Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Baseball finishes four-game road trip at Austin Peay
02/22/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Feb. 22, 2016
DUE UP
Southern Illinois finishes a four-game road trip with a Tuesday afternoon game at OVC foe Austin Peay.
TUESDAY'S STARTER
Senior Bryce Sablotny will take the mound for the Salukis in his first start of the season. Last year, Sablotny had a record of 2-4 as Southern's Saturday starter. He started 15 games and pitched a team-high 70.2 innings. He struck-out 33 batter and held an ERA of 3.95. Sablotny returns to Southern after earning an extra year of eligibility.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
The Salukis opened the season with a three-game series at McNeese State, going 1-2 to start the year. The SIU offense scored eight runs over the opening weekend. Southern is hitting .204 to start the year with 20 hits in 98 at-bats. Logan Blackfan leads SIU with five hits. The SIU pitching staff currently holds an ERA of 5.04. In 25 innings, Saluki pitchers have recorded 22 strikeouts and have allowed 14 runs on 22 hits.
AUSTIN PEAY SERIES NOTES
SIU leads the all-time series 24-11 against Austin Peay. The Salukis and Governors split the season series last year, with both teams winning at home.
SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS
The Governors enter Tuesday's matchup with a 2-1 record, after winning the opening weekend series against Bradley. APSU is currently hitting .293 with 29 hits in 99 at-bats. Dre Gleason and Alex Robles leads APSU with five hits each, while Gleason leads the team in RBI with 5. The Governors pitching staff has an ERA of 4.00. APSU pitchers have recorded 26 strikeouts, while giving up 14 runs on 21 hits.
DOUBLE MACHINE
Logan Blackfan has shown he has not lost a step from last season, as the sophomore first baseman has opened the 2016 season with four doubles. He currently is the MVC leader in the category. Last year, Blackfan hit 19 doubles to tie for eighth in SIU's single-season record book for doubles hit.
TURNING TWO
The Saluki defense made several plays during the opening weekend, with none more important than the six double-plays turned. In SIU's win against McNeese on Feb. 20, the Saluki defense opened the game by turning three-straight inning ending double-plays. SIU led the MVC last year with 58 double-plays and are currently first in the category again.
SABO TO THE RESCUE
Ryan Sabo hit his second career home run this past weekend and it proved to be a crucial one. With Saturday's game tied at 1-1, Sabo turned on a pitch and sent it into left field to give SIU a 2-1 lead, which would prove to be the deciding run in the game.
WINGMEN
The middle infield combination of Will Farmer and Connor Kopach has been very strong for Southern this season. Both players rank in the top-10 in the MVC in assists, with Farmer tied for fourth with 11 and Kopach tied for seventh with nine. The two have also been involved in five of SIU's six double-plays.
WELCOME BACK
Austin Covers and Connor Kopach return to the Salukis healthy in 2016, after missing most of 2015 with injuries. Kopach played in four games before a broken hand ended his season early. Covers made one appearance at TCU, holding the Horned Frogs hitless in one inning of work. Both are expected to contribute this season.
| Southern Illinois (1-2, 0-0 MVC) at Austin Peay (2-1, 0-0 OVC) | |
| Date | Tuesday Feb. 23 |
| Time | 1 p.m. |
| Location | Raymond C. Hand Park - Clarksville, Tenn. |
| Probables | RHP Bryce Sablotny (SIU) vs LHP Josh Rye |
| Video | OVC Digital Network |
| Radio | None |
| Free Audio | Austin Peay Audio |
| Game Notes | Southern Illinois |
| Live Stats | |
| 2016 Season Stats | Southern Illinois |
| Social Media | @SIU_Baseball |Saluki Athletics |
DUE UP
Southern Illinois finishes a four-game road trip with a Tuesday afternoon game at OVC foe Austin Peay.
TUESDAY'S STARTER
Senior Bryce Sablotny will take the mound for the Salukis in his first start of the season. Last year, Sablotny had a record of 2-4 as Southern's Saturday starter. He started 15 games and pitched a team-high 70.2 innings. He struck-out 33 batter and held an ERA of 3.95. Sablotny returns to Southern after earning an extra year of eligibility.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
The Salukis opened the season with a three-game series at McNeese State, going 1-2 to start the year. The SIU offense scored eight runs over the opening weekend. Southern is hitting .204 to start the year with 20 hits in 98 at-bats. Logan Blackfan leads SIU with five hits. The SIU pitching staff currently holds an ERA of 5.04. In 25 innings, Saluki pitchers have recorded 22 strikeouts and have allowed 14 runs on 22 hits.
AUSTIN PEAY SERIES NOTES
SIU leads the all-time series 24-11 against Austin Peay. The Salukis and Governors split the season series last year, with both teams winning at home.
SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS
The Governors enter Tuesday's matchup with a 2-1 record, after winning the opening weekend series against Bradley. APSU is currently hitting .293 with 29 hits in 99 at-bats. Dre Gleason and Alex Robles leads APSU with five hits each, while Gleason leads the team in RBI with 5. The Governors pitching staff has an ERA of 4.00. APSU pitchers have recorded 26 strikeouts, while giving up 14 runs on 21 hits.
DOUBLE MACHINE
Logan Blackfan has shown he has not lost a step from last season, as the sophomore first baseman has opened the 2016 season with four doubles. He currently is the MVC leader in the category. Last year, Blackfan hit 19 doubles to tie for eighth in SIU's single-season record book for doubles hit.
TURNING TWO
The Saluki defense made several plays during the opening weekend, with none more important than the six double-plays turned. In SIU's win against McNeese on Feb. 20, the Saluki defense opened the game by turning three-straight inning ending double-plays. SIU led the MVC last year with 58 double-plays and are currently first in the category again.
SABO TO THE RESCUE
Ryan Sabo hit his second career home run this past weekend and it proved to be a crucial one. With Saturday's game tied at 1-1, Sabo turned on a pitch and sent it into left field to give SIU a 2-1 lead, which would prove to be the deciding run in the game.
WINGMEN
The middle infield combination of Will Farmer and Connor Kopach has been very strong for Southern this season. Both players rank in the top-10 in the MVC in assists, with Farmer tied for fourth with 11 and Kopach tied for seventh with nine. The two have also been involved in five of SIU's six double-plays.
WELCOME BACK
Austin Covers and Connor Kopach return to the Salukis healthy in 2016, after missing most of 2015 with injuries. Kopach played in four games before a broken hand ended his season early. Covers made one appearance at TCU, holding the Horned Frogs hitless in one inning of work. Both are expected to contribute this season.
Players Mentioned
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