Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Baseball hosts Jacksonville State for three-game series
03/31/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
| Jacksonville State (17-7, 9-0 OVC) at Southern Illinois (15-9-1, 0-0 MVC) | |
| Date | Friday, April 1 - Sunday, April 3 |
| Time | Friday - 1 p.m. Saturday - 2 p.m. Sunday - 1 p.m. |
| Location | Itchy Jones Stadium - Carbondale, Ill. |
| Probables | Fri. - LHP Joey Marciano (SIU) vs. RHP Graham Officer (JSU) Sat. - RHP Chad Whitmer (SIU) vs. LHP Jack Pierce (JSU) Sun. - RHP Michael Baird (SIU) vs. TBD (JSU) |
| Video | Friday Saturday Sunday |
| Radio | Friday -WFRX 1300-AM Saturday - WFRX 1300-AM Sunday - WFRX 1300-AM |
| Audio | SIUSalukis.com |
| Game Notes | Southern Illinois |
| Live Stats | |
| 2016 Season Stats | Southern Illinois |
| Social Media | @SIU_Baseball |Saluki Athletics |
DUE UP
Southern Illinois wraps up a busy week with a three-game series against OVC foe Jacksonville State.
FRIDAY'S STARTER
Joey Marciano makes his seventh start of the season on Friday against the Gamecocks. The junior LHP is 2-2 this season with an ERA of 3.00.In his last outing, Marciano pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits in a 7-4 loss to Memphis.
SATURDAY'S STARTER
RHP Chad Whitmer gets the Saturday start for SIU. The junior is 2-0 this season with a 2.43 ERA. Against Memphis last Saturday, Whitmer pitched six innings, allowing a three runs on five hits. Whitmer leads the Salukis with 33 strikeouts.
SUNDAY'S STARTER
Wrapping up the weekend for SIU will be RHP Michael Baird. Baird has been stellar for Southern this season, holding a 4-1 record with an ERA of 1.77. The sophomore picked up his fourth win of the season in an 11-5 win over Memphis on 3/26. Baird tossed six strong innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. So far this season, Baird has 28 strikeouts and only 10 walks issued.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
Southern is 15-9-1 this season after splitting a pair of games earlier this week. SIU is hitting .263 this season with 116 runs scored. Jared Schmidt (.444) and Greg Lambert (.347) lead the Salukis in batting average, while Lambert has a team-high 34 hits. Logan Blackfan has plated a team-best 20 RBIs. The pitching staff continues to improve for SIU, holding an ERA of 3.39.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
Jacksonville State comes to Carbondale with a 17-7 record, including a 9-0 record in OVC play. As a team, the Gamecocks are hitting .306 with 190 runs scored. Clayton Daniel leads the team in batting average (.398), hits (41), and RBIs (25). Gamecock pitchers have an ERA of 4.81 this year with 148 runs allowed. Jake Pierce leads the team with 23 strikeouts.
BAIRD PITCHER OF THE WEEK (3/21)
Michael Baird was three-outs away from a no-hitter, before Illinois hit a bloop single in the ninth inning on Sunday (Mar. 20). Baird bounced back to get three-straight outs to pitch the first complete game shutout since 2012. It was also the first time the Salukis held an opponent to one hit since 2008. Baird was rewarded for his performance by earning his first career MVC Pitcher of the Week honor.
BEST ERA
The Saluki pitching staff has been phenomenal so far this season, ranking first in the MVC with an ERA of 3.39.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
Opposing teams continue to struggle to produce hits against Saluki pitchers, hitting .241 this season. Southern has four pitchers who are limiting hitters to under a .200 BA and have pitched in at least four games.
TURN TWO
The Saluki defense continues to makes plays with runners on, turning an MVC best 28 double plays this season.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
Teams are having a tough time stealing bases against Southern, being caught 17 times this season, to lead the MVC.
FREE TO STEAL
The Salukis continue to steal bases well, tallying 25 so far this season. Connor Kopach leads the team with six stolen bases, while Dyllin Mucha is 5-for-6 on stolen base attempts.
BASEBALL MAGNET
Nick Hutchins has been hit by a pitch eight times this season, as he is currently tied for the most in the MVC. With two more HBP's, Hutchins will tie for seventh in the SIU record books for most hit by pitches in a single season.
MY SACRIFICE (bunt)
Will Farmer currently leads the MVC in sacrifice bunts, laying down five so far this season.
TRIP ACES
SIU's weekend rotation of Joey Marciano (10th), Chad Whitmer (6th), and Michael Baird (4th) all rank in the top-10 in the MVC in opposing batting average. SIU is the only team to have three pitchers in the top-10.
NETEMEYER WITH THE SAVE
RHP Ryan Netemeyer continues to impress as the Saluki closer this season, converting all five save opportunities this season. The sophomore has appeared in 10 games with a 0.63 ERA.
