Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baseball travels north to face Bradley
05/05/2011 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 5, 2011
By Jason Clay
SIUSalukis.com
Bradley Series: Games 45-47
Southern Illinois (17-27, 7-5 MVC) at Bradley (20-22, 2-10 MVC)
Game Dates & Times:
Friday, May 6 - 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 7 - 12 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 8 - 12 p.m. CT
Location: Peoria, Ill. - O'Brien Field (7,500)
Radio: All three games are available through the Saluki Sports Network with the call from Mike Reis. Friday's game is on WVZA 105.1-FM while Saturday and Sunday's games are through WFRX 1300-AM.
Live Stats: SIUSalukis.com
Radio Streaming: Through Game Central at SIUSalukis.com
Weather Forecast:
Friday - 67 degrees, partly cloudy, 20 percent chance of showers
Saturday - 77 degrees, 60 percent chance of thunderstorms
Sunday - 75 degrees, partly cloudy
Quick Hits
→ The Southern Illinois baseball team heads to Bradley this weekend for a three-game series at Peoria's O'Brien Field. Fans can listen to all three games on the Saluki Sports Network with the call from Mike Reis. Friday's game is on WVZA 105.1-FM while Saturday and Sunday's games are through WFRX 1300-AM. Radio streaming is available at SIUSalukis.com, through Game Central.
→ With a 7-5 league record, Southern Illinois heads to Bradley this weekend looking to stay towards the top of the conference standings. The Salukis are tied with Wichita State and Illinois State for second place in the MVC.
→ SIU has had recent success against the Braves, winning five of the past six meetings. Southern Illinois has fared well on the road this year in Valley play, owing a 5-1 record.
→ Last year the Salukis swept the Braves at home, which was their first sweep over Bradley since 2000. The Dawgs have never swept the Braves in Peoria and are 8-8 when playing at Bradley in the last 10 years.
→ Sophomore pitcher Cody Forsythe is 4-0 in league play and 6-3 overall this year. He has the league's lowest ERA (1.95) and also leads the conference in innings pitched (78.1) and fewest walks allowed (nine). Saturday will be his 12th start this year and if he records another victory, which would be his fifth-straight, he will become the first Saluki pitcher since Shawn Joy in 2008 to win five league games.
→ Traditionally, the month of May has been very good to Southern Illinois. Counting MVC games only, SIU is 44-31 against Valley teams in May regular season games over the last 10 years and is 20-10 over the last four seasons.
→ Jordan Sivertsen, after hitting .207 in 43 games last year, leads SIU with a .322 batting average this season. He has a team-high eight home runs, 14 doubles, 29 runs scored and 30 walks.
→ Southern Illinois is 15-12 this year when its starting pitcher lasts six innings or longer, but just 2-15 when they don't throw six complete innings.
