Even though opening day for Major League Baseball was Monday, the Saluki Baseball team (14-12, 1-2) is already in full swing.

The Salukis had their first conference series of the season during the weekend against Missouri State University. The Bears took the series 2-1, but the Salukis’ five errors cost them Friday’s game and a wild pitch Sunday cost them the series.

Freshman infielder Connor Kopach got his first starts at shortstop because senior shortstop Jake Welch was ill with suspected food poisoning. Kopach went 2 for 4 Saturday and 0 for 5 Sunday. Kopach has started 15 games at second base this season and has been in a positional battle with senior Ryan Rosthenhausler.

Rosthenhausler is a utility man, and deserves to start at either second or third base. He went 5 for 14 this weekend, and has performed well in clutch situations so far this season.

Freshman Ryan Sabo has been the main starter at the hot corner this season, but after a 0 for 5 performance Friday, freshman Will Farmer started the rest of the series. Farmer went 3 for 9 in the last two games, and should start the weekday games this week.

Farmer should not consistently start over Sabo, but it’s hard to sit him after this weekend. Farmer is a better defensive option than Sabo, but Sabo’s on base percentage is almost 100 points better than Farmer’s.

It’s a three-person battle. If Kopach hits better, he will start at second and Rosthenhausler will move to third. If Farmer hits better or Sabo plays defense better, they will become consistent starters at third and Rosthenhausler will stay at second.

Another positional battle is the outfield, as the Saluki roster has five quality outfielders. Senior Donny Duschinsky has the most power of any of them, but he has not had a hit in his last nine at-bats, and has two errors in his last two starts.

Duschinsky isn’t a player to bench for long though. He is tied for the team lead with three home runs this season. Coach Ken Henderson has other options. The other four outfielders have eight hits in the last two games, which Duschinsky did not play in but he is one of the best three hitters of the outfield.

The Salukis have two weekday games this week, which will likely create a temporary fifth rotation spot. Freshman Kyle Pauly should start Wednesday against Murray State. No pitcher will be able to throw a complete game, since they’re used to coming out of the bullpen, but Pauly could get through up to five innings.

Pauly has pitched four more innings this season than the fourth starter, freshman Connor McFadden. Pauly doesn’t have the best strikeout to walk ratio, but he has the best ERA of bullpen arms that can throw starters’ innings.

Tuesday’s game against the University of Missouri will help determine who starts Wednesday. The other two options to start are senior Matt Murphy or freshman Chad Whitmer. Of the three options, Pauly had the best weekend. Whitmer should eventually make the rotation, but because Pauly and Murphy both have already pitched against the Racers, they are the frontrunners. Murphy has not started in four years, but if he starts, he likely won’t go more than three innings.

Regardless, the Salukis will use multiple pitchers. Don’t be surprised if all three of them and a fourth pitcher go to the mound Wednesday.

Aaron Graff can be contacted at [email protected], @Aarongraff_DE