Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis Take Four-Game Unbeaten Streak to Indiana State
04/19/2001 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 29, 2001
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (10-14-1, 4-4 MVC) travels to Terre Haute, Indiana this weekend to face Indiana State University (10-11, 1-6 MVC) in a four game Missouri Valley Conference series on March 30 - April 1.
The Salukis will take a four game unbeaten streak (three wins, one tie), including three straight MVC wins into the series with the Sycamores. At 4-4 in the MVC, Saluki head coach Dan Callahan is looking to win every game, MVC or not.
"It's going to be our goal this week and every week to win every game. If we lose a game along the way, we'll try to get three wins. We're going to set the bar high and try to accomplish some things this season," said Callahan.
Despite a 1-6 MVC record by the Sycamores, Callahan expects some tight games, especially when the Salukis face Indiana State freshman pitcher Jake Sutter (0-0, 0.00 era).
"Sutter was one of the top pitchers in the MVC as a freshman so we?ll have to do things the right way. We'll have to move runners and do things with the short game because he's the type of guy that doesn't give up a lot of runs," stated Callahan. "It'll be the kind of game where someone on our side is going to have to pitch well. Hopefully we can match up well on the mound and it might be Josh Latimer versus Sutter in the opener which should be a good matchup."
The Salukis lost four of five games to the Sycamores in 2000, despite hitting .305 as a team. SIU had a 7.43 earned run average in the series.
Callahan will look to Roman Schooley, who is hitting .750 (12-for-16, three home runs, ten-RBIs, seven runs, four walks, double) and Luke Nelson, who?s batting .500 (10-20, five runs, three-RBIs, double, walk, stolen base) in the last five games for the Salukis.
In addition to Nelson (.352) and Schooley (.324), Dane Kerley (.317) is having a good season primarily from the leadoff spot for SIU. The Salukis have improved their team batting average to a season high .264.
Schooley hit .600 (6-for-10, four-RBIs, five runs, three doubles) and Sal Frisella batted .412 (7-for-17, home run, triple, double, five-RBIs, four runs) in the Indiana State series in 2000.
SIU has a 70-50 lead in the series against Indiana State, including a 10-11 record under Dan Callahan.
The Salukis will open the series on Friday, March 30 with a 6 p.m. game, followed by a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 31, and the series finale on Sunday, April 1 at 1 p.m.
