SIU Baseball Notes for Southeast Missouri State
04/30/2001 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 18, 2001
* The Series: Southern Illinois University leads the series with Southeast Missouri State University 34-15, including a 3-6 record under Dan Callahan. SEMO won both games in 2000.
* The Coaches: Saluki head coach Dan Callahan has compiled a 310-363-1 record in his 13 years as a NCAA Division I head coach. Since joining SIU in 1995, Callahan is 157-205 overall and 82-120 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Southeast Missouri State University is coached by Mark Hogan, who has a 202-158-1 record during his seven years at Southeast Missouri State.
* HOT DAWG ON A ROLL: Senior designated hitter Roman Schooley hit .400 (6-for-15, home run, double, two-RBIs, four runs) and racked up a .667 slugging percentage last week against Illinois State. Schooley has a team and season high 17 game streak (16 are MVC games) which has driven his average from .208 to .336 (tied for second best). Schooley has hit an amazing .439 (29-for-66, 21-RBI, 12 runs, six home runs, six walks, one intentional walk and a double) during the streak and now leads SIU in home runs (7) and is tied for the total bases crown (65). In the MVC, Schooley leads SIU in average (.412), home runs (7), slugging percentage (.750) and total bases (51).
* TO START OR NOT TO START: Senior pitcher Chad McCann went 1-0 in his only start and appearance last week with a 3.68 era. He threw seven innings allowing nine hits, striking out eight, walking three and giving up four runs (three earned). McCann has won the only two games he's started as a Saluki and has a 2-0 record with a 6.38 era.
* IS HE BACK??: After an injury plagued sophomore year and some early struggles this season, Jeff Stanek looks to be coming back to his freshman form where he hit .320 and led SIU with eight home runs in 1999. The junior first baseman hit .400 against Illinois State last weekend, going 6-for-15 with a double, three-RBIs and a run scored to raise his average 23 points to .238.
* THE PEN ON LOCKDOWN: Despite SIU's starting pitchers struggling, the bullpen was strong for the Salukis last weekend, posting a 1.48 era in 18.2 innings. Jerel Deitering (0-0, 0.00 era) pitched three and one third innings of relief striking out two, walking no one and not allowing a hit or run. Victor Hockett (0-0, 1.59 era) pitched five and two thirds innings allowing four hits, two runs (one earned), walked two and struck out one. Jason Westemeir (0-0, 1.80 era) had his best outing of the year with five innings of five hit, three strikeout, no walk, one run baseball and Scott Lucht (0-1, 1.93 era) pitched four and two thirds innings allowing five hits, one run, stricking out one and walking one.
* MOVIN ON UP??: Sal Frisella (.375 -- 3-for-8, RBI, run) and Cory Newman (.357 -- 5-for-14, double, RBI, run) each had one of their best weekends of the season against Illinois State. Newman leads the dawgs with eight doubles. Second baseman Dane Kerley (.375 -- 3-for-8, run) also had a good weekend.
* ST. LOUIS BASHER: Even though he batted just .267 in the ISU series, junior outlfielder Justin Maurath still drove in five runs. He leads the Salukis in average (.342), RBIs (26) slugging percentage (.620) and is tied for the lead in multiple RBI games (6) despite playing in just 26 of 38 games and only starting 20. Since the Salukis began MVC play, Maurath has raised his average from .250 to a team high .342, hitting safely in 14 of 19 games. He has hit .402 (24-for-67) in the 19 games including 24-RBIs, four home runs, three triples, six doubles and ten runs. He?s hitting .339 (fifth best) in the MVC and leads SIU in RBI?s (22) and triples (3).
* A LITTLE HANKEY PANKEY: Junior catcher Scott Hankey is hitting .380 (second best) and leads the dawgs in hits (30) in MVC play. He hit .313 against ISU and is hitting .319 overall. Hankey is second in hits (44), multiple RBI games (5), RBIs (24), multiple hit games (13), doubles (7), at bats (138) and sacrifice flies (2).
* LUKE WARM, BUT STILL HOT!! Junior third baseman Luke Nelson did not get a hit in two straight games for just the second time all year in the ISU series. Despite the short hitless streak, he has still hit safely in 31 of 38 games (including streaks of eight, seven and seven) and is hitting .336 overall and . 354 in MVC play. He leads SIU in hits (51), multiple hit games (15), stolen bases (9), runs scored (26), total bases (tied -- 65), at bats (152) and plate appearances (170).
* PITCHING LEADERS: SIU is led by senior closer Scott Lucht, who has a 4-2 overall record, 2.67 era, 17 strikeouts, six walks, three saves. In the MVC, Lucht is 2-2 with a 2.95 era, 12 strikeouts, four walks and two saves. Senior starter Josh Latimer has a 2-4 overall record, 4.92 era, 35 strikeouts and 16 walks. In MVC play, Latimer is 1-3 with a 5.40 era, 19 striekouts and eight walks. Chad McCann, a senior reliever who is now starting, is 2-0 with a 6.38 era, 22 strikeouts and nine walks. His two starts have come in league play, where he has a 5.95 era, 19 strikouts and seven walks. SIU's staff has 212 strikeouts and 135 walks and has allowed 254 total runs (215 earned) and 386 hits in 312.2 innings heading into the SEMO tilt on Wednesday.
* SURPRISING STATS???: After winning four straight games, SIU has lost nine of the last twelve games. The Salukis are 2-0 on neutral fields and 1-0 at night. SIU is 6-6 in one-run games and 1-1 in two-run games. The dawgs are 2-2 in extra innings, 7-8 at home, 5-15 on the road and 0-3 in shutouts. The Salukis have been outscored in every inning except the ninth (16-11) and total extra innings (4-4). SIU has been outscored 254 - 199.
* CLUTCH DAWGS: Justin Maurath is hitting .733 with a man on third with less than two outs, .440 with two outs, .400 with the bases loaded, .400 against lefthanded pitchers and .372 with a runner on base. Scott Hankey is hitting .684 with a man on third with less than two outs, .346 with runners in scoring position, .361 (27-for-77) with runners on base and .327 with two outs. Ryan Murray is hitting .556 with the bases loaded, .778 with a runner on third with less than two outs and .304 with runners in scoring position. Luke Nelson is hitting .615 with a man on third with less than two outs, .405 with two outs, .367 with runners on base and .377 with runners in scoring position. Roman Schooley is hitting .566 with a man on third with less than two outs, .371 with runners in scoring position, .340 with runners on base and .327 with two outs.
* DANGEROUS OPPONENTS: SEMO is led by regulars Clemente Bonilla (.435), Brad Beatty (.358) and Zach Borowiak (.340). The Indians are hitting .299 as a team. Todd Pennington (7-1, 1.07 era), Jeffrey Hilz (5-1, 3.00 era), Mark Frazier (3-0, 4.25 era) and Greg Lunski (3-2, 4.21 era) lead the SEMO pitching staff. The Indians have a 3.81 team era.
* SALUKI INJURY UPDATE: Junior OF Dustin Downs will play after recovering from a broken hand. Freshman INF Tommy Cigno is done for the year with a bad back. Senior RHP Billy Hardin still has a sore elbow and is questionable. Sophomore OF Jason Rainey has a sore wrist and freshman OF Nick Baughman has a sore ankle.