Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Hosts Southeast Missouri State Wednesday
04/01/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 1, 2003
Date: April 2
First Pitch: 3 p.m.
Ballpark:Abe Martin Field (2,000)
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Radio: KGIR 1220 AM
Rankings: Neither team is ranked
Series History
SIU leads its overall series against Southeast Missouri State, 35-17. Last year, the Salukis snapped a five-game losing streak to the Indians
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.
Remember Me?
Southeast Missouri State right-hander Bill Clayton (Chatham, Ill.) faces his former team for the first time Wednesday. Prior to the 2003 campaign, Clayton spent two years playing for SIU, where he finished at 2-2 with a 6.18 ERA last season. This year, Clayton is 0-2 on the hill, while sporting a 8.25 ERA for the Indians.
Taking a Stand
Despite its current two-game losing streak, SIU has won nine of its last 12 games. Coming off a 2-2 series split at Indiana State last weekend, the Salukis presently stand in a three-way tie for second place among league foes. Eight games into its conference season, SIU is 6-2, along with SMS and Indiana State. Meanwhile, Wichita State occupies the top spot with a 4-0 mark after sweeping Illinois State.
Above .500
SIU holds a 9-8 record against schools outside of the Missouri Valley Conference this season. In those 17 games, the Salukis have faced teams from six different leagues, including the TAAC, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Ohio Valley, the Big Ten and the Big 12.
Salukis Chop Down Trees
SIU's 8-1 series-opening win against Indiana State (3/28) put a halt to the Sycamores' 13-game winning streak. SIU became the first team to hand ISU a loss since Wisconsin-Parkside defeated the Sycamores, 13-6, on March 8.
Back, Back, Back, Back, Gone!
SIU hit four home runs, including back-to-back blasts in the top of the first inning, en route to a 8-1 win at Indiana State on March 28. Toby Barnett, Greg Andrews, P.J. Finigan and Josh Markle accounted for the round-trippers. The Salukis have now homered 19 times in 25 games this season.
Making History
SIU began Missouri Valley Conference play at 6-0 for the first time in school history after winning two straight games to open its series at Indiana State (3/28-29). ISU, however, ended SIU's perfect start with a 3-0 victory on March 29.
Alley Cat on the Prowl
A senior from Anna, Ill., right-hander Jake Alley posted a complete-game, four-hit victory at Indiana State on March 28. Alley registered a season-high six strikeouts and registered his first league win since beating Wichita State on May 18, 2002. In addition, he moved into a tie for fifth on SIU's all-time career strikeout list, where he currently shares that spot with Skip Pitlock (1967-69), as each have struck out 234 career batters.
Wait a Minute...Reverse That
While the Saluki bullpen posted all four wins on the mound against Northern Iowa (3/21-23), it was SIU's starting battery that came up big at Indiana State (3/28-30). Saluki starters Jake Alley (2-1) and Bryan Rueger (2-0) registered impressive wins in game one and two, before Andrew Weber (1-1) and Jerel Deitering (1-3) suffered losses in games three and four.
Power Outage
Prior to game two of its doubleheader against Indiana State (3/29), SIU had registered 10 or more hits in four of five games. Lately, the Saluki offense has sputtered, posting a total of 17 hits over its last three games. The Dawgs have also struck out a total of 25 times in those contests. Additionally, SIU has scored just one run in its last 22 innings. In spite of the minor setback, the Salukis still hold a .280 clip at the plate, while averaging 9.3 hits per game this season.
Taking it for the Team
Salukis Toby Barnett and Nathan Boldt have reached base at least six times on hit-by-pitches. Barnett has been hit seven times, while Boldt has been hit six. For Boldt, five of those occasions have come over SIU's last seven games. On the year, Saluki batters have been hit a total of 27 times.
Nice Cannon
Starting senior catcher Toby Barnett has gunned down a team-leading nine runners on the basepaths this season. Most recently, Barnett pegged three runners trying to steal in game two of SIU's doubleheader against Indiana State (3/29). Two of those outs were key in the bottom of the ninth, where thanks to Barnett, the Sycamores ended up stranding their tying run on third base.
First Time for Everything
SIU was on the losing end of a shutout in game three against Indiana State (3/29). The blanking marked the first time this season that the Salukis have been shutout by an opponent.
The Coaches
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81; SIU, '87) is 209-252 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, Mark Hogan (SEMO, '77) is 258-193-1 in his ninth year at the Indian helm. Under Hogan, the Indians have reached the OVC Championship title game in five of his previous eight years.
About the Salukis
SIU enters Wednesday's matchup on a two-game losing streak after running into some remarkable pitching at Indiana State last weekend. Junior first baseman Josh Markle continues to lead all Salukis at the plate hitting .351 on the year. In 16 starts, Markle has registered 14 runs scored, 20 hits, four doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI. Right-fielder Sal Frisella follows sporting a .349 clip. Frisella leads the Dawgs in several offensive categories, including hits (30), runs scored (20), home runs (4), total bases (46) and stolen bases (5).
About the Indians
Mississippi River rival Southeast Missouri State looks to defend its seven-game winning streak Wednesday when it comes to Carbondale. The Indians, who are coming off a pair of wins over Missouri Valley, are led by senior infielder Tristen McDonald. Hitting .348 in 18 games this season, McDonald has posted 15 runs, 23 hits, five doubles and seven RBI on the year. Meanwhile, Justin Christian possesses good speed on the basepaths, where he has stolen 9-of-10 bags this season.
Thunder from Down Under
Toby Barnett, who hails from Kallaroo, Australia, is currently on a 12-game hitting streak and has posted two or more hits in five of those contests. The team's fourth-leading offensive threat hitting .316, Barnett has accumulated 13 runs scored, 17 RBI, four doubles and four homers this season.
Hefty Haberer
Left-hander Eric Haberer extended his scoreless inning streak to 10.2 innings last weekend against Indiana State (3/28-30). Haberer threw 1.1 innings in two appearances against the Sycamores. Holding a 1-1 record on the mound this season, the native of Bloomington, Ill., has struck out eight batters and carries a 3.92 ERA.
On Deck
SIU returns to Missouri Valley Conference action this weekend when it hosts Illinois State in a four-game series beginning Friday at 2 p.m.
