Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Baird named preseason MVC Pitcher of the Year by Baseball America
02/01/2017 | 12:43:00 | Baseball
Baseball America MVC Preview
Baseball America named Southern Illinois RHP Michael Baird the preseason Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, the publication announced in its MVC Preview on Wednesday. Baird led the MVC last year with a 1.76 ERA over 102 innings, the best ERA among all returning starters nationally with at least 85 innings last year.Â
Baird earned first-team All-MVC honors after his breakout 2016 season. He led the league in wins (9) and ERA (1.76), and he limited opposing batters to a .206 average. He took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Illinois and settled for a one-hit complete-game shutout, earning MVC Pitcher of the Week honors. He started all 15 games in 2016 and didn't allow more than three runs in any of those starts.Â
Baird joins seniors Chad Whitmer and Joey Marciano as returning weekend starters. Together, the trio started all 45 weekend games last year and led the pitching staff to a 3.64 team ERA, which was second-best in the MVC and the third-best season ERA for an SIU team since 1980. Closer Ryan Netemeyer also returns to the pitching staff after securing 12 saves last year, which ranks second in SIU single-season history.Â
Opening Day for the Salukis is Feb. 17 at Stetson. The Salukis play the first two weeks on the road before the March 3 home opener vs. Western Illinois at Itchy Jones Stadium.Â
Baseball America named Southern Illinois RHP Michael Baird the preseason Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, the publication announced in its MVC Preview on Wednesday. Baird led the MVC last year with a 1.76 ERA over 102 innings, the best ERA among all returning starters nationally with at least 85 innings last year.Â
Baird earned first-team All-MVC honors after his breakout 2016 season. He led the league in wins (9) and ERA (1.76), and he limited opposing batters to a .206 average. He took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Illinois and settled for a one-hit complete-game shutout, earning MVC Pitcher of the Week honors. He started all 15 games in 2016 and didn't allow more than three runs in any of those starts.Â
Baird joins seniors Chad Whitmer and Joey Marciano as returning weekend starters. Together, the trio started all 45 weekend games last year and led the pitching staff to a 3.64 team ERA, which was second-best in the MVC and the third-best season ERA for an SIU team since 1980. Closer Ryan Netemeyer also returns to the pitching staff after securing 12 saves last year, which ranks second in SIU single-season history.Â
Opening Day for the Salukis is Feb. 17 at Stetson. The Salukis play the first two weeks on the road before the March 3 home opener vs. Western Illinois at Itchy Jones Stadium.Â
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ 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