Benson adjusts to life as a Dawg

By Gus Bode

Making a smooth adjustment to playing Division I baseball has been a goal that Saluki designated hitter Brad Benson already has met this season.

Benson, a junior in physiology from Tempe, Ariz., who transferred from New Mexico State University this season, leads the Salukis in batting with a .481 average and in home runs with five.

Benson said he is pleased with his ability to adjust to playing against tougher competition at SIUC.

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I’m really happy with my mental approach, Benson said. I think you have to be confident as a player when you come in. You have to really believe in yourself.

After playing in 13 of the Salukis’ first 17 games, Benson has an .885 slugging percentage and a .542 on-base percentage. Benson hit a grand slam in the Salukis’ 8-7 loss to Murray State University March 4.

Saluki coach Dan Callahan said Benson, who also is the team’s backup catcher, has fit in nicely in the lineup this season.

Brad is an adequate catcher who knows the game well, Callahan said. But I’ll take a guy who can be considered your No. 2 or No. 3 catcher anytime with the idea that he can swing the bat like he does.

Benson set a school record for RBIs in a season with 37 at McClintock High School in Tempe. He hit .363 with 17 doubles and five homers at Arizona Western Community College in 1995, leading the team to a No. 4 ranking nationally.

Benson transferred to the Salukis from New Mexico State, where he sat out the 1996 season as a red-shirt.

Benson said his baseball background in Arizona helped him become a better baseball player.

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I come from an area in Arizona where they play very good baseball, Benson said. That gave me some confidence coming in here.

Callahan said Benson’s transition to playing at SIUC was a positive influence on the team.

We feel like we’ve brought some recruits in that have made the transition well from one level to the next, Callahan said. We knew that it would be asking a lot for Brad to come in and do what (former Saluki) Mike Russell did the past two years, but he has done that so far.

While Benson has played well this season, the Salukis have not had the success they expected. SIUC is 4-13, with several of its losses coming after losing leads in the last innings.

Benson said the competition level, including Arizona State University and Texas Tech University, has been tough this season.

Other than a couple of teams, we’ve played some really tough teams so far this season, Benson said. I think we have a good team, but we need to believe that we’re a good team.

The Salukis opened the season Feb. 14 with a three-game series against Arizona State in Benson’s hometown, Tempe.

Benson said although the Salukis lost all three games, having the opportunity to play in front of his family and friends was exciting.

It meant a lot for me to able to go home and play in front of the people who watched me play in high school and watched me grow up, he said.

With nearly 40 games remaining in the season, Benson said the Salukis can turn their luck around.

We need to try to keep our heads up because things will turn around, Benson said. The most important thing is to keep a positive attitude and outlook, and things will turn around for us.”

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