Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Baseball hosts Arkansas State for Tuesday matchup
04/18/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
| Arkansas State (14-21, 5-13 Sun Belt) at Southern Illinois (21-15-1, 2-4 MVC) | |
| Date | Tuesday, April 19 |
| Time | 5 p.m. |
| Location | Itchy Jones Stadium - Carbondale, Ill. |
| Probables | RHP Bryce Sablotny (SIU) vs. RHP Peyton Culbertson (ASU) |
| Video | SIUSalukis.com |
| Radio | 105.1 WVZA |
| Audio | SIUSalukis.com |
| Game Notes | Southern Illinois |
| Live Stats | |
| 2016 Season Stats | Southern Illinois |
| Social Media | @SIU_Baseball |Saluki Athletics |
DUE UP
Southern Illinois returns to Itchy Jones Stadium for a Tuesday game against Arkansas State (14-21).
Bryce Sablotny
The Salukis will go with RHP Bryce Sablotny on the mound against the Red Wolves. Sablotny is 3-3 this season with a 5.48 ERA. Sablotny faced the Red Wolves earlier this season, pitching five shutout innings.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
The Salukis enter the contest with ASU with a 21-15-1 record. Offensively, the Salukis are hitting .269 with 182 runs scored. Greg Lambert leads the team with a .347 batting average and 50 hits. Logan Blackfan leads SIU with 32 RBIs. The pitching staff holds a 3.35 ERA with 146 runs allowed.
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES
The Red Wolves come to Carbondale with a 14-21 record. ASU is hitting .247 with 179 runs scored. Garrett Rucker leads the team with a .304 batting average, while Ty White has a team-high 45 hits. The ASU pitching staff has a 4.97 ERA and have allowed 199 runs this season.
ARKANSAS STATE SERIES
SIU leads the all-time series against the Red Wolves, 47-23. ASU defeated the Salukis earlier this season, 1-0.
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.
LAMBERT LEADS THE WAY
Greg Lambert continues to improve at the plate this season, as he is hitting a team-best .347. He leads the team with 50 hits and is currently on a five-game hitting streak.
TURN TWO
The Saluki defense continues to make plays with runners on, turning an MVC best 41 double plays this season, tied for seventh best in the nation. At an average of 1.11 double plays per game, SIU is ninth best in the country.
FOR THE FIRST TIME
The Salukis earned one of their biggest regular season wins this past weekend, defeating Dallas Baptist 7-0. It was the first time in program history that the Salukis won a game at Dallas Baptist.
BLACKFAN GOES FOR TWO
With two doubles against Dallas Baptist, Logan Blackfan now has 14 doubles this season, ranking him tied for second in the MVC. Last year, Blackfan hit 19 doubles.
COVERS ADDS DEPTH
LHP Austin Covers played one game last season due to an elbow injury that ended his season. This year, Covers has returned and has been a top choice for the Salukis out of the bullpen. Covers has appeared in five games this season and has allowed two run in 6.1 innings of work.
BAIRD GETTING IT DONE
Michael Baird has been a major reason behind SIU's great start this season. Baird's six wins are the most by a Saluki pitcher since 2012. He also ranks in the top-five in the MVC in ERA, opposing batting average, and innings pitched.
NETEMEYER WITH THE SAVE
RHP Ryan Netemeyer continues to impress as the Saluki closer this season, converting all seven save opportunities this season. The sophomore has appeared in 14 games with a 0.46 ERA.
IRON MEN
Greg Lambert, Connor Kopach, Logan Blackfan, and Will Farmer are the only Salukis to start all 37 games this season. Farmer has started every game for SIU dating back to last season.
BASEBALL MAGNET
Nick Hutchins has been hit by a pitch ten times this season, as he currently leads the MVC in the category. He is now tied for seventh in school history for hit by pitches in a single season.
