Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Host Bradley In First MVC Series This Weekend
03/20/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 20, 2002
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Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (11-4, 0-0 MVC) begins Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, facing Bradley University (4-7, 0-0 MVC) in a four-game series at Abe Martin Field March 22-24.
SIU enters MVC play with an 11-4 mark, which included an eight-game winning streak. The Salukis are off to their best start since 1990, when SIU started 18-2, won its last MVC title and played in the NCAA West I Regional.
Southern went 2-2 including a 3-2 loss to Notre Dame in the championship of the Irish Classic last weekend in San Antonio, Texas.
"I'm pleased with where we are entering league play. If I was told in February we'd be 11-4 in non-league play I would have taken it. At the same time we can't get complacent. We realize that what we did prior to Friday means nothing in the overall scheme of things. Our second season starts on Friday and hopefully we can build upon what we've done so far," said Dan Callahan, Saluki head coach.
Callahan expects Bradley to be a tough series and hopes SIU can start MVC play on a positive note this weekend.
"Bradley typically has some good arms to throw at you and they usually have some guys in the middle of their lineup that can hurt you. Despite their tough start, we're all 0-0 on Friday. We'd like to get off to a good start to build some momentum, but we have seven series after this one to play also," added Callahan.
The Salukis will play a single game on Friday at 2 p.m., a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Braves.
