PREVIEW: Valparaiso at Southern Illinois

CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — Southern Illinois seeks to complete a Missouri Valley Conference series sweep Saturday afternoon when it hosts Valparaiso at Abe Martin Field.

The Salukis (22-29) have already taken the first two games of the three-game set, winning 6-4 on Thursday and posting a shutout Friday. The Beacons (11-36) are mired in a difficult season, having lost 10 of their last 11 contests.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 74 degrees.

Southern Illinois will turn to right-hander Dylan Petrey, who has been effective in relief this season. Petrey earned a win Thursday against Valparaiso, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out three. He has not allowed an earned run in four of his last five appearances, including a 1 2/3-inning stint at Belmont on May 10 in which he struck out two. Petrey owns a 4.15 ERA over 26 innings this year.

Valparaiso counters with right-hander Adam Guazzo, who has struggled with command. He took the loss Thursday, giving up four earned runs on zero hits over five innings, walking five and striking out one. Guazzo was better in his previous start against Evansville on May 8, allowing five earned runs on four hits in five innings in a 6-5 win. He also threw seven innings against Belmont on April 24, surrendering five earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts in a 7-8 loss.

Guazzo’s 7.44 ERA and 1.76 WHIP illustrate his inconsistency, but he has the ability to eat innings, averaging more than five innings per start.

Offensively, the Salukis have been led by outfielder Kye Watson, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Thursday’s win. Right fielder Michael Kuska drove in two runs for Valparaiso in that game, going 2-for-5.

Southern Illinois has won four of its last five overall. The Salukis took two of three at Belmont last weekend and split a midweek series with SIU Edwardsville. Valparaiso, meanwhile, has lost five straight since a 6-5 win over Evansville on May 8.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-2 victory for Southern Illinois, a margin consistent with the teams’ records and recent form.

This is the final regular-season meeting between the two Missouri Valley rivals. The series has been lopsided: Southern Illinois has outscored Valparaiso 10-4 over the first two games, and the Salukis’ pitching has held the Beacons to a .224 batting average.

First pitch is set for 2 p.m.