Southern Illinois University announced on May 4 that the scheduled midweek baseball game between the Southern Illinois Salukis and Bellarmine has been canceled because of impending weather. The university said the contest will not be rescheduled.
The cancellation comes as both teams prepare for a key weekend series at Belmont starting Friday, May 8. Southern Illinois and Belmont are currently tied for sixth place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with identical records of 9-9. The outcome of their upcoming games is expected to determine which team secures the final spot in this season’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, as only the top six teams will qualify.
The Southern Illinois Salukis baseball 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 features artificial turf and a state-of-the-art video board to support the team’s activities according to the official website. Approximately 39 student-athletes make up this year’s roster according to the official website.
Richard ‘Itchy’ Jones led Southern Illinois during his tenure as head coach, guiding them to ten NCAA Tournament appearances and three College World Series berths according to the official website. In recognition of his contributions, his uniform number was retired by the program according to the official website. Overall, Southern Illinois has recorded five College World Series appearances and fourteen NCAA Tournament appearances throughout its history according to the official website.
Beyond competition, Southern Illinois Salukis baseball promotes community engagement through its role within university athletics according to the official website.
As preparations begin for their next series against Belmont, fans can follow updates about Saluki Baseball on Twitter (@SIU_Baseball), Facebook (Facebook.com/SalukiBaseball), Instagram (@SIU_Baseball), or through downloading their mobile app.
