Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball Hosts Indiana State This Weekend
05/06/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 6, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (17-25-1, 11-12-1) returns to Carbondale to host Indiana State (16-26, 8-12) in its final Missouri Valley Conference home series of the season on May 7-9. The Salukis and Sycamores open a four-game series Friday at 3 p.m., and will play a noon doubleheader Saturday, before concluding at 1 p.m., Sunday.
SIU is 17-17 against ISU under head coach Dan Callahan. Since 1995, the Salukis posted three series wins against the Sycamores, including a 3-0 sweep in 1996. SIU and ISU, however, have split two of its last three four-game sets, including a year ago.
The Salukis enter the weekend winners of seven of their last 10 games. Currently in fourth-place in the Valley, SIU is 17-13-1 over its previous 31 outings since opening the 2004 season at 0-12.
SIU's all-purpose phenom Nathan Emrick continues to lead the Salukis with a .371 batting average. A native of Griggsville, Ill., Emrick played his sixth different position of the season when he was moved to right field in SIU's 10-1 win over Illinois State on May 1. Prior to that, Emrick had played at least one game at catcher, first base, third base, shortstop and left field.
Meanwhile, ISU comes to Carbondale after being swept at Southwest Missouri State a week ago. The Sycamores, who occupy the sixth-place spot in the league standings, are led by Josh Prickett .354 clip at the plate. ISU's 16 wins this season are currently the fewest registered by a Bob Warn coached team.
ISU 29-year head coach Warn was an outfielder for the Salukis in 1968. That year, SIU advanced to the College World Series where it dropped a 4-3 decision to Southern California in the finals. SIU also finished No. 2 in the final Collegiate Baseball Poll that year.
Saluki left-hander Eric Haberer (4-2, 2.83 ERA) will square off against Sycamore right-hander Matt Zaleski (4-4, 2.71 ERA) in Friday's opener.
All four games between SIU and ISU will be broadcast live on WCIL-1020 AM. Those broadcasts can also be accessed at www.siusalukis.com. There will be no live stats for this weekend's series.
