Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Hosts Illinois State This Weekend
04/03/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 3, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. -
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Dates:Fri.-Sun., April 4-6
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
Rankings:Neither team is ranked
Series History
SIU holds a 66-64 lead in its all-time series against Illinois State. Last season, the Salukis split their four-game series with the Redbirds. ISU won games one and four and SIU took games two and three. All four games were won by no more than three runs.
Where They Stand
SIU currently stands in a three-way tie for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a record of 6-2. The Salukis, along with SMS and Indiana State presently share that spot. Illinois State, on the other hand, is in seventh place with a 2-6 league mark. By virtue of a series sweep of Illinois State, Wichita State stands atop the MVC with a perfect 4-0 mark.
Be Careful This Weekend
Putting aside the fact that ISU has lost five of its last six games, and comes to Carbondale after taking a 32-15 pounding over four losses at Wichita State (3/28-30), SIU knows it can't underestimate the Redbirds. Historically, SIU has not fared too well against ISU and here is a breakdown showing what the Dawgs have done against the 'Birds since the early '80s: Richard "Itch" Jones
1982 -- 2-2
1983 -- 2-2
1984 -- 0-2
1985 -- 2-2
1986 -- 3-1
1987 -- 2-2
1988 -- 2-2
1989 -- 2-2
1990 -- 4-0
Totals 19-15
Sam Riggleman
1991 -- 3-1
1992 -- 2-1
1993 -- 1-2
1994 -- 1-1
Totals -- 7-5
Dan Callahan
1995 -- 0-4
1996 -- 3-1
1997 -- 1-3
1998 -- 1-3
2000 -- 2-2
2001 -- 1-3
2002 -- 2-2
Totals 10-18
To break it down even more, SIU has swept ISU just one time (1990); ISU has swept SIU twice; there have been nine series splits; SIU has posted three series wins; and ISU has registered six series wins, including three of the last five, four-game sets.
The Coaches
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81); SIU, '87) is 209-253, 107-146 MVC, 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, Jim Brownlee (Illinois State, '70) is 8-13, 2-6 MVC, in his first year as head coach at his alma mater of Illinois State. No stranger to the Valley, Brownlee spent the last 23 seasons at the helm of the University of Evansville.
About the Salukis
SIU heads into this weekend looking to break out of a three-game losing streak after falling to Mississippi River rival Southeast Missouri State Wednesday. Offensively, the Salukis have sputtered as of late scoring just nine runs in their last four games. Also striking out a total of 35 times in those contests, SIU has posted just 26 hits in that span, after having registered 55 in its previous five games. On the year, the Dawgs are hitting .279 with 129 runs scored, 241 hits and 168 strikeouts.
Saluki Pitching Rotation
Friday - Jake Alley (RHP, 2-1, 5.34 ERA); Saturday - Game One: Bryan Rueger (LHP, 2-0, 1.77 ERA); Game Two: Andrew Weber (RHP, 1-1, 3.00 ERA); Sunday - Jerel Deitering (RHP, 1-3, 5.28 ERA).
About the Redbirds
ISU snapped a five-game losing streak with a 16-9 win over Eastern Illinois Tuesday. Despite the win, the Redbirds have lost six of their last eight games and head into Friday's matchup led by freshman Jay Molina. Molina is hitting .370 with eight doubles, 14 runs scored, two homers and 21 RBI.
Redbird Pitching Rotation
Friday - Kyle Bloom (LHP, 2-2, 5.22 ERA); Saturday - Game One: Todd Stein (LHP, 1-2, 3.33 ERA); Game Two: Josh Kauten (RHP, 1-2, 5.17 ERA). Sunday - Kyle Zaleski (RHP, 3-1, 8.18 ERA) or Brady Salter (RHP, 0-2, 4.12 ERA).
Awesome at the "Abe"
SIU has been tough to beat at Abe Martin Field, where it is currently 9-3 on the season. Recently, the Dawgs saw their five game home winning streak come to an end Wednesday when they fell to Southeast Missouri State, 7-5. Regardless of the loss, SIU started the 2003 campaign with a 9-2 home record for the first time since 1990.
Brooms for Sale
So far this season, there have been four series sweeps in just two weeks of MVC play. Wichita State's sweep of Illinois State last weekend stands as the most recent. Last year, a total of six series sweeps were recorded.
That's Gonna Leave a Mark
In three of its last four games, SIU has had the bases loaded with one out, and has only been able to generate one run. In game two against Indiana State (3/29), SIU had the bases juiced in the bottom of the eighth and could have used a couple insurance runs, but came away empty. In game three against the Sycamores (3/29), the Salukis found themselves in the same scenario, but couldn't score. On Wednesday against Southeast Missouri State, ducks were on the pond again in the bottom of the fourth, only this time, SIU pushed a run across. Interestingly enough, in two of those three situations, the rallies were silenced by a consecutive strikeout and fly ball out.
While on the Topic of Runs . . .
SIU has only scored six runs in the last 31 innings. Averaging nearly five runs per contest, the Salukis are being outscored by their opponents, 160-129, after 26 games.
Barnett Continues to Dominate
2003 Rotary Smith and Johnny Bench Award candidate Toby Barnett extended his hitting streak to 13 games Wednesday against Southeast Missouri State. The native of Kallaroo, W. Australia, went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. His multiple-hit performance marked the eighth time this season that he has registered two or more hits. Hitting a third-best .325 with a team-leading five home runs and 19 RBI, Barnett's streak began at Oklahoma (3/12).
Strikeouts Costing Salukis
After Wednesday's game against Southeast Missouri State, SIU saw its batting average drop to .279. Mainly the reason for that, was that the Salukis struck out a total of 10 times in a game for the second time this year. Averaging 6.5 strikeouts per contest, SIU has whiffed 40 times in its last 43 innings. Greg Andrews has struck out 32 times, the most of any Saluki this season.
Keep it Up Frisella
Senior right fielder Sal Frisella has posted two hits in three of SIU's last four games. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Frisella ranks atop the Salukis with 10 multiple-hit games. The team's leading threat at the plate hitting .356, Frisella ranks first in several other offensive categories, including runs scored (21), hits (32), total bases (48), walks (15), on-base percentage (.464) and stolen bases (5).
Saluki Rewind
Southern Illinois suffered its third straight loss Wednesday against Southeast Missouri State. Two big plays, including an unbelievable catch by Aaron Fangman in right field and a home run by Denver Stucky, highlighted the 7-5 win for the Indians. Fangman's grab appeared to save at least three runs, as SIU had the bases loaded with two out when he made a diving over-the-shoulder snow cone grab after having his back turned to home plate.
On Deck
Following its series with Illinois State this weekend, SIU will head to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for a rematch against Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday, April 9. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
