Baseball plays at S. Illinois
The baseball team will compete at Southern Illinois this weekend, looking to recover from a 2-5 start to the season.
After the spring break trip to Florida, the team returned with a renewed focus and a host of injuries.
“We have to have other people come in play,” said Head Coach Steve Jaksa. “That’s not going to be a focal point for us. We can’t sit here and do the ‘what if?’”
Senior pitcher Jeff Garner aggrevated an elbow injury in Florida. Jaksa said Garner will not pitch this weekend, and will get an MRI on his elbow Monday.
Garner was named National Pitcher of the Week by the National College Baseball Writers Association for his impressive outing against Michigan State March 4. He pitched seven innings in the 9-2 victory, striking out 14 and allowing one run.
Sophomore catcher Keith Sampsell and freshman Bryan Mitzel both missed significant action in Florida with injuries. Both should play this weekend.
Mitzel hit a home run in just his second career at bat before the injury.
Senior outfielders Ryan Krueger and Tommy Grubb are two of the Chippewas leading the offensive attack.
The pitching staff is a major concern for the team as the combined Central ERA is 8.39. The pitchers also have combined for six errors.
Krueger has a .323 average, one home run and five stolen bases on the season. Grubb is batting .310 with nine RBI.
Junior first baseman Josh Markle led the Salukis with three hits in a two-game series at No. 29 Oklahoma that ended Wednesday. SIU was swept and its record dropped to 6-7.
The Salukis are members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
The teams will play a doubleheader at noon Saturday and a single game on Sunday, also beginning at noon.
“The weather’s supposed to be nice, so we’re looking forward to going down there and playing some ball,” Jaksa said.
