Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball squares off against Buffalo Wednesday
03/11/2008 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 11, 2008
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (5-5) faces the University at Buffalo (2-9) Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., CST, at Nelson W. Wolff Stadium.
SIU meets Buffalo for the first time in 34 years. These teams last played each other in 1974, with Buffalo winning by a score of 8-5.
Wednesday's matchup is the first of five games SIU will play in the Lonestar State during its spring break this week.
Right-hander Andrew Dunn (1-2) will take the mound against the Bulls.
Pre-Game Notes:
Salukis on Two-Game Winning Streak
SIU won back-to-back games for the first time this season when it beat Butler in Carbondale Sunday and Monday. The Salukis, who outscored the Bulldogs, 17-3, clinched their first series win in 2008.
Extra, Extra
SIU pounded out a season-high five extra base hits, including four doubles and one home run in Monday's game against Butler. Eight different Salukis, including Chris Murphy, Mark Kelly, Adam Hills, Scott Elmendorf, Tyler Bullock, Owen Mackedon, Aaron Roberts and Bret Maugeri have recorded extra base hits this year. Twenty-seven of SIU's hits have gone for extra bases through 10 games.
Top of Lineup Producing
The first five hitters in SIU's order, consisting of Chris Murphy, Scott Elmendorf, Adam Hills, Mark Kelly and Tyler Bullock have accounted for a total of 15 hits, 12 runs and 10 RBI in the last two games.
Double-Digit Hits
SIU registered 10 or more hits in each of its last three games. The Dawgs have recorded double-digit hits a total of five times this year, with a season-high 16 at Tennessee-Martin on Feb. 28.
Quality Starts
SIU has only allowed one walk in its last two starts on the mound. Cody Adams (1-1) struck out five, walked one and gave up four hits in six innings against Butler Sunday, while Shawn Joy (1-1) allowed four hits and struck out five in six scoreless innings versus the Bulldogs Monday. Adams has struck out 20 and walked only two in 18.2 innings as the team's strikeout leader this season.
Bullock on Five-Game Hitting Streak
Newcomer Tyler Bullock is currently on a five-game hitting streak. Bullock boasts a team-high four multiple-RBI games, as his hitting streak is second-longest by a Saluki this year.
Scouting the Bulls
Buffalo stumbles into San Antonio on a three-game losing streak. The Bulls, shutout in their last two games by New York Tech (8-0) and Akron (3-0), are hitting .272 on the year. Chris Ciesla and Jacob Rosebeck have been Buffalo's biggest threats at the plate thus far. Ciesla is hitting .366 with three doubles and six RBI, while Rosenbeck follows hitting .333 with a team-high six runs and two homers. Defensively, the Bulls are fielding .941 after committing 22 errors. Buffalo scored double-digit runs in both of its wins this year, with 10 coming at Morehead State (Mar. 2) and 12 coming against New York Tech (Mar. 7).
Spring Breakin' in San Antonio
SIU has visited San Antonio every other year since the 2002 season. The Salukis, along with Buffalo, Texas-Pan American and Notre Dame, will take part in the Irish Classic later this week. The 2008 season marks SIU's fifth appearance at the Irish Classic.
