Life in the Valley

SIU downs Texas-Rio Grande Valley for 1st Win of ’25

While having college baseball back as our companion until late June is wonderful, results haven’t really been friendly to Missouri Valley Conference teams so far on this opening weekend. And it’s understandable. It’s not like MVC teams get to play at home this early in the season, and the competition – like Bradley visiting SEC foe Alabama, and Missouri State going on the road to play a traditionally strong mid-major in Sam Houston – is difficult.

After a 4-11 Friday on Opening Day, the Valley went 1-4 on Saturday in a reduced schedule due to postponements and rescheduling because of expected, perceived, and actual bad weather. Illinois State, who dropped 2 at Western Kentucky on Friday, saw the rest of its 4-game opening series canceled and as of Saturday afternoon, no plans were announced to make the games up.

Of the teams in action, Southern Illinois was the lone squad to pick up a win, earning its first victory of the new season by defeating UT-Rio Grande Valley, 7-2. Up 1-0 after 4 innings, the Salukis posted 4 runs in the top of the 5th inning to break the game open. SIU got its runs on a double, walk, sac fly, and a fielder’s choice. Michael Mylott scored on Cecil Lofton’s double. Mylott went 3-for-4 and is 4-for-7 through the first 2 games with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Lofton, a transfer from Bryan College, got his first career SIU hit with the RBI double.

Alec Nigut had a stellar performance on the mound for Southern Illinois, throwing 5 innings of no-hit ball on 80 pitches to allow his offense to build a lead. Nigut walked 2 and struck out 6, facing 1 batter more than the minimum. Gavan Wernsing and Sam Frizzi worked the final 4 innings to secure the win. Nigut, in his second season in Carbondale, probably had his best outing here. Last season, he gave up 3 hits in 8 2/3 innings with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks in a 2-1 win at Lindenwood in a Tuesday start. Moving up to the weekend rotation doesn’t seem to be too big a challenge for Nigut if Saturday’s outing is any indication, which is good news for the Salukis.

Southern Illinois and UT-Rio Grande Valley will conclude their series Sunday afternoon.

Charleston Southern 15, UIC 14: One day after picking up only 1 run and 3 hits in a 9-1 loss to The Citadel on Friday, the Flames found their offensive groove Saturday in Charleston, S.C. on Saturday, but fell to Charleston Southern in a slugfest, 15-14. The Flames (0-2) didn’t go down without a fight, scoring 4 runs in the 9th inning while trying to rally from a 15-10 deficit. Pinch-hitter Jack Snyder’s grand slam delivered all the runs, but the Flames were unable to draw level. UIC trailed 11-3 after CSU scored 4 runs in the 2nd and 7 more in the 3rd. But along with Snyder’s slam, the Flames hit 4 other homers, off the bats of Luke Nowak, Jackson Bessette, Pambos Nicoloudes, and Colin Husko. On the mound, Payten Jibben pitched the final 3 innings, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits to keep the Flames in the game.

UIC will stay in Charleston for a couple more days, playing Charleston Southern again on Sunday before a rematch with The Citadel on Monday afternoon. The road doesn’t get any easier after that, as the Flames visit Georgia for 4 games next weekend.

Alabama 19, Bradley 3: The Crimson Tide scored 3 in the 1st inning to take the lead than added 11 combined runs in the 3rd and 4th innings to blow the game open and cruise to a 19-3 win in Tuscaloosa. The Braves (0-2) got their runs thanks to C.J. Trask’s solo homer in the 6th and a 2-run single from Ashton Horchem in the 8th. Alabama pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts while Bradley’s mound men walked 13 (with 7 strikeouts). The teams will play again Sunday in the series finale.

Sam Houston 13, Missouri State 4: A day after the Missouri State Bears racked up 8 doubles and 11 extra-base hits in an 11-6, season-opening win at Sam Houston, the Bearkats extracted revenge Saturday, downing the Bears, 13-4. Missouri State led, 2-0, after 1 thanks to a 2-run single by Zack Stewart. But Sam Houston scored the next 6 runs and led the rest of the way. Missouri State (1-1) was held to just 4 hits (Dylan Robertson homered), while the Bearkats (1-1) had 13, including a double and homer from Hunter Autrey among 5 extra-base hits. Autrey also stole a base and was hit by a pitch. The teams will wrap their 3-game series Sunday afternoon.

Georgia State 6, Belmont 4: The Bruins (0-2) outhit Georgia State, 12-6, but lost 6-4 Saturday. Belmont scored 3 in the top of the 8th inning to tie the game at 4, one on a Mike Sprockett double and 2 more on Michael Lareau’s single. But in the bottom of the 8th, Colin Hynes broke Bruin hearts with a 2-run homer to close the scoring. Lareau, Pete Daniel, Charlie Davis, Ty Allen, and Gardner Lawrence all had 2 hits each for Belmont. The Bruins also stole 4 bases. Starter Joe Ruzicka, a key returner from last season, went 4 innings in his 1st 2025 start, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts on 92 pitches. A Sunday matinee awaits to conclude the series.

Your Sunday Streaming Schedule: Light video slate on Sunday, weather permitting, of course. All times Central.

Southern Illinois at UT-Rio Grande Valley, Noon, ESPN+
Evansville at Little Rock, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Bradley at Alabama, 1 p.m., SEC Network+

Ed Morgans is the founder of MVCBaseball.com. An Evansville graduate, Ed has written about and broadcast college baseball, while following the sport for 40 years.