Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis face Evansville in MVC clash
05/12/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
| Southern Illinois (28-19-1, 9-6 MVC) at Evansville (25-21, 7-8 MVC) | |
| Date | Friday, May 13 - Sunday, May 15 |
| Time | Fri. - 6 p.m. Sat. - 2 p.m. Sun. - 1 p.m. |
| Location | Braun Stadium, Evansville, Ind. |
| Probables | Fri. - RHP Chad Whitmer (SIU) vs RHP Patrick Schnieders (UE) Sat. - RHP Michael Baird (SIU) vs TBA (UE) Sun. - RHP Joey Marciano (SIU) vs TBA (UE) |
| Video | TBD |
| Radio | Fri. - 105.1 WVZA Sat. -105.1 WVZA Sun. - 1300 AM WFRX |
| 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 an eight-game road trip with a three-game MVC series at Evansville (25-21, 7-8 MVC).
WEEKEND ROTATION
The Salukis will make a slight change to the rotation for the series against the Purple Aces.RHP Chad Whitmer will make the Friday night start as usual. RHP Michael Baird will make move up a day and will start on Saturday, while LHP Joey Marciano will be on the mound on Sunday.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
The Salukis are 28-19-1 and 9-6 in the MVC this season and are coming off of a three-game sweep of Missouri State last weekend. The tea is hitting .267 this season with 244 runs scored. Greg Lambert continues to lead the Salukis in batting average (.321) and hits (62), while Logan Blackfan is the RBI leader with 46. The SIU pitching staff holds the second-best ERA in the MVC at 3.63. Baird leads all Saluki pitchers with eight wins this season, while Ryan Netemeyer has a team-low ERA of 0.68.
SCOUTING THE PURPLE ACES
The Purple Aces come into the series with an overall record of 25-21 and an MVC record of 7-8. UE is hitting .282 as a team with 293 runs scored. Trey Hair (.361) leads four Purple Aces who are hitting at least .300 this season. UE's pitching staff has an ERA of 4.55 with 243 runs allowed this season. Brent Jurceka leads the team with five wins.
EVANSVILLE SERIES
The Salukis lead the all-time series against the Purple Aces, 97-62. Evansville won the regular season meeting between the schools last season.
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.
TURN TWO
The Saluki defense continues to make plays with runners on, turning an MVC best 50 double plays this season.
BLACKFAN IN THE RECORD BOOKS (AGAIN)
Logan Blackfan wrote his name in the Saluki record books yet again this past weekend against Missouri State, hitting a pair of doubles to bring his season total to 20. Blackfan is now tied for fifth for most doubles in a single season.
NETEMEYER SHUTS THE DOOR
RHP Ryan Netemeyer earned two more saves this past weekend at Missouri State to bring his season total to 10. Netemeyer is currently tied for fourth in SIU single season history for saves in a season.
RPI
The Salukis currently have the 115th best RPI in the country and the third best in the MVC.
BAIRD GETTING IT DONE
Michael Baird has been a major reason behind SIU's great start this season. Baird's eight wins are the most by a Saluki pitcher since 2011. He ranks first in the MVC in wins, ERA, innings pitched, and complete games. He has the 22nd best ERA of any pitcher in the nation at 1.74.
IRON MEN
Greg Lambert, Connor Kopach, Logan Blackfan, and Will Farmer are the only Salukis to start all 48 games this season. Farmer has started every game for SIU dating back to last season.
WINGMEN
The infield combination of Will Farmer (168) and Connor Kopach (167) has been very strong for the Salukis this season. The duo rank first and second respectively in the MVC in defensive assists this season.
THAT'S A LOT OF RUNS
The Salukis scored a combined 26 runs in the final two games against Missouri State last weekend. It was the most runs scored in consecutive games since SIU scored 38 runs in a two-game stretch in 2013 (13 at Evansville - 4/7/13, 25 at SEMO - 4/9/13).
