Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball hosts Arkansas State Wednesday
03/24/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 24, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Game 24
Southern Illinois University (10-13) vs. Arkansas State (9-11)
Date: Wednesday, March 25
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
First Pitch: 3 p.m., CT
Stadium: Abe Martin Field (2,000)
Head Coaches: SIU: Dan Callahan (400-403-1/15th Year); ASU: Tommy Raffo (9-11/First 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: Sunny, 61 degrees
Probable Starting Pitchers
Wednesday - LHP Jimmy Cornell (0-1, 5.29 ERA) vs. RHP Drew Benes (2-2, 5.82 ERA)
Salukis on Three-Game Winning Streak
Southern Illinois University enters the week on a three-game winning streak after opening Missouri Valley Conference play with a sweep of Northern Iowa last weekend. The winning streak is the Salukis' longest of the 2009 season.
Serritella on 10-game Hitting Streak
Freshman 1B/DH Chris Serritella hit .412 (7-for-17) with two home runs and eight RBI in five games for SIU last week. Serritella, who hails from Glenview, Ill., had a hand in 10 of the Salukis' runs. He broke a 1-1 tie when he hit a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the sixth inning at Middle Tennessee State (3/17). Three days later, Serritella launched another three-run bomb, this time in the fourth inning, against Northern Iowa (3/20). Serritella, who is on a 10-game hitting streak -- the longest of any Saluki this season -- also boasted a .765 slugging percentage and .450 on-base percentage on the week. Serritella ranks third in the MVC in batting average.
SIU in Midweek Games
Wednesday marks SIU's eighth midweek game of the season. The Salukis are currently 3-4 in midweek games. SIU is 2-2 during the midweek at Abe Martin Field.
Salukis vs. Red Wolves
The Salukis and Red Wolves meet for the 65th time Wednesday. SIU leads the all-time series, 46-18. SIU scored seven runs on eight hits in the fourth inning en route to a 10-3 win over ASU in Jonesboro a year ago. The Red Wolves visit Carbondale for the first time since 1995, Dan Callahan's first year as the Salukis' head coach.
