Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Hosts SMS in Key Series This Weekend
04/16/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 16, 2003
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Dates:Fri.-Sun., April 18-20
First Pitches:Fri.-1 p.m.; Sat. - Noon (DH); Sun. - 1 p.m.
Ballpark: Abe Martin Field (2,000)
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Radio: WJPF 1020 AM
Rankings: Neither team is ranked
Series History
SIU trails, 16-36, in its overall series against SMS, which began in 1988. Last year, the Bears won three of their four games against the Salukis.
Hats Off to the Top Two
After taking three of four league games from their foes last weekend, #30 Wichita State and SIU stand atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings. The Shockers, who won a Valley series against Indiana State, and the Salukis, who took a league set from Bradley, don't meet until May 9-11 in Carbondale.
Up to the Challenge?
Along with Wichita State, SMS has given SIU the most trouble of any league opponent. In the last 14 campaigns, the Salukis have averaged one regular season win per year in at least two games against the Bears. Also during that span, SIU has never garnered more than a split in a series against SMS.
Series Breakdown
SIU trails, 16-36, in its overall series against SMS, which began in 1988. Under head coach Dan Callahan, no Saluki club has ever won a series against the Bears. The only time a Callahan-coached team came close to a series win over SMS was in 1996, where both teams split a four-game set.
"Itch" Jones
1988 1-1
1989 1-1
1990 2-1
Totals 4-3
Sam Riggleman
1991 1-3
1992 1-2
1993 0-3
1994 0-2
Totals 2-10
Dan Callahan
1995 1-3
1996 2-2
1997 1-1
1998 1-3
1999 0-3
2000 1-3
2001 1-3
2002 1-3
Totals 8-21
SIU and SMS also met four times at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, where they share a record of 2-2 in those contests.
Series Preview
SMS was preseason-picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference for the second straight time this season. Last year, the Bears finished third in the conference with a record of 19-13. Despite its third-place showing among Valley foes, SMS went 42-21 overall en route to clinching an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. This season, SMS currently ranks third in the MVC behind #30 Wichita State (27-12, 10-2) and SIU (20-14, 11-4).
Rankings
Prior to the 2003 campaign, SMS enjoyed their first-ever preseason rankings. The Bears were tabbed 24th by Collegiate Baseball, 29th by Sports Weekly/ESPN and 27th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. However, after 34 games this season, the Bears are not ranked.
Expect Plenty of Talent This Weekend
Between SIU and SMS, there were a total of six preseason all-conference selections and five belong to the Bears. Shortstop Shaun Marcum, outfielders Dant'e Brinkley and Greg Mathis, and pitchers Brad Ziegler and Bob Zimmerman were the elite Bears, while catcher Toby Barnett was the lone Saluki. Ziegler (2/24), along with other pitching phenom Chad Mulholland (3/10), garnered MVC Pitcher of the Week honors earlier this year.
Johnny Bench Award Candidates Go Head-to-Head
Catchers Toby Barnett (SIU) and Tony Piazza (SMS) are among candidates on this year's Johnny Bench Award Watch List. The award, presented by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission, goes to the season's top catcher in the nation.
The Coaches
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81; SIU, '87) is 214-256 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, Keith Guttin (Missouri-St. Louis) is 730-410 in his 21st season at the SMS helm. Guttin, who picked up his 700th career win against Wichita State (5/4/02), led SMS to its first MVC regular season title in 2001, as the Bears set a school record with 22 league victories.
Pitching Rotations
SIU and SMS have somewhat determined their pitching rotations for this weekend. Here is how they shape up:
SIU: Friday - Jake Alley (RHP, 4-1, 3.64 ERA); Saturday - Game One: Bryan Rueger (LHP, 4-0, 2.01 ERA); Game Two: Josh Joiner (RHP, 4-2, 5.53 ERA); Other pitchers that may throw are Jerel Deitering (RHP, 1-3, 5.35 ERA) and Tyler Norrick (LHP, 1-0, 3.71 ERA).
SMS: Friday - Chad Mulholland (RHP, 5-1, 3.19 ERA); Saturday - Game One: Brad Ziegler (RHP, 6-1, 4.92 ERA); Other pitchers that may throw are Bob Zimmerman (RHP, 2-2, 5.44 ERA), Jeff Gray (RHP, 1-0, 8.05 ERA) and David Bader (RHP, 2-1, 3.48 ERA).
Matchup Notes
SIU and SMS are each 20-14 overall...preseason all-conference picks Dant'e Brinkley (.336) and Toby Barnett (.330) rank atop their respective teams after 33 or more starts this season...the Salukis (.292, 4.66 ERA) and Bears (.295, 4.64 ERA) boast similar marks in both batting average and ERA...SIU has committed 53 errors while SMS has posted just 38 as part of a .970 fielding percentage...Brinkley (26) and Saluki second baseman Greg Andrews (34) have struck out at least 26 times this year...SMS has stolen 42-of-57 bases to SIU's 20-of-35...the SMS pitching staff (296 Ks) has struck out 132 more hitters than the SIU hurlers (164 Ks)...SIU and SMS are each coming off wins - the Salukis beat Bradley, 10-4, last Sunday and the Bears knocked off #23 Missouri, 12-9, on Tuesday.
Now Playing at Eleven
SIU (11-4), who posted its league-leading 11th win of the season at Bradley (4/13), is off to its best conference start since 1990. Under then-head coach Richard "Itch" Jones, the Salukis also began league play at 11-4. Finishing the 1990 campaign at 49-14 overall and 14-6 in the Valley, the Dawgs won both the league's regular season and tournament titles, before making their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance.
Dawg Gone It
Senior catcher Toby Barnett saw his hitting streak end at 19 games when he went 0-for-4 in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Bradley (4/12). During the impressive stretch, which began at Oklahoma on March 12, the native of W. Kallaroo, Australia registered 10 multiple-hit games, seven multiple-RBI contests, three doubles, 15 runs scored, 30 hits, six home runs and 23 runs batted in. The 19-game span, which is the longest of any Saluki this season, lasted exactly one month.
Holy Hits
SIU registered a series-high 50 hits at Bradley last weekend. The Salukis, who belted out 13 hits in game one, 14 in game two, 10 in game three and 13 in game four, surpassed their previous series-high of 44 which came against Northern Iowa (3/21-23). SIU's 50 hits overpowered a weekend total of 86 between the two teams, as BU also accounted for 36.
One-Pitch Wonders
Left-hander Eric Haberer entered game three against Bradley (4/12) with two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth. Haberer threw one pitch that forced BU right fielder Jason Newburger to hit into a double play. In doing so, he became the third SIU pitcher that has thrown a single pitch to get out of a jam in the Salukis' last four games. Adam Snyder and Jake Alley also threw one offering to escape two-baserunner scenarios at SE Missouri State (4/9).
Powerful Peorian
Starting second baseman Greg Andrews hit .375 with five runs scored, two doubles, a home run ad three RBI during a visit to his hometown of Peoria, Ill., last weekend. Andrews has been on fire as of late, posting two hits in four of the Salukis' previous five games, including the last three straight.
How Do the Salukis Spell Relief? . . . H-A-B-E-R-E-R
Left-hander Eric Haberer has been the most productive SIU pitcher out of the bullpen this season. Making a team-high 14 appearances, including 13 in relief, Haberer has allowed nine earned runs and issued just four walks in 21.0 innings. Striking out 10 batters, including two in three of his appearances, the native of Bloomington, Ill., has held opponents scoreless in 13 of his last 14 innings. Prior to allowing a pair of runs against Illinois State (4/5), he held a scoreless inning streak of 10.2 frames.
Frisella, Barnett and Kowzan . . . Sounds Dangerous
Seniors Sal Frisella, Toby Barnett and Ross Kowzan have joined forces to lead the Salukis in several offensive categories this season. Frisella, who shares the team-lead in both batting average (.330) and SAC flies (3) with Barnett, stands atop the squad in on-base percentage (.448), runs scored (30), walks (22), stolen bases (5) and steal attempts. Barnett, on the other hand, leads SIU in slugging percentage (.589), RBI (31), home runs (7), total bases (66) and hit by pitch (7). Meanwhile, Kowzan ranks first in doubles (8), triples (2) and SAC-bunts (5). Each of the patented trio has started 32 or more games this season.
Alley Assault Continues
Senior right-hander Jake Alley pitched a shutout through 7.2 innings in SIU's series-opener at Bradley (4/11). In his eighth start of the season, the native of Anna, Ill., struck out six batters for the third time this season en route to his third consecutive win on the mound. Despite giving up eight hits and four walks, Alley allowed just two runs. He also escaped a one-out, bases loaded jam in the bottom of the second, which saw him sprint from the mound to finish off a rare 3-6-1 double play. Alley, who leads the team with 33 strikeouts this season, ranks fourth on SIU's all-time career strikeout list with 245 Ks.
Other Notable Performances from Last Week's Bradley Series
P.J. Finigan: Hit .412 (7-for-17) with six runs scored, two doubles and three RBI; Nathan Boldt: Began series going a perfect 5-for-5...hit .600 (9-for-15) with two runs and two RBI on the weekend; Ross Kowzan: Hit .471 (8-for-17) with two runs scored, two doubles, a stand-up triple and five RBI; Greg Andrews: Hit .375 (6-for-16) with five runs scored, two doubles, a home run and three RBI; Toby Barnett: Hit .267 (4-for-15) with one run, a triple, a home run and seven RBI; Nathan Emrick: Hit .714 (5-for-7) with two runs, a pair of doubles and four RBI in three starts as designated player. Bryan Rueger: Moved to a perfect 4-0 this season after picking up a win in game one of last Saturday's doubleheader. He struck out three batters and scattered seven hits through four frames of a seven-inning contest.
