Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Hosts No. 8 Notre Dame This Weekend
03/19/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 19, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (2-12) plays at home for just the second time when it hosts No. 8 Notre Dame (12-1) in a two-game series this weekend. The Salukis and Fighting Irish square off Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at noon.
ND, who has played every one of its games away from home this season, visits SIU for the first time. Prior to this weekend, both teams have met a total of nine times. The Fighting Irish hold a 6-3 advantage in those games, which were all played at neutral sites.
Currently on a two-game winning streak, SIU looks to continue its success at the plate. The Saluki offense has been merely on fire as of late, and as a result, registered 10 or more hits in five of its last six games. Collecting an impressive 80 hits over that span, SIU also raised its batting average by at least 26 points in each of the last two weeks.
Most recently, several Saluki hitters stepped up in a 22-6 rout of Murray State on Mar. 18. Namely, sophomore Matt Brewer, who broke out of a 0-for-16 slump by going 5-for-6 with three runs scored, a single-game record three doubles and one RBI. Brewer's efforts helped lead the Dawgs to a season-high 25 hits on the day.
Meanwhile, nationally-ranked ND brings a five-game winning streak to "The Abe." The Fighting Irish have beaten a host of top-25 opponents this season, including USC, Winthrop, Florida Atlantic, Minnesota and Arizona.
Recently posting a 6-1 win against a hot-hitting Texas Tech squad, the Fighting Irish are led by Sean Gaston (.480) and Matt Edwards (.435), who each hit .435 or better in a minimum of five starts. Like SIU, ND is also solid offensively, where it hits .324 as a team. The Irish have also registered double-digits in hits on eight occasions this season.
SIU will look to avenge an earlier loss to ND this season. Both teams met on Mar. 6 at the Irish Classic in San Antonio, Texas, where ND won, 12-11, in 11 innings. The Salukis held an early six-run lead before the Irish tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
SIU left-hander Eric Haberer (0-0, 3.09 ERA) and ND ace right-hander Chris Niesel (3-0, 3.42 ERA) will take the mound Saturday. Both pitchers started in SIU and ND's last matchup in San Antonio. Haberer held the Irish scoreless for three innings before his solid five-inning performance ended in a no-decision, while Niesel lasted lasted three innings, where he allowed six hits and five runs.
