SIUE Releases 2021 Baseball Schedule

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville baseball has unveiled its 2021 schedule featuring 21 home games at Simmons Baseball Complex.

The Cougars currently are slated to play 21 nonconference games in addition to their 30-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule.

"Our players have been putting in quality work to prepare for this season," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "We have an exciting non-conference schedule this year and expect a highly-competitive OVC season. We are looking forward to embracing all the challenges that may come with the 2021 season."

Playing its first games since March 2020, SIUE opens the season with three straight nonconference weekends. The team will travel to Louisiana-Monroe (Feb. 19-21) and to Wichita State (Feb. 26-28) for three-game series before returning home.

"I think I speak for everyone in college baseball when I say, 'I am grateful and excited for the players to have the opportunity to compete on the diamond again.'" Lyons said. "The early non-conference weekends are important for many reasons. As much as we want to have practice and scrimmages simulate a live game, you never really know how well your guys are going to compete and the areas of the game that need to improve until you play an opponent. 

"Both Louisiana-Monroe and Wichita State got off to very good starts last year in the shortened season," Lyons continued. "I expect both of the first two weekends to challenge our preparedness. They should be a good litmus test for our team."

Effingham's Braydon Bone is a member of the team. He's a right-handed pitcher who is in his senior season.

The Cougars will play a season-long eight-game home stand beginning with a single game with Saint Louis (Mar. 2) and a three-game series with South Dakota State (Mar. 5-7).

"Having the opportunity to host South Dakota State is exciting," Lyons said. "It will be nice to have a home series under our belt before we open up Ohio Valley Conference play. South Dakota State has been very competitive in the Summit League the last few years. I expect that to be a fun, competitive series."

The Cougars also will play host to nonconference games against Western Illinois (Mar. 16), Saint Louis (Apr. 16) and Illinois State (Apr. 27). SIUE will travel to play nonconference games at Saint Louis (Mar. 23, May 11), Bradley (Mar. 30) and Eastern Illinois (May 17).

The Cougars open OVC play with Southeast Missouri (Mar. 12-13) and will play home OVC series with Eastern Kentucky (Mar 26-27), UT Martin (Apr 9-10), Eastern Illinois (Apr. 30-May 1) and Murray State (May 14-15).

SIUE will travel for OVC series at Belmont (Mar 19-20), Morehead State (Apr. 2-3), Austin Peay (Apr. 23-24) and Jacksonville State (May 7-8).

The OVC has adjusted its schedule format for 2021, with teams playing a three-game series in two days: playing a single game one day and a doubleheader the other.

"I think (the change in format) is going to have an impact on the pitching depth and how teams decide to use their bullpen," Lyons said. "Doubleheaders can be taxing both mentally and physically. The teams that have good overall depth and can get over the mental hurdle of 18 innings in a day every weekend will be successful."

SIUE will play a four-game weekend series at Western Michigan (Apr. 16-18) during its bye week from OVC play.

"There is going to be a lot of 'new' this season," Lyons said. "With Covid-19 protocols, the possibility of pauses or players being quarantined is definitely a concern, and we will be doing our best to mitigate risk of infection during travel, meals, and team events. Players and coaches understand that this year will likely be different and there will be obstacles to overcome, but we are all very excited to get started."

Baumgartner Named to All-Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Team

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – SIUE right-handed pitcher Collin Baumgartner (Brighton, Illinois) has been named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference baseball preseason team. Baumgartner is one of four starting pitchers named to the team.

In a shortened 2020 season, Baumgartner started all four Friday night games for SIUE and finished with a 1-1 record and a 3.05 earned run average. In 20.2 innings he amassed 31 strikeouts compared to just nine walks. His average of 13.50 strikeouts per nine innings was second-best in OVC.

Baumgartner worked seven shutout innings and struck out a career-high 12 hitters in SIUE's OVC-season opening win over Tennessee Tech March 6. The 12 strikeouts are the second-most by an SIUE pitcher at the Division I level.

In 2019, Baumgartner made a league-best 15 starts, which was among the top 10 in the NCAA. He was fifth in the OVC with 9.93 strikeouts per nine innings.

The league's head coaches and sports information personnel also predicted the Cougars to finish seventh in the preseason poll. Belmont was chosen to finish first, earning 188 points and 14 of the 22 first-place votes. Jacksonville State was a close second with 176 points and seven first-place votes.

SIUE opens the 2021 season at Louisiana-Monroe Feb 19-21.