Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Hosts Creighton This Weekend
04/22/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 22, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (12-22-1, 6-9-1) and Creighton (20-14, 9-2) have two major things in common heading into their four-game series at Abe Martin Field this weekend. Both have won at least two straight games and each have knocked off a Top-20 opponent in the last week.
SIU, who heads into its third Missouri Valley Conference home series this season, opens a four-game set against second-place CU on Friday at 3 p.m. Both teams will then play a noon doubleheader Saturday, before concluding the series with a 1 p.m., single game Sunday.
The Salukis look to extend their winning streak to three games against the Jays this weekend. Currently in fifth-place in the MVC with a 6-9-1 mark, SIU is coming off a 9-6 win over Southeast Missouri State on Apr. 21. Prior to that, the Dawgs upset No. 11 Wichita State, 6-5, at Eck Stadium on Apr. 18. The loss marked the Shockers' first in conference play this season.
After spending three straight weekends in Omaha, CU hits the road to play its first conference series away from home in nearly a month when it visits SIU. CU, who ranks second in the Valley with a 9-2 record, has won three straight games, including a 6-4 win over No. 20 Nebraska on Apr. 20. For the Bluejays, the win snapped a six-game losing streak against the Huskers.
Offensively, Nathan Emrick is hitting .362 with 27 runs scored, 51 hits, five doubles, one home run, 21 RBI and 10 stolen bases to lead SIU, while Tony Roth tops the Bluejays hitting .310 with 26 runs, 36 hits, 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 19 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Pitching wise, SIU left-hander Eric Haberer and CU right-hander Steve Grasley will start Friday's series-opener. Haberer is 3-1 with a third-best 3.12 ERA and Grasley is 7-3 with a league-leading 65 strikeouts. Additionally, Grasley was one of three Bluejays who were ejected for arguing from the dugout in CU's 14-inning series finale against Illinois State on Apr. 18.
CU leads the MVC and the nation with a .979 fielding percentage. The Bluejays have committed just 26 errors in 34 games this season.
Meanwhile, SIU has committed 61 errors, including 22 in league games. The Salukis have also struck out 99 times against MVC opponents.
SIU holds a 46-39 lead in its all-time series against CU. Under head coach Dan Callahan, the Salukis are 18-15 against the Bluejays. Callahan's clubs have also compiled a 11-5 mark versus the Jays at Abe Martin Field. Last year, SIU posted a 2-1 series win over CU, marking the first time it beat the Bluejays in a series in Omaha since 1997.
All four games of this weekend's series between SIU and CU will be broadcast live on WCIL 1020 AM. All games can also be heard via the internet at www.siusalukis.com. Live stats can also be accessed at www.siusalukis.com.
