Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Opens MVC Play Against Northern Iowa This Weekend
03/20/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 20, 2003
Dates: March 21-23
First Pitches Fri.-2 p.m.; Sat.-Noon (DH); Sun.-1 p.m.
Ballpark: Abe Martin Field (2,000)
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Radio: WJPF 1020 AM, 1340 AM
Rankings: Neither team is ranked
Series History
SIU and UNI have played each other 38 times, with the Salukis holding a 25-13 series lead. Last year, SIU played four games in Cedar Falls, with both teams winning two apiece on the weekend.
Radio
All games between SIU and UNI will be broadcast live on News Radio WJPF 1020 AM or 1340 AM. Gene Green and Mike Murphy will be calling the action. The radio feed will also be available through the Saluki Athletics website at www.siusalukis.com. Simply click on the audio broadcast link located inside the live coverage box on the home page of the site.
Middle of the Pack
Both SIU and UNI were ranked in the middle of this year's MVC Preseason Poll. The Salukis were picked fifth with 47 points, while the Panthers were voted sixth with 35 points. SMS (78 pts.) was predicted to win the conference this season, while Wichita State (65 pts.), Indiana State (62 pts.) and Creighton (51 pts.) rounded out the top half of the league, respectively.
Get Out or Shut Out
SIU's final tune-up before conference play couldn't have been any sweeter, as the Dawgs posted their first shutout of the season with a 3-0 win over Murray State Wednesday. The shutout marked SIU's first since blanking Illinois State (3-0) on April 6, 2002.
On Common Ground
SIU and UNI have gone quite a long time without being shutout by an opponent. Since the 2001 season when Bradley beat the Salukis 4-0 in Peoria, SIU has gone 57 consecutive games without being on the losing end of a shutout. Meanwhile, UNI has gone 144 straight games, going back to April 28, 2000 when Indiana State blanked the Panthers 8-0.
Talent Show
SIU's Toby Barnett (W. Kallaroo, Australia) and UNI's Adam Boeve (Doon, Iowa) were each named 2003 Preseason all-Missouri Valley Conference. Barnett garnered preseason honors at catcher, while Boeve was a preseason all-MVC selection in the outfield. So far this season, Boeve is hitting .328 with a team-leading 23 RBI and Barnett is hitting .292 with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.
Looking Back
Three of SIU's four games against UNI last season were decided by no more than three runs. SIU won the second and fourth games of the series by scores of 9-7 (8) and 6-5, while UNI took games one and three by counts of 6-3 and 17-6. Of the Salukis returning to this year's team, Greg Andrews posted the best series against the Panthers a year ago hitting .429 (6-for-14) with a double, a home run, three runs scored and two RBI.
The Coaches
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81; SIU, '87) is 203-250 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, Rick Heller (Upper Iowa, '86) is 94-90-1 in his fourth season at UNI. For the second consecutive season in 2002, the Panthers had a 30-win campaign, while making the MVC Tournament for the second straight year. Under his direction in 2002, the Panthers finished 30-25-1.
Pitching Rotation
The starting pitching rotation for this weekend's series against UNI is as follows: Friday - Jake Alley (RHP, 1-1, 6.53 ERA); Saturday - Game One - Jerel Deitering (RHP, 1-2, 5.30 ERA), Game Two - Tyler Norrick (LHP, 1-0, 3.00 ERA); Sunday - Andrew Weber (RHP, 1-0, 3.00 ERA).
About the Salukis
SIU opens its conference season with a record of 9-8 and is coming off a 3-0 win over Murray State (3/19). The Dawgs, who continue a nine-game homestand, head into this weekend's MVC debut led by first baseman Josh Markle who is hitting .351 in 11 starts this season. Markle, who is currently on a six-game hitting streak, has also registered three doubles, nine runs scored and six RBI. Senior right fielder Sal Frisella follows boasting a .345 clip at the plate. Frisella leads the Salukis in several offensive categories, including runs scored (13), total bases (31), slugging percentage (.534), hits (20), walks (10), steal attempts (4), on-base percentage (.451), home runs (3) and stolen bases (3). As a team, SIU is hitting .276 compared to its opponents' .296.
Pitching Power
The SIU pitching staff saw its ERA drop from 6.41 to 6.02 following Wednesday's game against Murray State. After giving up a three-game total of 42 hits in four days (3/11-3/15), Saluki hurlers have settled down to allow just 16 hits over their last three outings. Most of that success can be attributed to Andrew Weber, Adam Snyder and Josh Joiner who have allowed four hits between the three. Weber threw a no-hitter through five innings against Central Michigan (3/15), before Snyder entered in relief to give up two hits. Most recently, Joiner pitched a two-hitter through eight innings against Murray State (3/19).
Matchup Note
SIU has had some consistent hitting lately, as five Salukis carry four or more game hitting streaks into this weekend's series against UNI. Josh Markle has hit safely in six straight games, while Sal Frisella has posted at least one hit in five consecutive contests. Ross Kowzan, Toby Barnett and P.J. Finigan round out the five with four-game hitting streaks.
Pitching Rotation
UNI's starting pitching rotation for this weekend's series at SIU has not been determined. Here are the pitchers that could start for the Panthers. Kory Kelchen (RHP, 2-1, 8.18 ERA), Chris Rosselot (RHP, 1-1, 6.75 ERA), Beau Mathiason (LHP, 1-1, 6.46 ERA), Bill Zenk (LHP, 1-0, 7.36 ERA) and Hans Frey (LHP, 0-1, 6.28 ERA).
About the Panthers
UNI recently returned from its trip to Florida with four more wins under its belt and a 7-7 mark going into the conference season. The Panthers outscored their opponents 56-33 in the four games. They defeated IPFW, 14-3, Vermont, 10-2, UMASS, 14-5 and Columbia 13-8. UNI was also scheduled to face Northeastern on Monday, but the game was called in the third inning due to rain. Preseason all-MVC outfielder Adam Boeve (.328) has been the Panthers' biggest offensive threat as of late. Boeve hit .529 with nine hits a double, two triples, a home run and a grand slam in UNI's last four games.
Matchup Note
Like SIU, certain Panthers will look to continue their respective hitting streaks as well. Junior Armando Lara has strung together an 11-game hitting streak and has hit .405 with 12 RBIs during that span. Adam Boeve also holds a nine-game hitting streak for UNI.
Jumpin' for Joy-ner
Jonesboro, Ill., native Josh Joiner struck out three batters in a magnificent eight-inning performance to lead SIU to a 3-0 shutout over Murray State Wednesday. Right-hander Joiner, who was shaky in his first two starts of the season after allowing 21 runs and 17 hits in 9.1 innings, was a completely different pitcher against the Thoroughbreds. Joiner retired 22 of 24 batters, including nine straight between the third and fifth innings. He also threw a two-hitter without issuing any walks.
Variety is Good
SIU has played its share of teams from different conferences this season. With that being said, Murray State marked the sixth team from a different league the Dawgs faced in their non-conference run to date. Murray State, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, joined Centenary College (TAAC), South Florida (Conference USA), Northern Illinois/Central Michigan (Mid-American), Iowa (Big Ten) and Oklahoma (Big 12).
Frisella Ties for Seventh in Home Runs
Sal Frisella's solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning not only sealed a 3-0 SIU win over Murray State (3/19), but it marked his 23rd career round-tripper. As a result, Frisella moved into a tie for seventh place on the school's all-time career home run list. Frisella, who leads the Salukis with three homers this season, shares the seventh-place spot with Gerry Pitchford (1985-86).
Salukis Seeing Double
SIU has registered two or more doubles in each of its last five games. Senior centerfielder Ross Kowzan, who doubled twice against Murray State (3/19), currently stands in a three-way tie for first with four doubles. Toby Barnett and P.J. Finigan have also doubled four times, as the Dawgs have posted a total of 40 extra-base hits this season, including 27 doubles, three triples and 10 home runs.
Hit Parade Coming Your Way
SIU's offense was nothing short of phenomenal last Saturday in its doubleheader against Central Michigan. The Salukis registered a total of 30 hits in both games, including a season-high of 16 in game one. SIU also belted seven extra-base hits.
Emrick Explodes
After going 0-for-5 in two games against Oklahoma (3/11-12), freshman designated hitter Nathan Emrick exploded for an impressive 7-for-11 (.636) outing in a doubleheader sweep of Central Michigan Saturday. A native of Griggsville, Ill., Emrick nearly hit for the cycle in game one against the Chippewas which saw him go 3-for-6 with two runs scored, four RBI, a double and a triple. He then followed up with a 4-for-5 showing in the nightcap where he doubled in two of his first three at-bats. Emrick had two RBI and two runs scored in that contest as well. After going 7-for-16 (.438) in the series, Emrick saw his batting average take a 108-point jump from .160 to .268.
Way to Go Weber
Right-hander Andrew Weber posted SIU's best pitching performance this season in game two of the Salukis' doubleheader against Central Michigan (3/15). Weber, who moved to 1-0 on the season, threw 5.0 scoreless, no-hit innings with three strikeouts. Despite giving up three walks, Weber also recorded 10 fly ball outs before being relieved in the sixth. Prior to Saturday, he had also struck out four batters in 3.2 innings during his second appearance of the season at Oklahoma (3/11).
Great Hitting, Good Pitching
Everything seemed to be clicking on all cylinders last Saturday for SIU, who turned in its best offensive and pitching performance of the season against Central Michigan. To complement the solid hitting, right-hander Andrew Weber and lefty Adam Snyder pitched a combined two-hit gem in the nightcap. Weber and Snyder's impressive effort fell just five outs shy of a combined, no-hit shutout.
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 6-1 this season when putting 10 or more pokes in the hit column. Registering 13 or more hits on four occasions this year, SIU currently holds a season-high of 16 which was done against Central Michigan on March 16. Hitting .276 after 17 games this season, the Salukis, however, aren't doing as well in games with less than 10 hits. In fact, SIU is just 3-7 in those contests.
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 at Oklahoma (3/12) 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 23 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).
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.
On Deck
SIU continues its series against Northern Iowa on Saturday with a doubleheader at noon. Both teams will then conclude the four-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.
