A matchup with an area rival could be exactly what the Salukis need to stop their losing skid.

The SIU baseball team will take on struggling Saint Louis (10-30, 6-8) at 7 tonight in a wooden bat game at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.

SIU and Saint Louis have met for four straight years in a wooden bat game at GCS Ballpark and the Salukis have won each time. SIU outscored the Billikens 30-4 in that stretch.

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The idea of using wooden bats isn’t new to the college game, either.

In the fall season, the Salukis play with wooden bats to prepare them for Pro Day, because scouts like to see how players adjust to the differences between aluminum and wood.

“It was a novel idea, initially, and it still is because this is our only chance this season to play with wood bats,” Callahan said.

After dropping nine of their last 13 outings, the Salukis (24-15, 5-7) hope to pounce on the Billikens, who have lost 11 of their last 16 games.

The Salukis won the last four games against Saint Louis and hold a 53-13 all-time advantage over Saint Louis.

Saluki coach Dan Callahan, who’s going for his 500th career win, said it’s important for SIU to play well.

“This isn’t exactly a must-win game for us but it’s important that we have a good showing against them,” Callahan said. “We recruit against SLU, along with a handful of other teams, so it’s important to play well against them.”

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Although both the Salukis and the Billikens have struggled this season, SIU holds a slight advantage on the offensive side. Saint Louis is hitting .244 as a team, while the Salukis are hitting .299.

Freshman right fielder Aaron Roberts is on an 11-game hitting streak and is second on the Salukis with a .395 batting average. Sophomore catcher Mark Kelly leads SIU with a .417 average.

“I’ve never been too concerned with my numbers,” Roberts said. “I just want us to start playing better because I know we’re capable of doing that.”