Big series this week

[outpost]

SIU (pre-season #2 in MVC) comes to perennial league favorite Wichita for the first 3-game series of the Valley season.

Normally baseball would be in full swing for the Shocks, but this year it is still a bit of an afterthought since the Shockers are playing in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA basketball tourney.

I hope the Baseball team can overcome this tomorrow. I'm gonna try to make my first visit out to Eck Stadium on Saturday to watch the baseball team in action.

[txsaluki05]

Hopefully SIU will make it an interesting series!

[JJClamdip]

SIU wins the first game, 4-2.

I think I know that WSU lost.

[redbirdtim]

Big win for the Salukis. Winning the series in Wichita would be huge for SIU...when's the last time the Shocks lost a series at home?

[Yoshi]

Still a good crowd of 3,000 watching the Shocks go down.

Bad day for shocker sports...

[Divergence]

Kudos to SIU today. They wanted it more and just played better. Jordan Powell just kept them off balance all day long and didn't let WSU hitters hit it to Elmerdorf and Emrick much (they are just brutal).

[JJClamdip]

when's the last time the Shocks lost a series at home?

Evansville won two out of three last season in Wichita.

[Yoshi]

SIU up 5-1 in game 2, 5th inning

[Yoshi]

Still 5-1 SIU in the 9th.

[jdoolsiu]

SIU gets a nice win here. Way to go. Will this FINALLY be the year SIU gets back to the tournament? 16 years too long.
After that Iowa/ND debacle last week...I think Callahan got in their heads to regroup.
dools

[Fraydog]

It's about time baseball got a facilities upgrade as well here at SIU. We sat around in the 1980's while Wichita State built themselves up from nothing... the results literally speak for themselves.

Nice to win a series there for the first time in... how many years? Too many, but we'll take it. :salukis:

[FreddieMcSwain]

First series win at Wichita in SIU's history according to today's Southern Illusion

http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2006/03/26/sports/10005942.txt

[torear]

Both teams have another game today, but regardless of the results, this is going to make next weekend's series in Omaha that much bigger. Storylines could be anywhere from the Jays taking 2 of 3 on the road while Wichita tries to keep from taking a serious early blow with an 0-3 start already behind them to the top two teams from last season trying to avoid extending early 1-2 swoons.

Friday's game is going to be on CSTV, so that should make for some good television.

[Divergence]

Friday's game is going to be on CSTV, so that should make for some good television.

I don't think you have seen the Shox play this weekend. Their fielding and batting has just been absolutely brutal and would be ugly for TV.

[outpost]

Shocks are starting off game 3 better with 3 in the bottom of the first.

SIU coming up in the top of 3rd, Shox up 3-0.

It is a hitters day, wind blowing out strong to left....Sublett already with a 2-run HR today.

[outpost]

Bottom 6, no change in game status.

[outpost]

Shocks add a run in the bottom of 6th, Conor Gillaspie with his first collegiate HR.

SIU at bat with a run in, 1st and 2nd with 2 out. Now 1st and 3rd, still 2 out, and 4-2 Shocks.

[Yoshi]

4-3 WSU top 7.

[outpost]

Moving to bottom 7 now, 4-3 Shocks. Shafer was lifted for Noah Booth, who got the final out on a K.

[outpost]

Shocks put down a 2-out threat by SIU in the 8th. Noah Krol gets the final out, still 4-3 Shocks going to the bottom of the 8th.

[outpost]

Shocks salvage the final game of the series. Damon "Nails" Sublett gets the save in a 4-3 WSU victory.

A couple of big mid-weeks loom ahead, hosting Arkansas and traveling to KU before the Creighton series.

[redbirdtim]

Great series win for the Salukis. The Shox have lost only a handful of series in the Valley in recent memory. Shox will be in some early trouble if they lose the series to CU.