Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball looks to stay hot as they open conference play
03/25/2010 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 25, 2010
By Jason Clay
www.SIUSalukis.com
Click Here to View Complete Game Notes 
Creighton Series: Games 22-24
Creighton (10-5, 0-0 MVC) at Southern Illinois (9-12, 0-0 MVC)
Game Dates & Times:
Friday, March 26 - 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 27 - 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 28 - 1 p.m.
Radio: Saluki Radio Network with Mike Reis on WFRX 1300-AM beginning 15 minutes before first pitch.
Live Stats: www.SIUSalukis.com
Radio Streaming: Saluki All-Access
Weather Forecast:
Friday - 54 degrees, sunny
Saturday - 63 degrees, partly cloudy
Sunday - 56 degrees, 60 percent chance of rain
Quick Hits
• The Southern Illinois baseball team opens up Missouri Valley Conference play by hosting the Creighton Bluejays for a three-game series at Abe Martin Field. Game one begins on Friday, March 26 at 3 p.m. SIU and CU play Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
• The Saluki Radio Network is broadcasting all three games on WFRX 1300-AM (102.5-FM at Abe Martin Field Only). "Voice of the Salukis" Mike Reis will have the call for the three-game set. He will be joined by Gene Green on Friday and Saturday and by Shawn Patrick on Sunday in the broadcast booth. The pregame show for all games begins 15 minutes before first pitch and radio streaming of all three games is available under Saluki All-Access at www.SIUSalukis.com.
• Southern Illinois leads the Missouri Valley Conference entering league play with a .327 team batting average. However, Saluki opponents are hitting .348 off the Dawgs and that opposing batting average is also the highest in the conference.
• The Salukis enter conference play having won four out of their last five games, which is their best five-game stretch this year.
• SIU's 22 home runs through 21 games are nine more than they've hit in that time frame in each of the past six seasons.
• The Dawgs are in the midst of a season-long eight-game home stand. SIU started off the stretch with a 9-8 win over Eastern Illinois. The Salukis are 5-4 at home this year.
• Saluki third baseman Tony Lepore has eight hits in his last 14 at-bats. He along with Chris Serritella (three home runs in the last five games) and Blake Pinnon (homered in each of the past two games) enter the series red-hot.
• The Salukis have won seven of its last eight league openers and have taken the conference-opening series in six of the last seven seasons.
