The SIU baseball team has six conference games left that could make or break its season.

With the exception of Missouri State, every team in the Missouri Valley Conference has to play for one of six bids to the MVC Tournament May 23-26 in Springfield, Mo. The Bears host the tournament so they get an automatic berth.

The Salukis (29-18, 9-9) are in fifth place in the MVC and are only three games behind Evansville for the No. 3 seed in the tournament.

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SIU coach Dan Callahan said it is an honor to be in the tournament because not everyone qualifies.

“Once you get there, it’s a special feeling and they really do a good job putting it together,” Callahan said. “While we don’t have a chance at first or second place in the regular season, we still have a chance to make some noise while we’re there.”

The Salukis begin a three-game series with Northern Iowa Friday at Abe Martin Field. The Panthers (19-23, 5-13) have struggled throughout the entire season and were swept by No. 9 Wichita State May 4-6.

SIU also has one more non-conference game May 15 at home against Eastern Illinois, which was swept by Austin Peay, and were outscored 22-5 in the series.

Eastern Illinois (13-24) has struggled throughout Ohio Valley Conference play and has lost nine of its last 10 games.

If SIU wins two out of three against Northern Iowa, the outcome of the Eastern Illinois game may not be a factor.

The Salukis’ finish up the regular season against Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind., May 17-19.

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The Sycamores (21-23, 4-14) have also struggled this season and are in last place in the MVC. Indiana State was swept by Bradley May 4-6 and has lost four of its last six.

Callahan said it’s possible to grab a third place finish in the MVC, even though it’s nearly impossible to finish first or second.

“We could finish anywhere from third place to seventh or eighth place with two weeks left,” Callahan said. “There’s a lot of ground that can be gained or lost.”