Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Heads to SE Missouri State Wednesday
04/20/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 20, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (11-22-1) visits Mississippi River rival Southeast Missouri State (17-18) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Salukis will look to post their second win over the Indians after last beating SEMO on Mar. 23.
SIU is 3-0 against Ohio Valley Conference opponents and 5-13 in non-conference play this season.
The Salukis are coming off a 6-5 comeback win at No. 11 Wichita State on Apr. 18. Greg Andrews and Cory Newman each hit home runs to fuel the win. Both Andrews and Newman also homered the last time the Dawgs beat the Shockers in a regular-season game at Wichita (May 19, 2002).
Although Andrews has been a big part of SIU's offense with his team-high eight home runs, sophomore Nathan Emrick leads the team with a .328 average. A native of Griggsville, Ill., Emrick also tops the Salukis in runs scored (25), hits (49), total bases (54) and stolen bases (10).
As a team, SIU is hitting .272 and is averaging nearly seven (6.8) strikeouts per game. The Salukis have also committed 61 errors on the year.
Meanwhile, SEMO has lost three of its last four games and is coming off a 9-7 win against Austin Peay (4/ 18). The Indians are spearheaded by Eric Horstman who is hitting .360 with 38 runs, 11 doubles, three triples and 24 RBI. He is followed by Freddy Lopez's .353 clip at the plate.
SIU holds a 35-18 lead in its overall series against SEMO. The Salukis are also 7-9 against the Indians under head coach Dan Callahan.
