Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Heads to Illinois State
04/29/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 29, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Fresh off a week's break, Southern Illinois (15-23-1, 9-10-1) returns to Missouri Valley Conference action this weekend when it plays a four-game series at Illinois State (14-23, 5-11), beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Salukis and Redbirds will also play a 1 p.m., doubleheader Saturday before concluding the series at 1 p.m., Sunday.
SIU won its series against ISU, 2-1, a year ago in Carbondale, but hasn't won a series in Normal since 1996. Under head coach Dan Callahan, the Salukis are 12-23 against the Redbirds, and hold a all-time 68-65 series lead.
The Dawgs are currently in fifth-place in the Valley and have won five of their last six games. SIU recently won three out of four games against second-place Creighton last weekend. The series win marked the Salukis' second over a league opponent this year.
In all five of SIU's wins prior to this weekend, the Salukis have registered between 10 and 12 hits. SIU has posted double-digits in the hit column on 18 occasions this season. Also, even though it had 10 or more hits in its last five games, SIU was out-hit in three of those contests, but still managed to win.
Nathan Emrick, who leads the Dawgs in batting average (.361), hits (56), runs (27) and stolen bases (11), ranks ninth in the league in hitting. He is currently on a six-game hitting streak and also leads his team with 17 multiple-hit performances.
Meanwhile, ISU is seventh in the league standings and enters the weekend coming off a 8-7 loss to Eastern Illinois (4/28) and a 10-5 win over Northern Illinois (4/27). The Redbirds return to league play for the first time since losing three of four games at Creighton on Apr. 16-18.
ISU ranks second in the Valley with 10 triples this season. Redbird pitching is second in the MVC with 300 strikeouts. The 'Birds also appear to be an aggressive team on the basepaths, where they rank second in the conference behind Wichita State with 57 stolen bases in 74 attempts. However, ISU baserunners have been picked off a league-leading 12 times.
Freshmen Matt Bolt and Luke Baughman are having impressive rookie campaigns this season. Last week, the two combined for 12 of ISU's 17 hits and both of the Redbirds' home runs. Heading into the weekend, the pair are first and second in RBI, as Bolt ties for first with 33 and Baughman follows with 27.
Luke is the brother of SIU senior outfielder/designated hitter Nick Baughman who is hitting a fourth-best .301 with 12 runs scored, 28 hits, three doubles, nine home runs and nine RBI in 29 games. Baughman is from Bloomington, Ill.
In addition to Baughman, Friday's starter Eric Haberer also hails from Bloomington. Haberer, who is 4-1 with a second-best 2.75 ERA, has struck out 34 batters in 52.1 innings.
Haberer will square off against Redbird right-hander Kyle Bloom. Bloom is 3-5 with a 5.85 ERA.
Saturday and Sunday's games between SIU and ISU will be broadcast live on WCIL-1020 AM. Those broadcasts will also be available at www.siusalukis.com. Live stats for all four games can be accessed at the Salukis' web site as well.
