Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Heads to Indiana State for First-Place Showdown
03/27/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 27, 2003
Dates:March 28-30
First Pitches:Fri: 2 p.m. (DH); Sat: 1 p.m.; Sun: Noon
Ballpark:Sycamore Field
Location:Carbondale, Ill.
Radio:WJPF 1020 AM, 1340 AM
Rankings:Neither team is ranked
Series History: SIU leads its overall series with Indiana State, 75-53. Last year, the Salukis won their four-game series against the Sycamores by a count of 3-1 in Carbondale.
With Time Changes Come Format Changes
SIU's Friday doubleheader against ISU will consist of a seven-inning game followed by a nine-inning nightcap. Both Saturday and Sunday's games be single nine-inning contests.
Trio of Sweeps Highlight First Week of League Play
Missouri Valley Conference play began on March 21-23, and a total of three series sweeps were posted. Indiana State took four from Bradley, Southern Illinois won four games -- three by one run -- against Northern Iowa and SMS captured all four games at Evansville. Last season, a total of six series sweeps were recorded in conference action. Wichita State, who was the only league foe that didn't play last week, begins MVC action, this weekend when it hosts Illinois State at Eck Stadium-Tyler Field.
Rainy Day Blues
SIU's non-conference matchup between Tennessee-Martin scheduled for last Tuesday at 2 p.m., was rained out. The cancellation marked the Salukis' third this season due to inclement weather. SIU was also washed out at UTM (3/5) and Murray State (2/26) earlier this year.
On a Roll
SIU has suddenly gotten red-hot, winning seven of its last eight games. Currently on a five-game winning streak, SIU's early 4-0 mark in league play is its best conference start since 1998 when the Salukis swept Creighton (4-0) in their MVC debut which also took place at Abe Martin Field.
Do it Again Pen
All four of SIU's wins on the mound against Northern Iowa (3/21-23) came courtesy of the Saluki bullpen. Eric Haberer, Bryan Rueger, Josh Joiner and Marshall Tucker all pitched solid relief en route to their respective wins. Of the four, Haberer's performance was particularly impressive, as the left-hander out of Bloomington, Ill., threw the final two innings in the last game of the series. Retiring the Panthers' last six batters in order, while recording a pair of strikeouts, Haberer picked up his first save of the season.
Get Out the Brooms!
SIU's league-opening sweep of Northern Iowa (3/21-23) was huge in several ways. The 4-0 series win marked the Salukis' fifth over a MVC opponent in Dan Callahan's nine years as head coach and first since 2000. Additionally, it put the Dawgs in a three-way tie for first with both Indiana State and league favorite Southwest Missouri State.
Newcomers, Please Stand Up
Newcomers Josh Markle and Nathan Emrick each had game-winning hits to lead SIU to a doubleheader sweep of Northern Iowa (3/22). Starting first baseman Markle ripped a single a single in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one, while freshman Emrick delivered a single in the bottom of the 10th to end game two. Emrick and Markle joined teammate Sal Frisella who also had a game-winning hit this year.
Awesome at the "Abe"
SIU has been tough to beat at home this season, where it currently holds a 9-2 mark. Winning their last five games, the Dawgs have only fallen to Central Michigan (3/16) and Iowa (3/8) at Abe Martin Field. SIU hasn't posted a 9-2 record in its first 11 home games since 1990 under then-head coach Richard "Itch" Jones. That year, the Dawgs went 49-14 en route to making their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Coaches
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81; SIU, '87) is 207-250 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, Bob Warn (SIU, '68) is 979-627-9 in his 28th season at Indiana State. Warn, who ranks among the top-30 for all-time victories by a NCAA Division I head coach, needs just 11 wins to hit the 1,000-win mark in his illustrious career.
Did You Know . . .
Indiana State Head Coach Bob Warn was an outfielder for the Salukis in 1968? That year, SIU advanced to the College World Series, where they dropped a 4-3 decision to Southern California in the finals. SIU, who finished No. 2 in the final Collegiate Baseball Poll that season, last made a trip to the CWS in 1977.
Should Be a Good One
SIU and Indiana State have a couple of things in common heading into this week's first-place battle. Both teams currently hold winning streaks of five or more games. SIU has won seven of eight outings, including its last five straight, while ISU is currently on a 13-game winning streak -- the sixth time a Bob Warn coached team has achieved such a string in his 28 seasons. Not to mention, each team is off to its best conference start since the 1998 campaign. SIU began that year at 4-0 in league play, while ISU started its MVC schedule at 7-0, which was in the midst of an overall 12-game winning streak.
Hitting and Pitching Continues to Improve
SIU has steadily improved in both hitting and pitching over its last eight games. Since playing at nationally-ranked Oklahoma on March 12, the Salukis have increased their batting average by 18 points (.270 to .288). While the team's batting average has gone up, the squad's ERA has gone down. In fact, Saluki hurlers have watched their ERA plunge from 7.07 to 5.46 during that span. At the plate, SIU is averaging nearly 10 (9.7) hits per game and has registered between 10 and 16 hits on 10 occasions this season. On the mound, SIU pitchers have allowed 6.7 hits and 4.3 runs per game in their last eight outings after going their first 13 games of the year giving up 11.1 hits and 8.2 runs a ballgame.
SIU Pitching Rotation
The starting pitching rotation for this weekend's series against Indiana State is as follows: Friday - Game One - Jake Alley (RHP, 1-1, 6.48 ERA); Game Two - Jerel Deitering (RHP, 1-2, 5.48 ERA); Saturday - TBA; Sunday - Andrew Weber (RHP, 1-0, 2.40 ERA).
About the Salukis
SIU is coming off an eight-game homestand in which it finished nearly perfect at 7-1. The Salukis, who haven't played away from home since March 12, carry a 3-5 road mark to Indiana State this weekend. Junior first baseman Josh Markle is hitting .383 with three doubles, 13 runs scored, a homer and nine RBI to lead all Salukis at the plate this season. Senior right fielder Sal Frisella follows hitting .347 in 21 starts. Frisella leads the team in several offensive categories, including runs (19), hits (25), home runs (4) and total bases (40).
Indiana State Matchup Note
Indiana State began the season on a tear by pounding out double-digit hit totals in nine of its first 12 games. Lately, ISU has used its pitching to extend its winning streak. Over the past seven games, the Sycamores' pitching staff has allowed an average of 2.6 runs per game, while the offense has reached 10 or more runs twice in that stretch.
Scouting the Sycamores
ISU will look to keep its impressive 13-game winning streak alive this weekend when it hosts SIU. The Sycamores, who are coming off a pair of wins over Purdue and Eastern Illinois earlier this week, enter the series hitting .315 with five players boasting .333 or better clips in a minimum of 13 starts. Outscoring its opponents by a count of 113-67, the Sycamore offense has plated 10 to 13 runs in six games this season. The Trees have also registered 10 to 16 hits on ten occasions, including a seven-game stretch from March 1-12. Defensively, ISU has been fundamentally sound as well. The Sycamores have committed just 16 errors in 18 games. Although senior infielder Chris Hall leads all ISU hitters with a .397 average. Hall has registered 25 hits, 13 runs scored, eight doubles and 10 RBI this season. Juniors Jereme Hatler and Brian Woods have also been playing well as of late. Hatler hit .412 (7-for-17) with a double and a pair of RBI and Woods tossed a seven-inning, three-hit shutout against the. Both outings came last weekend against Bradley.
ISU Pitching Rotation
Friday - Game One - Travis Soppe (RHP), Game Two - Brian Woods (RHP); Saturday - Matt Samuels (RHP); Sunday - Matt Zaleski (RHP).
Big Time Baughman
Each of Nick Baughman's hits against Northern Iowa (3/21-23) were huge, as the native of Bloomington, Ill., had a stellar series. Hitting .364 against the Panthers, Baughman finished the four-game tilt at 4-for-11 with a home run, a double, two runs scored and seven RBI. He drove in a go-ahead run in game two, scored a winning run in game three and delivered what turned out to be a game-winning double in game four. Baughman's solo home run in game two marked the first of his career and his total of seven RBIs on the weekend, surpassed his combined three runs batted in during his first three years as a Saluki. Currently on a five-game hitting streak, Baughman may have earned himself a starting spot in the lineup after last weekend. Prior to the Salukis' series against UNI, he had made just four starts in left field.
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 charts in strikeouts and home runs. Alley (1-1), who leads the team with 16 strikeouts this season, ranks sixth with a total of 228 Ks in his career. Meanwhile, Frisella, who belted his team-leading fourth home run against Northern Iowa (3/22), lists eighth all-time with 22 round-trippers. Alley is chasing SIU's career strikeout leader Jason Frasor (278 Ks, 1996-99) and Frisella is targeting Robert Jones (1983-86) who holds a school record of 36 home runs.
Jumpin' for Joiner
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 (3/19). 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.
Ten or More Hits a Game Pays Dividends
It has been proven this season that SIU's offense has the ability to strike at any time. And when it does, it can be dangerous. The Salukis are 9-1 this season when putting 10 or more pokes in the hit column. Registering 13 or more on five occasions this year, SIU currently holds a season-high of 16 hits which was done against Central Michigan (3/16). Hitting .288 after 21 games this season, the Salukis, have posted between 10 to 13 hits in three of their last four games.
Get Out or Shut Out!
SIU's final tune-up before starting 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 (3/19). The shutout, which started SIU's current five-game winning streak, marked the Salukis' first since blanking Illinois State (3-0) on April 6, 2002.
Saluki Streaks
Through 21 games this season, three Salukis currently hold hitting streaks of four or more games. Toby Barnett has strung together a team-best eight-game hitting streak, while Nick Baughman has hit safely in six straight games. Meanwhile, junior transfer Nathan Boldt (Mt. Vernon, Ill.) is on a four-game stretch after posting a pair of hits in two of his last four games.
