alec Nigut stands out with a 3.07 ERA, while Sam Frizzi holds a 2.33 ERA with five saves in 13 appearances. This performance could prove effective against Arkansas State, which holds a 16-19 overall record and 7-8 in Sun Belt Conference play. Arkansas State’s line-up is led by Ashton Quiller, hitting .318 and Jake Henry Williams, who leads the team with four home runs.

The match will add to the history between these teams, with Southern Illinois currently leading the all-time series 55-27. The Salukis have previously defeated the Red Wolves 7-5 in a game on February 25. "The Salukis will look to sweep the season series after a 7-5 win over the Red Wolves on February 25," the team stated.

Expectations are high as Southern Illinois was predicted to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason/Midseason Poll. "Southern Illinois was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason/Midseason Poll," a representative from the MVC announced. Southern Illinois University's veteran coach Lance Rhodes continues at the helm, with a noteworthy record and expectations to keep the team competitive throughout the season.