Baseball hosts Illinois State this weekend

April 23, 2009

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

Games 39-41

Southern Illinois (15-23, 3-8) vs. Illinois State (19-13, 9-4)

Dates: Friday-Sunday, April 24-26
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 (405-413-1/188-225-1 MVC/15th Year); ISU: Jim Brownlee (151-198/190-224 MVC/Seventh 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: Friday - Mostly Sunny, 88 degrees; Saturday - Sunny, 83 degrees; Sunday - Mostly Sunny, 77 degrees

Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday - RHP Adam Curynski (1-4, 5.17 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Camp (4-1, 4.37 ERA)
Saturday - LHP Jimmy Cornell (2-1, 2.51 ERA) vs. RHP Corey Maines (6-2, 3.22 ERA)
Sunday - RHP Andrew Dunn (4-4, 2.98 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Copeland (3-4, 3.36 ERA)

Dawgs Open Second Half of MVC Play vs. Redbirds
Southern Illinois University opens the second half of its Missouri Valley Conference schedule at home against Illinois State this weekend. The Salukis and Redbirds open a three-game series on Friday at 3 p.m., CT.

Looking for a Turnaround
SIU, which finished the first half of MVC play at 3-8, is currently seventh in the league standings. This year marks the third-straight where the Salukis have held a losing record through their first 12 Valley games. SIU, however, regrouped to post winning records during the second half of the MVC schedule each of the last two seasons. Here is a look at those turnarounds:
2007 - 5-7 (first half); 8-4 (second half); 13-11 (MVC record)
2008 - 4-8 (first half); 8-4 (second half); 12-12 (MVC record)
2009 - 3-8 (first half)

Salukis vs. Redbirds
SIU and Illinois State meet for the 149th time Friday. The Salukis own a 78-70 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1948.SIU is 22-29 all-time against the Redbirds under head coach Dan Callahan. The Salukis have won eight of 12 games against the Redbirds since 2005. SIU has posted three-consecutive series victories

Series Notes