Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis travel to Missouri State for crucial MVC series
05/05/2016 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
| Southern Illinois (25-19-1, 6-6 MVC) at Missouri State (29-14, 3-8 MVC) | |
| Date | Friday, May 6 - Sunday, May 8 |
| Time | Fri. - 6:30 p.m. Sat. - 2 p.m. Sun. - 1 p.m. |
| Location | Hamons Field, Springfield, Mo. |
| Probables | Fri. - RHP Chad Whitmer (SIU) vs RHP Dylan Coleman (MSU) Sat. - LHP Joey Marciano (SIU) vs LHP Jordan Knutson (MSU) Sun. - RHP Michael Baird (SIU) vs RHP Jake Fromson (MSU) |
| Video | TBD |
| Radio | Fri. - 105.1 WVZA Sat. -105.1 WVZA Sun. -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 heads to Springfield, Mo., for a three-game MVC series at Missouri State (29-14, 3-8 MVC).
WEEKEND ROTATION
RHP Chad Whitmer will be on the mound for the Salukis in the opener against the Bears. LHP Joey Marciano gets the Saturday afternoon start, while RHP Michael Baird will look to get his eighth win of the season on Sunday.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
The Salukis are 25-19-1 and 6-6 in the MVC this season and are coming off of a Wednesday afternoon loss to Illinois. The team is hitting .263 with 213 runs scored. Greg Lambert leads the team with a .331 batting average and 59 hits. Logan Blackfan leads the team with 18 doubles and 36 RBIs. Southern's pitching staff has been strong all season, holding a team ERA of 3.49. Ryan Netemeyer has a team-best 0.78 ERA.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Bears head into the weekend with a 29-14 overall record and a 3-8 MVC record. MSU is the best hitting team in the valley with a .294 batting average with 325 runs scored. Jake Burger leads the team in most offensive categories including batting average (.376), hits (68), home runs (19) and RBIs (59). THe MSU pitching staff holds a 4.40 ERA with 219 runs allowed. Dylan Coleman leads the team with six wins, while reliever Sam Perez has a team-high 70 strikeouts.
MISSOURI STATE SERIES
MSU leads the all-time series against the Salukis, 66-35. The Bears won all four meetings between the two schools last season. SIU's last regular season series win against MSU came in 2010.
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 third complete game of the season in a 4-1 win against Wichita State this past Sunday. Baird is the only pitcher in the MVC to go the distance in three games this season. The three 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 46 double plays this season.
PARTY LIKE IT'S 2006
This past weekend saw the Salukis accomplish a pair of achievements that had not been done since 2006. Southern's series win against Wichita State and Ryan Smith's walk-off home run was the first for SIU since 2006.
BLACKFAN NEARING THE RECORD BOOKS (AGAIN)
Logan Blackfan added two more doubles against the Shockers to bring his season total to 18. He currently ranks second in the MVC. With one more double, he will once again tie for eighth in school history for doubles in a season. WIth 37 career doubles, Blackfan is just 10 doubles away from ranking tied for eighth for doubles in a career.
RPI
The Salukis currently have the 140th best RPI in the country and the fifth best in the MVC.
BAIRD GETTING IT DONE
Michael Baird has been a major reason behind SIU's great start this season. Baird's seven wins are the most by a Saluki pitcher since 2012. He also 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 1.64.
IRON MEN
Greg Lambert, Connor Kopach, Logan Blackfan, and Will Farmer are the only Salukis to start all 45 games this season. Farmer has started every game for SIU dating back to last season.
WINGMEN
The infield combination of Connor Kopach (159) and Will Farmer (158) has been very strong for the Salukis this season. The duo rank first and second respectively in the MVC in defensive assists this season.
