Baseball Travels to Southern Illinois

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont (16-23, 6-6 MVC) travels to Southern Illinois (24-12, 7-5 MVC) for a three-game MVC series April 17-18. The Bruins – having won their last two MVC series against Indiana State and Bradley – look to extend their series win streak to three against the Salukis. All games from Itchy Jones Stadium will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can listen to Rich Tiner on Belmont Bruins Radio.
 
Series Schedule
Thursday, April 17 – 6 p.m.
Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Probable Pitchers
Belmont: RHP Zane Brown (1-4, 10.12 ERA)
Southern Illinois: RHP Tyler Timmerman (5-2, 2.55 ERA)
 
Friday, April 18 (DH) – 12 p.m. / 3:30 p.m.
Game 1: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Probable Pitchers
Belmont: RHP Joe Ruzicka (3-1, 3.65 ERA)
Southern Illinois: Alec Nigut (6-1, 3.07 ERA)
 
Game 2: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Probable Pitchers
Belmont: RHP Jake Timbes (2-3, 5.91 ERA)
Southern Illinois: RHP Meade Johnson (0-2, 5.65 ERA)
 
Bruin Bullets

• Pete Daniel recorded his fifth three-hit game of the season Tuesday against Middle Tennessee. The sophomore leads the MVC with 58 hits and ranks second with a .392 batting average. Daniel owns a .417/.472/.625 slash line in 12 conference games.
• Belmont leads the MVC with 80 stolen bases. Three Bruins rank top 10 in the conference: Daniel (19, 2^nd), Charlie Davis (17, 3^rd) and Blake Barton (11, 6^th).
• Mike Sprockett leads the team with nine home runs.
• In the last 10 games, Michael Lareau owns a .400 batting average, with 12 hits and eight RBIs. Lareau carries a season-high seven-game hit streak and 10-game on-base streak into the series.
• Landon Godsey continues to thrive in conference play. Godsey owns a .357 batting average, seven extra-base hits, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 12 conference games. He leads the team with a .543 slugging percentage this seaosn.
• Joe Ruzicka was named the MVC Pitcher of the Week for April 14. Ruzicka improved to 3-1 and 2-0 in MVC play. Ruzicka struck out eight Braves, just one off his career-high tied in his last start against Indiana State on April 5. The right-hander faced 25 batters and issued just two walks and one hit. Ruzicka has thrown 14 scoreless innings in his last two starts, with 17 strikeouts, and has allowed just three hits. The junior right-handed pitcher leads the MVC in opponent batting average (.199), ranks fifth in ERA (3.65), sixth in innings pitched (44.1) and tenth in strikeouts (43).
• Jake Timbes recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts against Bradley on April 12.

Scouting Report: Southern Illinois Salukis

• Southern Illinois enters the weekend series at 24-12 overall and 7-5 in Missouri Valley play.
• SIU pitching ranks second in the MVC with a 5.74 ERA.
• Six Salukis have recorded nine or more multi-hit games, led by Matt Schark with 15 multi-hit games, including five three-hit outings.

Matchup History

• Belmont is 6-13 against Southern Illinois.
• Southern Illinois has won the last four games and swept the Bruins last season in Nashville.
• Belmont's last win at Itchy Jones Stadium was on April 18, 2017.

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