Southern Illinois University announced on Apr. 27 that the start time for its non-conference baseball game against Lindenwood has been moved up from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. due to forecasts of severe weather Tuesday night in St. Charles, Missouri.
The schedule change is intended to ensure the safety of players and fans as potential storms are expected later in the evening. The matchup will feature Southern Illinois, currently holding a record of 17-25 overall and 8-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play, against Lindenwood, which stands at 24-19 overall and 10-8 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Southern Illinois recently dropped two out of three games against Murray State and sits fifth in the conference standings. Key contributors for SIU include Charlie Miller, who has not allowed a run over his last nine and two-thirds innings pitched, Gabe Petrucelli with strong offensive numbers last week including a home run and a key double, and Julio Guerrero who returned to the starting lineup with four runs batted in during Saturday’s win over Murray State.
The Salukis’ roster features approximately 39 student-athletes according to the official website. The program participates in NCAA Division I within the Missouri Valley Conference and hosts its home games at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. The stadium is equipped with artificial turf and a state-of-the-art video board according to the official website.
Richard ‘Itchy’ Jones led Southern Illinois baseball to ten NCAA Tournament appearances and three College World Series berths during his tenure according to the official website. In recognition of his contributions, Jones’s uniform number was retired by the program according to the official website. Overall, Southern Illinois has recorded five College World Series appearances as well as fourteen NCAA Tournament berths according to the official website.
The program also promotes community engagement through its role within Southern Illinois University athletics according to the official website. As both teams prepare for Tuesday’s adjusted contest time—subject further changes depending on weather—fans can follow updates through Saluki Baseball’s social media channels.
