ST. LOUIS – Six players from the Southern Illinois baseball program earned spots on the All-Missouri Valley Conference teams, the league announced Tuesday morning. Matt Schark (3B) and Sam Frizzi (RP) were named to the First Team while Tim Simay (SS) and John Lemm (C) earned Second Team honors. Jordan Bach (OF) and Dylan Petrey (RP) were named Honorable Mention. All player awards are voted on by the League’s head coaches.
Matt Schark has put together one of the best seasons in program history for the Salukis, setting the single-season home run (23) and RBI (79) marks for the Salukis. He leads the team and is in the top-8 in the MVC with a .345 average, 78 hits, and a .735 slugging percentage. He has also doubled 17 times, scored 61 times, and drawn 22 walks for a .422 on-base percentage.
Sam Frizzi has dominated from the bullpen for the Salukis this season with a team and league-high eight saves. The right-hander pitched 33 innings in 23 appearances. He holds a 3.00 ERA and a 3-4 record. Overall, he has struck out 33 while allowing just 11 walks and holding opponents to a .250 average against.
John Lemm finished the regular season with 17 home runs to rank second on the team. He started 47 games behind the plate and posted a .273 batting average, a .645 slugging percentage, and a .442 on-base percentage after drawing 43 walks and being hit-by-pitch nine times. Lemm is riding a 33-game reached-base streak with ranks second in program history. His 25-game reached-base streak in Missouri Valley Conference games set an MVC and program record.
Tim Simay was an on-base machine for the Salukis, finishing the regular season with a .445 on-base percentage to lead the team, drawing 31 walks. He batted .344 on the year, which ranked second on the team with 63 hits, 15 doubles, and five home runs. He scored 47 times and drove in 30 runs while going 10-for-11 in stolen base attempts for the Salukis.
Jordan Bach posted a .311/.579/.438 slash line for the Salukis after starting 54 games in the outfield. He led the Dawgs with 19 doubles while also hitting 11 home runs. Overall, he drove in 41 while scoring 62 times from the leadoff spot. He drew a team-high 48 walks this season and was tied for the team high with 12 stolen bases.
Dylan Petrey made 21 appearances out of the bullpen for the Salukis, pitching 47 innings. He finished the season with a 3.64 ERA to rank second on the team while owning a 4-3 record. The right-hander struck out 47 and allowed just 10 extra base hits while holding opponents to a .251 average against.
