TERRE HAUTE - The Indiana State baseball team hosts Southern Illinois at Bob Warn Field this weekend beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Saturday's action will begin at 2 p.m. while the series will wrap up Sunday at 1 p.m. All games will air live on The Valley On ESPN3 as well as live audio on Sycamore All-Access via GoSycamores.com with Brian Fritz calling the action.
PITCHING PROBABLES
Friday
ISU - RHP
Jeremy McKinney (4-1, 2.91)
SIU - RHP Chad Whitmer (2-3, 4.83)
Saturday
ISU - RHP
Tyler Ward (2-2, 3.19)
SIU - RHP Michael Baird (4-0, 2.32)
Sunday
ISU - RHP
Will Kincanon (2-3, 6.87)
SIU - RHP Joey Marciano (2-2, 5.00)
OUT OF THE BOX
LOOKING AT THE SYCAMORES
Tony Rosselli (.414) and Tyler Friis (.298) lead the Trees at the plate while Dane Giesler and Brandt Nowaskie are hitting .295 and .294, respectively. Giesler leads the team with 21 RBI and six home runs. As a team, the Sycamores are hitting .266 and have hit for 52 doubles, nine triples and 24 homers. ISU pitching has struck out 258 batters and hold a combined 4.52 ERA.
LOOKING AT THE OPPOSITION
Indiana comes into play with a 17-17 overall record and a 4-2 mark in MVC play. The Salukis are coming off a win over SEMO Tuesday but dropped two of three at Wichita State over the weekend. The team is led offensively by Connor Kopach (.314) and Dyllin Mucha (.306). As a club, the Salukis are hitting at a clip of .262 while the pitching staff holds a 4.60 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Sycamores trail the all-time series with the Salukis 78-95 in a series that dates back to 1967. Indiana State took two of three in Carbondale a year ago.
STRONG ON ALL FRONTS
Senior Tony Rosselli has been one of the strongest contributors to the Sycamore offense this season, leading the team in batting average (.414), slugging percent (.701) and triples (5). In all, Rosselli has 11 multiple hit contests, including one four-hit game. He has six multiple RBI games and the teams' longest hitting streak at eight games. Rosselli leads the MVC in both batting average and is second in slugging percent.
GOOD GLOVES
Following a phenomenal defense outing a year ago, ISU has picked up where it left off. The Sycamores sit atop the Missouri Valley with a .977 fielding percent and have committed just 24 errors in 29 games which is four fewer than the next best club.
COMING UP IN THE CLUTCH
Both Indiana State and its opponents have score 149 runs each this season, but the Sycamores have been strong in the ninth inning, outscoring the opposition 27-10 in the final frame. The Trees are a perfect 15-0 when leading after eight innings.
SLUGGING IT OUT
When it comes to picking up extra bases, ISU has no problem getting it done. The squad ranks third in the MVC with a .411 slugging percent. As a team, the Sycamores have 52 doubles, nine triples and 24 home runs on the season. Tony Rosselli leads the Trees with a .701 slugging percentage off of six doubles, five triples and a trio of home runs.
STRIKE 'EM OUT
One thing the Sycamores have done well this season on the mound is record strikeouts. As a team, ISU has struck out 258 opposing batters, led by senior right-hander Jeremy McKinney who has 51 K's in 34 innings. The team ranks 24th in the country with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings while McKinney has struck out 13.50 per nine innings, good enough for 6th nationally.
TOUGH TO STRIKE OUT
Junior Tyler Friis has been a tough out for opposing pitchers this season. The shortstop has been retired on K's just six times in 84 at bats this season while boasting 25 hits for the Trees. His 14 at bats between strikeouts ranks tops on the squad.
TRIPLES GALORE
Indiana State senior outfielder Tony Rosselli leads the MVC and ranks fourth nationally with five triples this season. Michael Haun of Central Arkansas, Andrew Moritz of UNC-Greensboro and Kody Ruedisili of Wofford lead the nation with six triples.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit
GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on
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Twitter and
Instagram.
