Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis face SEMO in Wednesday afternoon tilt
03/01/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
| Southeast Missouri State (4-3, 0-0 OVC) at Southern Illinois (4-3, 0-0 MVC) | |
| Date | Wednesday, March 2 |
| Time | 3:00 p.m. |
| Location | Itchy Jones Stadium - Carbondale, Ill. |
| Probables | RHP Bryce Sablotny (SIU) vs RHP Jacob Lawrence (SEMO) |
| Video | None |
| Radio | None |
| Free Audio | None |
| Game Notes | Southern Illinois |
| Live Stats | |
| 2016 Season Stats | Southern Illinois |
| Social Media | @SIU_Baseball |Saluki Athletics |
DUE UP
The Salukis open the month of March with a Wednesday afternoon game against OVC foe Southeast Missouri State. Both teams enter the series with a 4-3 record.
WEDNESDAY'S STARTER
Bryce Sablotny will be on the mound for the Salukis in the start against the Redhawks. In his first start of the season, Sablotny pitched four innings against against Austin Peay. He surrendered seven runs on eight hits in the loss. He currently holds an ERA of 15.75 with two strikeouts.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
Southern enters Wednesday's game riding a three- game winning streak after sweeping Western Illinois this past weekend at home. Offensively, the Salukis are hitting .271 with 36 runs scored. Dyllin Mucha leads SIU with a team-high .455 batting average, while Logan Blackfan and Connor Kopach are tied for first on the team with 10 hits each. The Saluki pitching staff holds an ERA of 4.20 through seven games this season. Chad Whitmer leads the team with 18 strikeouts, while Ryan Netemeyer and Gavyn Ellet both have yet to surrender a run. Netemeyer has made two appearances this season and has recorded a save in both outings.
SEMO SERIES NOTES
SIU leads the all-time series 51-29-1 against the Redhawks. The teams met two times last season with each team winning at home. In their last meeting, SIU defeated SEMO, 6-2.
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
SEMO comes into Carbondale holding a 4-3 record. The Redhawks are also on a winning streak, having won their last four games. The Redhawks are currently hitting .268 with 48 runs scored. Branden Boggetto leads the team with a .414 batting average and 12 hits. Daniel Costello has a team-high eight RBI. SEMO as a team ERA of 2.19 so far this season. Wednesday starter Jacob Lawrence will make his first start of the season against SIU. He has appeared in two games and as an ERA of 3.38.
BRING OUT THE BROOMS
The Salukis earned their first three-game series sweep since 2014 this past weekend against Western Illinois. The last opponent SIU swept was Mississippi Valley State. The sweep clinching game came on 5/11/14, with 5-1 Saluki victory.
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 five doubles. He is currently the MVC leader in the category and is tied for 10th in the NCAA. Last year, Blackfan hit 19 doubles to tie for eighth in SIU's single-season record book for doubles hit.
TURNING TWO
The Saluki infield continues to make plays when opposing hitters get on base. Southern has turned 11 double-plays this season to rank first in the MVC, five more than second place. SIU is also one of the top teams in the NCAA, sitting tied for fifth in the country.
BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS
SIU earned their first back-to-back shutouts in the series win against Western Illinois this past weekend. With two-straight 9-0 wins, SIU held an opponent scoreless for the first time since 2012.
STEAL AT YOUR OWN RISK
Teams have a tough decision to make if they want to steal on the Salukis. In 11 steal attempts this season, SIU has nearly caught 50% of them with 5 caught stealing by.
WE'RE HITTING DINGERS
In seven games this season, the Salukis have already hit five home runs. Last season, it took SIU 19 games to hit five home runs and finished the 2015 season with 14 total home runs.
