Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Baseball hosts Wichita State for three-game series
04/28/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 28, 2016
DUE UP
Southern Illinois continues MVC play with a three-game home series against Wichita State (15-25, 5-4 MVC).
WEEKEND ROTATION
The Salukis will stick with the same rotation used against Illinois State. RHP Chad Whitmer gets the Friday night start, followed by LHP Joey Marciano on Saturday. RHP Michael Baird will make his usual Sunday start.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
Southern is 23-17-1 this season and are coming off a series win at Illinois State. The team is hitting .264 this year with 198 runs scored. Greg Lambert leads the team with a .342 batting average and 55 hits. Logan Blackfan continues to lead SIU with 33 RBIs. The Saluki pitching staff holds a 3.42 ERA with 163 runs allowed. Ryan Netemeyer leads the team with a 0.43 ERA.
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
Wichita State comes to Carbondale hitting .278 with 241 runs scored this season. Greyson Jenista leads WSU with a .327 batting average, while Mikel Mucha has a team-high 45 hits. The Shocker pitching through 40 games, the Shocker pitching staff has a 6.08 ERA. Willie Schwanke leads the team with five wins, while Zach Lewis has a team-high 45 strikeouts.
WICHITA STATE SERIES
The Shockers lead the all-time series over the Salukis, 103-35. WSU won all four meetings between the two schools last season. Southern has not won a regular season series against the Shockers since 2006.
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.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Michael Baird pitched his second complete game of the season in a 1-0 loss at Illinois State this past Sunday. Baird is one of two pitchers in the MVC to go the distance in two games this season. The two complete games are also the most for a Saluki pitcher since 2012.
TURN TWO
The Saluki defense continues to make plays with runners on, turning an MVC best 43 double plays this season.
HAVE A DAY Taylor Martin
Taylor Martin had his best offensive game as a Saluki against Illinois State on April 23, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a career-high six RBIs. The six RBIs was the most by a Saluki since 2013.
BLACKFAN GOES FOR TWO
Logan Blackfan added two more doubles to his stats and now has 16 doubles this season, ranking him tied for third in the MVC. Last year, Blackfan hit 19 doubles.
SMITH GOES DEEP
Junior OF Ryan Smith collected his second home run of the season in Southern's 7-3 Friday night win over Illinois State. Smith is now tied for second on the team in home runs hit this season.
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 eight save opportunities this season. Netemeyer's eight saves this season ties him for eighth in SIU single-season history. The sophomore has appeared in 16 games with a 0.43 ERA.
IRON MEN
Greg Lambert, Connor Kopach, Logan Blackfan, and Will Farmer are the only Salukis to start all 41 games this season. Farmer has started every game for SIU dating back to last season.
WINGMEN
The infield combination of Connor Kopach (149) and Will Farmer (142) has been very strong for the Salukis this season. The duo rank first and second respectively in the MVC in defensive assists this season.
Game Advisory: Friday's game vs. Wichita State has been changed to a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m., with the second game to start 30-40 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Saturday is still set for 4 p.m.
| Wichita State (15-25, 5-4 MVC) at Southern Illinois (23-17-1, 4-5 MVC) | |
| Date | Friday, April 29 - Saturday, April 30 |
| Time | Friday Game 1 - 2 p.m. Friday Game 2 - 6:30 Saturday - 4 p.m. |
| Location | Itchy Jones Stadium, Carbondale, Ill. |
| Probables | Fri. G1 - RHP Chad Whitmer (SIU) vs. LHP Cody Tyler (WSU) Fri. G2 - LHP Joey Marciano (SIU) vs. RHP Zach Lewis (WSU) Sat. - RHP Michael Baird (SIU) vs. TBA (WSU) |
| Video | Friday Game 1 Friday Game 2 Saturday |
| Radio | Friday G1 - 1300 AM WFRX Friday G1 - 105.1 WVZA Saturday - 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 continues MVC play with a three-game home series against Wichita State (15-25, 5-4 MVC).
WEEKEND ROTATION
The Salukis will stick with the same rotation used against Illinois State. RHP Chad Whitmer gets the Friday night start, followed by LHP Joey Marciano on Saturday. RHP Michael Baird will make his usual Sunday start.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
Southern is 23-17-1 this season and are coming off a series win at Illinois State. The team is hitting .264 this year with 198 runs scored. Greg Lambert leads the team with a .342 batting average and 55 hits. Logan Blackfan continues to lead SIU with 33 RBIs. The Saluki pitching staff holds a 3.42 ERA with 163 runs allowed. Ryan Netemeyer leads the team with a 0.43 ERA.
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
Wichita State comes to Carbondale hitting .278 with 241 runs scored this season. Greyson Jenista leads WSU with a .327 batting average, while Mikel Mucha has a team-high 45 hits. The Shocker pitching through 40 games, the Shocker pitching staff has a 6.08 ERA. Willie Schwanke leads the team with five wins, while Zach Lewis has a team-high 45 strikeouts.
WICHITA STATE SERIES
The Shockers lead the all-time series over the Salukis, 103-35. WSU won all four meetings between the two schools last season. Southern has not won a regular season series against the Shockers since 2006.
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.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Michael Baird pitched his second complete game of the season in a 1-0 loss at Illinois State this past Sunday. Baird is one of two pitchers in the MVC to go the distance in two games this season. The two complete games are also the most for a Saluki pitcher since 2012.
TURN TWO
The Saluki defense continues to make plays with runners on, turning an MVC best 43 double plays this season.
HAVE A DAY Taylor Martin
Taylor Martin had his best offensive game as a Saluki against Illinois State on April 23, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a career-high six RBIs. The six RBIs was the most by a Saluki since 2013.
BLACKFAN GOES FOR TWO
Logan Blackfan added two more doubles to his stats and now has 16 doubles this season, ranking him tied for third in the MVC. Last year, Blackfan hit 19 doubles.
SMITH GOES DEEP
Junior OF Ryan Smith collected his second home run of the season in Southern's 7-3 Friday night win over Illinois State. Smith is now tied for second on the team in home runs hit this season.
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 eight save opportunities this season. Netemeyer's eight saves this season ties him for eighth in SIU single-season history. The sophomore has appeared in 16 games with a 0.43 ERA.
IRON MEN
Greg Lambert, Connor Kopach, Logan Blackfan, and Will Farmer are the only Salukis to start all 41 games this season. Farmer has started every game for SIU dating back to last season.
WINGMEN
The infield combination of Connor Kopach (149) and Will Farmer (142) has been very strong for the Salukis this season. The duo rank first and second respectively in the MVC in defensive assists this season.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballSaluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - At UE Game Three (Audio Only)
Sunday, April 12
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - At UE Game Two (Audio Only)
Sunday, April 12
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - at UE Game 1 (Audio Only)
Saturday, April 11
4.9.26 | Baseball Weekend Preview - at Evansville
Thursday, April 09