The SIUC baseball team takes its 3-8 record to Texas for seven days of sun and hardball during spring break.

The Salukis play three non-conference games in the Lone Star State before beginning play in the Irish Classic in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday. SIUC takes on Southwest Texas State University at 1 p.m. Sunday, the University of Texas-San Antonio at 2 p.m. Monday and the University of Texas at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

SIUC opens play in the Irish Classic with host University of Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Irish have a 6-6 record but have claimed wins over Florida State University and Missouri Valley Conference-member University of Evansville this spring.

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The Salukis also play the University of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio at 3 p.m. Thursday and Brigham Young University at 3 p.m. Friday. The championship is scheduled for Saturday.

We’ve got a little time to rest up and hopefully heal up, Saluki coach Dan Callahan said. I know we’ve got some guys that are still hurting a little bit. Southwest Texas State on Sunday will be a good club. I think they’ve been to the NCAAs the last two years.

We’re taking a nice trip. San Antonio is a nice place to play. The stadium we’re playing at is beautiful, so hopefully we get some nice weather and our guys are ready to get after it again.

Recreation Center draws top junior college athletes

The NJCAA Track and Field National Championships will take place this weekend at the Recreation Center.

More than 500 premiere junior college athletes will compete in the championships. Many Recreation Center records are expected to be broken.

The meet will run from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and continues Saturday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The meet is being covered by ESPN and local stations.

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Salukis take Spring Break in Southeast

The Saluki softball team exits the chilly Midwest for more suitable softball weather in Alabama, Georgia and Florida over spring break. SIUC is scheduled to play at least nine games over spring break during a six-day road trip, with the first game coming Monday in a doubleheader at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta.

SIUC (8-2) then has dates with Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday and Penn State University Thursday in Tallahassee, Fla., before entering play in the Lady Seminole Invitational over the weekend.

Competing with big name schools such as Michigan State University and the University of Connecticut in the tournament is the positive of the trip. It will give the Salukis a chance to see how they measure up against non-conference opponents.

For freshman pitcher Erin Stremsterfer, the trip gives her a chance to follow-up on her recent impressive efforts. She was named Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the week for her 0.00 ERA in two wins in the Southern Classic last weekend.

I’m excited because we’ve played teams from only around here in Illinois, Stremsterfer said. We haven’t really experienced any play against any teams like Big Ten or Big 12 schools. I think I’ve become comfortable at the collegiate level, but I will get to see for sure after this road trip.

Salukis spend most of Spring Break traveling

The SIUC men’s and women’s tennis teams will be spending more time on the road than on the court during spring break.

The women’s team travels to Aurora, Ill., for a meet today with Northern Illinois University. The Salukis move on to Chicago to take on the University of Illinois-Chicago and DePaul University Saturday.

The Salukis will spend Sunday at home before leaving Monday for Jacksonville, Fla., where they will face Winthrop University Tuesday. The team moves to Winter Park, Fla., to face the University of Miami (Ohio) Thursday, and Rollins College Friday.

Traveling is just something you have to deal with, junior Jennifer Robison said. Mentally and physically, I think everyone is ready.

Senior Helen Johnson needs only two wins to be the fifth female in SIUC tennis to earn 100 career singles victories. Johnson hopes to join teammate senior Sanem Berksoy in the exclusive club. Berksoy has 110 career wins and is 10 short of the all-time winningest player for SIUC.

Hopefully Helen achieves it this weekend, coach Judy Auld said.

The SIUC men’s team travels to St. Louis this weekend to face Eastern Illinois University, St. Louis University and the University of Memphis.

The Salukis drive to Jacksonville, Fla., to face Winthrop University and Jacksonville University Tuesday and the University of North Florida Wednesday. The Salukis move on to Daytona, Fla., to face Bethune-Cookman College.

When we get there it could be 70 degrees, sunny and there is the ocean, and the guys could say, I have a vacation here’, coach Brad Iftner said. But I have got to tell the guys that there is work to do.