Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball hosts Northern Iowa in Valley opener this weekend
03/19/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 19, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Games 21-23
Southern Illinois University (7-13, 0-0 MVC) vs. Northern Iowa (8-9, 0-0 MVC)
Dates: Friday-Sunday, March 20-22
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Series Schedule: Fri. - 3 p.m.; Sat. - 2 p.m.; Sun. - 1 p.m., CT
Stadium: Abe Martin Field (2,000)
Head Coaches: SIU: Dan Callahan (397-403-1, 185-217-1 MVC/15th Year); UNI: Rick Heller (255-261-1, 119-145 MVC/10th Year)
Radio: WFRX 1300 AM. Mike Reis (Play-by-Play)
Audio Webcast: www.siusalukis.com (Saluki All-Access)
Live Stats: www.siusalukis.com
Weather Forecast: Fri. - Sunny, 62 degrees; Sat. - Mostly Sunny, 54 degrees; Mostly Sunny, 64 degrees
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday - RHP Nathan Forer (0-3, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Nick Kirk (2-1, 2.77 ERA)
Saturday - RHP Adam Curynski (1-1, 5.56 ERA) vs. RHP Derek Ott (0-2, 5.32 ERA)
Sunday - To be determined
Salukis Open Missouri Valley Play this Weekend
Southern Illinois University opens Missouri Valley Conference play at home against Northern Iowa this weekend. The Salukis and Panthers open a three-game series on Friday at 3 p.m., CT.
Host with the Most
SIU opens MVC play against UNI at home for the third time in six years. The Salukis also hosted the Panthers in their conference-opener in 2003 and 2005. SIU swept each of those series.
Home Sweet Home
The Salukis have won nine of their last 10 games against the Panthers in Carbondale. SIU is 16-2 with five-straight series wins versus UNI at Abe Martin Field dating back to 1999. UNI has not won a series in Carbondale since 1997.
Let's Make it Eight
SIU has started the Valley season with a win seven years in a row. The Salukis also began conference play with series wins in each of the last six seasons. The Dawgs open their MVC slate in Carbondale for the seventh time in eight years.
Dawgs vs. Panthers
SIU owns a 41-19 series lead against UNI since 1992. The Salukis are 35-18 all-time against the Panthers under head coach Dan Callahan. Those 35 wins are Callahan's most against any of the MVC teams he has faced. SIU has won 16 of the last 22 meetings with UNI.
