Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball hosts Illinois Tuesday
04/30/2007 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 30, 2007
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2007
First Pitch: 3 p.m., CST
Site: Abe Martin Field (2,000)
Series History: SIU leads, 25-18
Head Coaches: SIU-Dan Callahan (350-360-1/13th Year).
Illinois-Dan Hartleb (49-49/2nd Year).
Audio: www.siusalukis.com
Livestats: www.siusalukis.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Tyler Choate (2-1), SIU vs. RHP Kevin Manson (1-1), Illinois
SERIES HISTORY
SIU leads the all-time series against Illinois, 25-18. The Salukis and Fighting Illini first started playing each other in 1954. SIU is 6-7 against Illinois under head coach Dan Callahan. The Salukis and Illini did not play in 2006. Tuesday's game marks the front end of a home-and-home between the two teams. SIU will visit Champaign on Apirl 29, 2008.
HOME COOKING
SIU vyes for its 20th win at home when it squares off against Illinois. The Salukis, currently 19-6 in Carbondale this year, have the most home victories of any team in the Missouri Valley Conference. With a win over the Illini, SIU will reach 20 wins at home for the third-straight year. The Dawgs are 61-23 (.726) at Abe Martin Field since 2005.
HOW SWEEP IT IS
The Salukis used three-straight, two-run victories to clinch their second sweep in Valley play. SIU beat Missouri State, 5-3, 6-4 and 10-8 en route to sweeping the Bears for the first time in school history. SIU has swept five opponents (Central Michigan, Youngstown State, Western Michigan, Illinois State, Missouri State) in Carbondale this season.
MR. MILESTONE
Dan Callahan recorded two milestone wins in four days time last week. Callahan earned his 500th career victory in over 18 years as a NCAA Division I head coach against Saint Louis (April 25). He then picked up his 350th career win as Southern's head coach against Missouri State (April 29). Callahan is now 503-518-2 all-time (total included six seasons at Eastern Illinois) and 350-360-1 (13th year) at SIU. Callahan ranks ninth in most wins at a MVC school.
GEORGE SAVES THE SERIES
True freshman Bryant George saved all three of SIU's wins against Missouri State last weekend. George struck out five, allowed only one hit and tossed four scoreless innings in a total of four relief appearances. He began the week by recording back-to-back strikeouts as part of a perfect ninth against Saint Louis. He then retired the Bears in order in the ninth inning of games one and three, and pitched out of a first-and-third, two-out jam to get the save in game two. In addition to his five Ks, George registered six fly ball outs and one groundball out on the week. His team-high nine saves in 2007 are currently tied for fourth on SIU's all-time single-season list.
ABOUT THE ILLINI
Illinois comes to Carbondale after losing six of its last nine games. The Illini, who were recently swept by Minnesota in Champaign last weekend, are 20-20 under second-year head coach and former Saluki Dan Hartleb. Offensively, Illinois is third in the Big Ten with a .331 average. Pitching wise, the Illini rank eighth in the league with a 6.84 ERA. Illinois pitchers are allowing 11.2 hits and 7.3 runs per game. The Illini staff has also given up at least 10 runs in each of its previous six losses. Lars Davis (6th) and Kyle Hudson (9th) are among the Big Ten's leading hitters. Davis is hitting .439 with 38 runs, seven doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 42 RBI and Hudson boasts a .405 clip with 28 runs, 18 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Illinois leads the Big Ten with 87 stolen bases in 111 attempts this year.
LAST TIME AGAINST ILLINOIS
Illinois came from behind to beat SIU, 9-7, in 10 innings the last time these teams met in 2005. The Saluki bullpen gave up seven runs, nine hits and five walks in the last five innings of that game. SIU (15) and Illinois (13) combined for 28 hits in the see-saw slugfest.
