Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Begins Nine-Game Homestand This Weekend Against Central Michigan
03/14/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 14, 2003
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It's Been Awhile
SIU and Central Michigan haven't played each other in 37 years. The Salukis and Chippewas last split a pair of games in 1966 under former SIU Head Coach Joe Lutz. That year, which marked Lutz's first as SIU head coach, the Salukis went 27-17. In addition, the two games are part of a 14-12 series lead that SIU holds over CMU to date. Prior to 1966, both teams also met 24 times under SIU baseball's second head coach, Glen "Abe" Martin.
Hey "MAC," Be Careful
Central Michigan marks the second team from the Mid-American Conference that SIU will face this season. SIU is currently 1-0 against MAC schools this season beating Northern Illinois (8-4) in Memphis on March 2.
Last Time Out
SIU, who is currently on spring break, dropped a pair of games at No. 29 Oklahoma earlier this week. The Salukis lost 10-2 on Tuesday and 20-4 on Wednesday. The back-to-back losses snapped a two-game winning streak for the Dawgs.
Extra Lasts Extra Long
To say the least, it was a long two games for the Salukis at nationally-ranked Oklahoma earlier this week. SIU fell victim to a potent Sooner offense that plated 30 runs on 32 hits. Even more surprising than that was how OU registered a total of 16 extra base hits, including 11 doubles and five home runs.
Pitching Aims to Improve
The SIU pitching staff saw its ERA rise to 7.07 following its two-game series at Oklahoma. In their first 13 games this season, Saluki hurlers have been touched for 144 hits and 107 runs in 112 innings. Right-handers Ryan Welch (0-1) and Josh Joiner (1-2) have struggled the most early on as each have allowed 20 or more runs on 17 hits over a minimum of 8.2 innings.
Eight and Nine Looking Fine
While the Sooners' top half of their lineup was red-hot this past week, so was SIU's bottom half. The Salukis' eight and nine batters, Matt Brewer and Josh Markle combined for four of SIU's five hits in Tuesday's game. Brewer went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and one run scored, while Markle finished at 2-for-3 as well. Additionally, Markle doubled and went 1-for-2 on Wednesday to round out his impressive series.
Operation K.I.S.S. - Keep It Scoreless Snyder
Freshman left-hander Adam Snyder is off to a good start in his Saluki debut. Sporting a 1-0 record and 2.25 ERA in four appearances this season, the native of Pittsburgh, Pa., has thrown five consecutive scoreless innings. Additionally, he has posted four strikeouts, while allowing only seven hits and two runs in eight innings.
Ten or More Hits a Game Pays Dividends
It has been proven early on this season that the SIU offense has the ability to strike at any time. And when it does, it can be dangerous. The Salukis are 4-1 this season when putting 10 or more pokes in the hit column. Registering 13 or more hits on two occasions this year, SIU currently holds a season-high of 15 which was done at Centenary on Feb. 16. Hitting .257 after 13 games this season, the Salukis, however, aren't doing so well in games with less than 10 hits. In fact, SIU is just 2-6 in those contests.
Join the Crowd
Freshman Matt Brewer became the seventh Saluki this season to hit a home run Tuesday against Oklahoma. Brewer, who enjoyed watching his first collegiate homer sail over left field wall, joined Carl Heuer, Sal Frisella, Greg Andrews, P.J. Finigan, Toby Barnett and Ross Kowzan in the group. SIU, who is led by Frisella and Barnett's two round-trippers apiece, has blasted a total of nine homers, including a Kowzan grand slam and a Frisella game-winning two-run walk-off smash. Additionally, the Dawgs currently rank third in the MVC in home runs.
The Coaches
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81; SIU, '87) is 200-249 in his ninth season as head coach of SIU. With over 14 years of Division I coaching experience, Callahan guided the Salukis (32-24) to their best season in over a decade in 2002. Most recently, however, Callahan recorded his 200th career win against Iowa on March 9. Meanwhile, Steve Jaksa (CMU, '79) is 2-5 in his first season as head coach of Central Michigan. Jaksa, a former left-handed pitcher for the Chippewas, put together a 12-4 record on the mound from 1977-79, before starting his coaching career.
Did You Know . . .
Both CMU Head Coach Steve Jaksa and SIU Pitching Coach Ty Neal began their respective coaching careers at Miami University of Ohio? Jaksa served as an assistant baseball coach for the Redhawks in 1985-86, while Neal worked as the team's pitching coach in 1999. Prior to his coaching debut, Neal served as Miami's ace pitcher for two seasons in which he posted 19 career wins, before graduating with a degree in Sport Organization (1999).
About the Salukis
SIU enters this weekend's three-game set against Central Michigan looking to post its third series win of the season. Currently on a two-game losing streak after suffering a pair of road losses to No. 29 Oklahoma (3/11-12), the Salukis head into the weekend standing at 6-7 overall. Sophomore Carl Heuer (.417) and junior transfer Tyler Schooley (.333), who have each made four starts this season, stand atop the Salukis in hitting with .333 or better averages. Schooley, however, has been hot as of late, hitting safely in four of his last five games as the team's designated hitter. In addition, he has scored one run and posted five total bases in 15 at-bats this season.
Matchup Note
The SIU pitching staff (7.07 ERA) is allowing 11.1 hits and 8.2 runs per game this season. In 86.1 of 112 innings, six Saluki hurlers, including Marshall Tucker (15 H, 12.0 IP), Jerel Deitering (19 H, 18.2 IP), Jake Alley (22 H, 20.2 IP), Eric Haberer (18 H, 10.0 IP), Ryan Welch (17 H, 8.2 IP) and Josh Joiner (17 H, 9.1 IP) are giving up 15 or more hits in 8.2 or more innings.
About the Chippewas
Mid-American Conference member Central Michigan went 2-5 during its spring trip to Florida last week. The Chippewas' wins came over South Florida (12-9) and Michigan State (9-2). Senior right-hander Jeff Garner was named National Pitcher of the Week by the National College Baseball Writers Association after striking out a career-high 14 batters over seven innings in the Chippewas' win over Michigan State. He also allowed only two hits and one earned run in the victory. Offensively, CMU is led by freshman catcher Brian Campbell who is hitting .333 with one run and four RBI. He is followed by senior outfielder Ryan Krueger who hits .323 with a team-leading 10 pokes.
Matchup Note
Like SIU, one of CMU's concerns this season has been pitching. The Chippewas, who used 12 pitchers in their first seven games this year, allowed 10 or more runs on four occasions to finish their spring trip with an earned run average of 8.39.
I Dare You
Senior Toby Barnett has gunned down six runners trying to steal in 13 starts behind the plate this season. Barnett's total of six outs on the basepaths tied for first in the MVC thru games of March 9. Hitting .220 on the year, the Rotary Smith Award Candidate also slugged his second home run of the season Wednesday at Oklahoma. The homer also marked his first since the Salukis' season-opener at Centenary on Feb. 15.
The Chase is On
The patented senior tandem of Jake Alley (RHP, Anna, Ill.) and Sal Frisella (RF, St. Louis, Mo.) are currently climbing SIU's career record charts in strikeouts and home runs. Alley (1-1), who fanned one batter in his fourth start of the season Wednesday at Oklahoma ranks sixth in career strikeouts with 225 Ks. Meanwhile, Frisella, who delivered a two-out, two-run, game-winning walk-off smash against Iowa (3/9) lists eighth with 22 career dingers. Alley is chasing SIU's career strikeout leader Jason Frasor (278 Ks, 1996-99) and Frisella is targeting career home run record-holder Robert Jones (36 HR, 1983-86).
Up and Down
Senior centerfielder Ross Kowzan's hitting has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride this season. The team's leading hitter in 2002, Kowzan broke out of a 0-for-14 slump by going 5-for-6 in two games against Iowa on March 8. Since then, however, he has gone hitless in his last 13 at-bats. Hitting just .196, Kowzan has registered hits in nine of 46 at-bats this season.
Second Base Sensation
Junior starting second baseman Greg Andrews ranks atop the Salukis in several offensive categories this season. Hitting a fifth-best .313, Andrews currently leads the Dawgs in hits (15) and is tied for first in runs scored (11), RBI (9), multiple-hit games (4) and longest hitting streak (7 games). In addition, he lists second in total bases (20) and tied for second in doubles (2) and home runs (1).
Comeback Kids
SIU's 4-2 win over Iowa (3/8) marked the fourth time this season the Salukis have come back to win a game after trailing by at least one run following the game's first three innings. SIU also fell behind early on to Centenary College (2/16), South Florida (2/22) and Northern Illinois (3/2) before rallying to post 12-9, 4-3 and 8-4 wins, respectively.
Home Opener Flashback
SIU plays for just the second time at home this season against Central Michigan. The Salukis defeated their first Big Ten opponent since 1999 last week when they posted a 2-1 series win over Iowa at "The Abe." Head Coach Dan Callahan picked up his 200th career win and Sal Frisella launched a game-winning walk-off homer in the final day of the series on March 9.
On Deck
SIU will continue its nine-game homestand with a single game against Murray State on Wednesday, March 19. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., CST., at Abe Martin Field.
