Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Heads to Tennessee-Martin Tomorrow
03/04/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 4, 2003
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Walking in Memphis
SIU, who cancelled its original two-game home series against Blackburn (3/1-2), was one of six teams that travelled to Memphis, Tenn., to pick up some games last weekend. The Salukis, along with Saint Louis, Evansville, Blackburn, Ball State and Northern Illinois, were able to play at least two games at a neutral site called Gagliano Field. SIU, however, split its pair of games losing 5-3 to Blackburn (3/1) and winning 8-4 over Northern Illinois (3/2). The split evened the Dawgs' record to 4-4 on the year.
We Meet Again
SIU has won six of its last eight meetings against Tennessee-Martin, as the overall series stands at 13-3, in favor of the Dawgs. Last season, the Salukis and Skyhawks split a doubleheader at Abe Martin Field. SIU lost 8-6 (10 innings) in game one, before regrouping to win 11-7 in game two.
Approaching 200
Dan Callahan, who has put together an overall record of 198-246 in a little over eight years at the Saluki Baseball helm, stands just two wins away from becoming the third head coach in SIU history to post 200 or more career wins. If Callahan reaches this milestone, he will join Glen "Abe" Martin (278-176-2) and Richard "Itch" Jones (738-345-5) in the elite few.
The Coaches
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81; SIU, '87) is 198-246 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. Meanwhile, Victor "Bubba" Cates (Delta State, '81) is 43-174 in his fifth year at the Tennessee-Martin helm.
About the Salukis
Travelled to Memphis, Tenn., to play a couple games last weekend at a neutral site. After falling to Blackburn College Saturday, SIU regrouped to beat Northern Illinois Sunday to even its record to 4-4 on the young season.
Saluki Starting Pitcher
Freshman left-hander Tyler Norrick will make his first collegiate start Wednesday at Tennessee-Martin. Norrick, who hails from Festus, Mo., has struck out one batter in three relief innings this season.
On Watch
Second baseman Greg Andrews is off to the best start of his career. Hitting safely in each of the Salukis' first eight games this season, Andrews is hitting a second-best .419 with two doubles, nine runs scored and six RBI. He has also posted two or more hits in half of his outings.
Matchup Note
Offensively, SIU is faring well against opponents hitting .282 on the season. However, pitching has been a different story. SIU hurlers, who boast a 6.26 ERA, have allowed 82 hits and 59 runs in 69 innings this season. The Saluki pitching staff has also managed to strikeout just 29 batters, which currently rank tied for fifth among MVC contenders.
About the Skyhawks
After falling victim to the weather its first 12 scheduled games this season, the University of Tennessee-Martin finally made its debut last weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. The Skyhawks dropped the first twin bill 9-2 and 13-6, before splitting the second with a 13-6 win and a 19-2 loss.
On Watch
Senior outfielder Kelly Davis is hitting an impressive .583 after eight starts this season. A native of Princeton, Ky., Davis has registered seven hits in his first 12 at-bats, including two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored. Senior second baseman Brady Nighswonger boasts a .467 batting average with seven hits, a double and four runs scored.
Matchup Note
UTM is averaging 3.3 errors per game in each of its first four outings this season. Committing a total of 13 on the year, shortstop Bryant Jones holds a team-high four errors alone.
Wake Up Call
SIU's loss to Blackburn Saturday marked the first time the Salukis have fallen to a NCAA Division III opponent in 14 years. SIU last lost to Montclair State of New Jersey on March 19, 1989. Under then-head coach Richard "Itch" Jones, the Salukis lost to the Red Hawks, 8-1, at Mark Light Stadium in Miami, Fla. Additionally, Sean Bergman suffered the loss on the mound, which at that time, began a three-game losing skid for the Dawgs.
Yard Work
Sophomore P.J. Finigan became the fifth different Saluki to hit a home run this season, Saturday against Blackburn. Finigan's two-out, two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth was part of a 2-for-4, two runs and two RBI performance on the day. Finigan joined Carl Heuer, Sal Frisella, Toby Barnett and Ross Kowzan who have also homered this year.
Kowzan Slump
The team's leading offensive threat a year ago, senior Ross Kowzan has gone hitless in four straight games. Currently mired in a 0-for-14 slump, Kowzan will look to record his first hit since Feb. 21, Wednesday, when the Dawgs play at Tennessee-Martin.
Comeback Kids
SIU's 8-4 win over Northern Illinois (3/2) marked the third time this season the Salukis have come back to win a game after trailing by at least two runs after the game's first three innings. SIU also fell behind early on to Centenary College (2/16) and South Florida (2/22) before rallying to post 12-9 and 4-3 wins, respectively.
Take a Bow
Junior second baseman Greg Andrews has hit safely in each of SIU's first eight games this season. As a result, the native of Peoria, Ill., is off to the best start of his career. Sporting a second-best .419 batting average, Andrews posted two or more hits on four occasions this season. In addition, he accumulated two doubles, nine runs scored and six RBI. The closest Andrews has come to an impressive start like this was in 2002 when he recorded at least one hit in five of his first six games.
Off to a Frosh Start
Freshman left-hander Adam Snyder extended his scoreless inning streak to four Sunday against Northern Illinois. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Snyder has thrown all seven of his innings in relief this season. Standing at 1-0 on the year after posting his first collegiate win against the Huskies, Snyder has also allowed just one hit, while striking out three batters over that span.
Pitching Struggles
After eight games this season, the SIU pitching staff ranks seventh among Missouri Valley Conference foes with a 6.26 ERA. Saluki hurlers have allowed 82 hits and 59 runs in 69.0 innings this season. In addition, the SIU pitching staff has struck out 29 batters for a 3.6 strikeout per game average.
Alley Moves to Sixth in Career Strikeouts
Jake Alley's season-high four strikeouts against Northern Illinois (3/2) moved him to sixth all-time among SIU's career strikeout leaders. Alley, who has pitched 11 innings in two starts this season, boosted his career strikeout total to 218, as it surpassed Scott Waltemate's 214 Ks during 1971-74.
Joiner Falls
Junior right-hander Josh Joiner has suffered back-to-back losses en route to dropping to 1-2 on the season. Lasting just 3.2 innings combined in his last two starts, Joiner allowed 10 hits, 10 runs and two walks. Additionally, he has hit two batters, given up three doubles, a triple and a home run, and has been touched for eight earned runs.
Lightning Boldt
Junior transfer Nathan Boldt has registered two hits in each of his last two games. Currently on a four-game hitting streak, the third baseman from Mt. Vernon, Ill., went 4-for-9 with two runs scored in the Dawgs' two games last week. Hitting .313, Boldt holds a third-best 10 hits on the season.
On the Fly
In its loss to Blackburn Saturday, SIU registered 17 fly ball outs against Beaver pitcher Sean Courtney. Averaging nearly two per inning, the Salukis were held scoreless for seven consecutive frames, before using a two-run ninth to slice the loss to 5-3.
Up Next
SIU will return to Carbondale for its home-opener this weekend when it hosts Big Ten foe Iowa in a three-game series on March 8-9. The Salukis and Hawkeyes will play a doubleheader at noon on Saturday, before closing out the set with a single game at noon on Sunday. All games will be played at Abe Martin Field.
