May 19, 2003
2003 Saluki Baseball Postseason Guide in PDF Format
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2003 ConAgra Foods/MVC Baseball Tournament First Round Pairings
Game 3 - No. 3 Southern Illinois (27-23, 17-13) vs.
No. 4 Northern Iowa (27-26, 16-15), 11 a.m.
Game 1 - No. 1 SMS (33-21, 19-11) vs. No. 6 Creighton (20-35, 14-17), 3 p.m.
Game 2 - No. 2 Wichita State (42-24, 19-13) vs. No. 5 Indiana State (35-20, 15-17), 7 p.m.
Dates: May 21-24
Ballpark: Eck Stadium/Tyler Field (7,851)
Location: Wichita, Kan.
Radio: WJPF 1020 AM (Day Games); Magic 95.1 FM (Night Games)
Tournament Note
SIU makes its 20th all-time appearance and fifth under head coach Dan Callahan to the Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament. The Salukis are 37-34 (.521) overall in Valley Tournament games.
Valley Seeks at Least Two
The Missouri Valley Conference has sent at least two teams to the NCAA Tournament for seven of the last 10 seasons. In 2002, Southwest Missouri State (at-large) and Wichita State (automatic bid) represented the Conference, with SMS posting a 2-2 record at the Lincoln (Neb.) Regional and WSU going 1-2 in the Regional in which it played host.
Season Champ Steady
Since 1993, the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion has reached the finals of the ConAgra Foods/MVC Tournament a total of six times -- Wichita State (1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002). The Shockers won five of the six tourneys, except for 1997 (SMS).
Wichita Hosts 2003 ConAgra Foods Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2003 ConAgra Foods/Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament marks the sixth time in the last seven seasons the league's postseason championship will be played at Eck Stadium-Tyler Field in Wichita, Kan. The site of the conference tournament from 1987-1994, Eck Stadium has been home of the MVC Baseball Championship for 17 of the last 22 tournaments.
Salukis Go to Wichita as Third Seed
For the second time in five trips to the MVC Tournament under head coach Dan Callahan, SIU has clinched the No. 3 seed. The third-place spot in the tourney is the highest seeding of any Callahan-coached teams dating back to 1995. Prior to 2003, the Salukis went to the MVC Tournament as a No. 3 seed in 1996, a No. 5 seed in 1997, a No. 6 seed in 2000 and a No. 4 seed in 2002.
Dawgs Make 20th Trip to MVC Tournament
SIU, who appeared at the MVC Tournament for the first time in 1975, makes its 20th trip to the league's postseason championship this season. Since 1975, the Salukis have compiled an overall record of 37-34 (.521) in Valley tournament games.
Sixth Sense
The Salukis will seek their sixth MVC Tournament title this week when it heads to Wichita, Kan. Prior to 2003, SIU has won MVC Tournament championships in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1990. All five of those crowns came under Richard "Itch" Jones who coached the Salukis from 1970-1990.
Head Coach Dan Callahan
Dan Callahan (Quincy College, '81; SIU, '87) is 221-265 in his ninth season as head coach of SIU. With over 14 years of Division I coaching experience, Callahan guided the Salukis (32-24) to their best season in over a decade in 2002. Most recently, however, Callahan recorded his 200th career win against Iowa on March 9.
Salukis Clinch Fifth MVC Tourney Berth Under Callahan
The 2003 Salukis mark the fifth team to make the MVC Tournament under ninth-year head coach Dan Callahan. Since taking over the SIU helm in 1995, Callahan has guided the Dawgs to the Valley's postseason fling in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2002. However, in three of those four appearances, SIU has exited early after dropping its first two games of the tournament.
You Can Do It
SIU hasn't posted a win in its last six games at the MVC Tournament under head coach Dan Callahan. Holding an overall record of 2-8 in those contests, five of the Salukis' eight losses have been by six or more runs. SIU lost to Evansville (29-10) in 1996; SMS (17-11) and Wichita State (17-8) in 1997; and SMS (14-7) and Wichita State (17-1) again in 2002. The last time the Dawgs won a game at the MVC Tournament was in 1997 when they defeated SMS, 5-4. In fact, that year also marked the only one of Callahan's four appearances, where the Dawgs did not get eliminated after their first two games.
Bye-Bye Break
SIU, who finished at 17-13 in the MVC this season, was idle during the final week of league play. The Salukis will return to action at the Valley Tournament following an eight-day layoff. However, SIU's final tune-up prior to its trip to Wichita was on Tuesday, May 13, when the Salukis shutout Saint Louis, 14-0, in a wooden bat, mid-week contest at GMC Stadium.
Wooden Bats Should be Used More Often
In its regular season finale against Saint Louis (5/13), SIU scored 14 runs on 19 hits, as each team used wooden bats. Several Salukis had multiple-hit games, including Ross Kowzan (2), Sal Frisella (2), Toby Barnett (3), Nathan Boldt (3), Josh Markle (2) and Matt Brewer (2). In addition, Frisella hit a grand slam and designated hitter Tyler Schooley blasted the first home run of his SIU career.
Kowzan Garners Academic Honors
Senior outfielder Ross Kowzan (DuQuoin, Ill.) was one of 11 players tabbed for the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District V Baseball Team. Kowzan, one of three outfielders named to the team, carries a 3.51 grade-point average in Biological Science.
Seniors Saluted at Abe Martin
SIU seniors Jake Alley, Toby Barnett, Sal Frisella and Ross Kowzan played in their final home games at Abe Martin Field versus Wichita State on May 11. Frisella (9) and Barnett (8) currently lead the team in home runs.
Schooley in Select Status
Designated hitter Tyler Schooley became the fourth Saluki to deliver a game-winning hit in the final inning, when he singled home the decisive run in a 4-3 victory against Wichita State (5/10). Schooley joined Josh Markle and Nathan Emrick, who each had game-winning singles vs. Northern Iowa (3/22), and Sal Frisella who had a walk-off home run against Iowa (3/9).
Alley Cat Smells Strikeout Record
Senior ace right-hander Jake Alley (Anna, Ill.), who leads the Salukis in strikeouts for the third year in his career, needs just four Ks to become the school's all-time career strikeout leader. Boasting a total of 63 strikeouts on the year, Alley's career total of 275 Ks currently rank behind Jason Frasor who struck out 278 batters from 1996-99.
Frisella Moves to Third on Home Run List
The team's leader in home runs with nine this season, senior outfielder Sal Frisella (St. Louis, Mo.) blasted his first career grand slam in front of his hometown fans against Saint Louis (5/13). As a result, he moved into a tie for third on SIU's career home run list. Frisella, who hit 27 long balls in his career, now shares that spot with Chuck Curry, who played for the Dawgs from 1976-79.
Salukis Place Five on MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
Ross Kowzan, Toby Barnett, Nick Baughman, Eric Haberer and Marshall Tucker were named to the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Scholar-Athlete Team, announced last week by the league office. Kowzan and Barnett earned first-team honors, while Baughman, Haberer and Tucker garnered second-team recognition. A native of nearby DuQuoin, Ill., Kowzan carries a 3.51 GPA in Biological Science and Barnett (Kallaroo, W. Australia) sports a 3.04 GPA in Community Health. Meanwhile, Baughman (Bloomington, Ill.) holds a 3.79 GPA in Elementary Education, Haberer (Bloomington, Ill.) carries a 3.32 GPA in Economics and Tucker (St. Louis, Mo.) is a Marketing major with a 3.50 GPA. SIU had the second-most student-athletes recognized by the conference on this year's team behind Wichita State, who led the voting with nine scholar-athletes. For all five Saluki student-athletes, the MVC Scholar-Athlete honor marked the first in their careers.
Ten or More Hits Pays Dividends
SIU has registered 10 or more hits in 23 of its 50 games this season, and as a result, holds an impressive record of 19-4 in those contests. Out-hitting its opponents, 472-461, this season, SIU averages 9.4 hits a game. In addition, the Salukis registered 19 or more hits on two occasions, including a season-high of 20 at Evansville on April 26.
What's Up? . . . Not My ERA
Freshman left-hander Adam Snyder and right-handed ace hurler Jake Alley stand as the only two pitchers who finished the regular season under a 3.00 ERA. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Snyder holds a team-leading 2.83 ERA in 13 relief appearances, while Alley, who hails from Anna, Ill., follows close behind with a 2.90 ERA. As a staff, the Saluki pitchers carry a 4.74 earned run average after 50 games.
65 and Counting
One of the Salukis' major strengths this season has been their ability to turn double plays. Averaging 1.3 per game, SIU currently stands with an impressive 65 twin killings after 50 games. In addition, the Dawgs need just two more DPs to set a new single-season record. As of now, the 1990 Salukis hold that mark with 66 double plays.
Schooley Heats Up
Junior designated hitter Tyler Schooley has been swinging a hot stick as of late hitting .555 (5-for-9) in his last four games. After delivering a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh in a doubleheader against Wichita State (5/10) he turned around to go 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the nightcap. Most recently, however, he went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a run scored against Saint Louis (5/13). His round-tripper marked the first of his SIU career.
Andrews Named MVC Player of the Week
Junior second baseman Greg Andrews was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on May 5. Andrews garnered the weekly honor for the first time in his career. A native of Peoria, Ill., he was the first and only Saluki to be named MVC Player or Pitcher of the Week this season. Andrews hit a blistering .727 (8-for-11) in three games against Creighton, May 2-4. He had five extra-base hits, including three doubles, a triple and a homer, and he knocked in four runs, while scoring three others. In the first game of the series, Andrews narrowly missed hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two runs scored. The last Saluki to be named MVC Player of the Week prior to Andrews was Jeff Stanek, who took the honor on April 1, 2002. Stanek was one of five Salukis to win the weekly award during that season.
