Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball hosts Ball State during spring break
03/09/2009 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 9, 2009
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Games 14-15
Southern Illinois University (4-9) vs. Ball State (5-5)
Dates: Tuesday-Wednesday, March 10-11
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Series Schedule: Tue. - 2 p.m., Wed. - 2 p.m., CT
Stadium: Abe Martin Field (2,000)
Head Coaches: SIU: Dan Callahan (394-399-1/15th Year); BSU: Greg Beals (193-153/7th Year)
Radio: WFRX 1300 AM. Mike Reis (Play-by-Play)
Audio/Video Webcast: www.siusalukis.com (Saluki All-Access)
Live Stats: www.siusalukis.com
Weather Forecast: Tue. - Rain and Thunderstorms, 72 degrees; Wed. - Cloudy, 46 degrees.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday - RHP Brad Lawrence (0-0, 27.00 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Warrington (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Wednesday - TBA vs. RHP Brenden Stines (0-1, 4.82 ERA)
10-Game Homestand
Southern Illinois University is in the midst of a 10-game homestand, which began against Tennessee-Martin on Mar. 3. The Salukis are 2-3 at the halfway point of their current stretch, which concludes this weekend against North Dakota (Mar. 13-15). SIU is scheduled to play 15 of 21 games at home this month.
Hey Mac
Ball State is the second-straight Mid-American Conference opponent SIU faces. The Salukis dropped two of three games against Northern Illinois last weekend.
Kelly on Six-Game Hitting Streak
Two-time, first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference catcher Mark Kelly enters the week on a six-game hitting streak. Kelly leads the Salukis in doubles (5) and RBI (15) and ranks second on the team with a .327 batting average. He hit .440 (11-for-25) with three runs scored, three doubles and six RBI over his last six games. Kelly's six-game hitting streak is the longest of any Saluki this season.
Salukis vs. Cardinals
SIU is 11-4 all-time against Ball State in a series which originated in 1967. The Salukis meet the Cardinals for the first time since 1995. The Salukis beat BSU, 4-1, in the Saluki/ Best Inns Classic that year, which marked Dan Callahan's first as SIU's head coach. The Dawgs own a seven-game winning streak against the Cardinals dating back to 1971.
