Game #45
Lindenwood (22-22, 9-8 OVC)
Vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (30-13, 12-6 MVC)
 
Game Information
Date: Tuesday, April 29
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Venue: Itchy Jones Stadium  
Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
All-Time Series: Southern Illinois leads 4-0
Last Meeting: April 1, 2025, Southern Illinois, 3-0
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
On-Tap
The Lions conclude an Illinois road trip with a midweek matchup with Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill. Lindenwood is coming off a series win against Western Illinois last weekend, taking two out of three from the Leathernecks. The Black and Gold now sit an 9-8 in conference play, good for fifth place.

Lindenwood's pitching was fantastic all weekend long with Josh Newell, Ethan Smith, and Eli Brown all picking up quality starts. For Newell, it was his fifth consecutive outing with at least six innings pitched and giving up three earned runs or less. Smith went 7.2 innings, while giving up just one run and striking out eight. Newell went on to earn OVC Pitcher of the Week recognition.

These two teams met earlier this season with the Salukis picking up a 3-0 win on April 1. SIU enters the matchup with a record of 30-13, including a 12-6 mark inside conference play. They have gone 19-7 at home
 
OVC Preseason Poll
The Ohio Valley Conference released their 2025 Preseason Baseball Poll as voted on by the OVC head baseball coaches and communications directors. Southeast Missouri State was picked as the preseason favorite heading into the year.
 
The Redhawks picked up 13 of 20 first-place votes and 157 points in being picked first, ahead of Little Rock, who earned five first-place votes and 144 points. Tennessee Tech was tabbed third (118) while Morehead State earned one first-place vote and finished fourth (107). Eastern Illinois was predicted fifth (92) while SIUE earned the final first-place vote and was tabbed sixth (89). The poll was rounded out by UT Martin (69), Southern Indiana (57), Lindenwood (45) and Western Illinois (22).
 
2025 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Kam Edwards (.356)
Hits: Kam Edwards (58)
RBI: Sam Grunberg (38)
ERA: Bennett Stice (2.35)
Strikeouts: Eli Brown (54)
 
Head Coach PJ Finigan
PJ Finigan will begin his third season on the Lindenwood baseball staff in 2025, and his second as head coach.
 
In his first year at the helm of the program, the Lions won 16 games, including nine inside the Ohio Valley Conference. Josh Newell was tabbed conference pitcher of the week once during the season, while Dawson Hokuf went on to earn second team All-OVC honors. Hokuf finished the 2024 season hitting .344, and led the team in home runs (6) and RBI's (33). Lindenwood was active on the base paths this season as the Lions led the OVC with 99 stolen bases. Five players finished the year with double digit steals.
 
Under the direction of Finigan, Joe Copeland and Easton Rakers earned all-conference honors. Copeland garnered second-team recognition as a utility player after hitting .333. Rakers landed on the all-newcomer team as he was the best arm out of the pen for Lindenwood, posting a 3.31 ERA in 20 appearances. Preston Salazar was tabbed OVC Pitcher of the Week one time during the year after tossing a complete game five-hitter against Tennessee Tech on April 6.
 
Up Next
The Lions return home for a three-game series with Morehead State, beginning on Friday at 5:00 p.m.