Not only did SIUC’s pitching get knocked around last weekend, but now the status of five pitchers is up in the air due to illnesses and injuries.

The Saluki pitching staff gave up 35 earned runs in three games last weekend at the University of Las Vegas. The lowest ERA belonged to senior Chris Schullian and junior Brad Heuring at 6.75.

But now the biggest fear is whether or not the Salukis will have any pitching at all. The status of junior Jason Frasor, senior Donnie Chester, freshmen Jason Mallory and Heuring and sophomore Jim Pecoraro is still unknown.

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Coach Dan Callahan said coming to work lately has been a logistical nightmare with trying to find out who is going be able to make the trip to take on Oklahoma State University this weekend.

Between guys not being healthy and guys deciding they don’t want to play, it just seems like everyday we got people dropping like flies, Callahan said. Everyday when I get to work, it’s, What is going to happen next?’ You can’t hang your head and start making excuses. If we’ve got 15, 18 guys healthy, then those guys will have to make do.

To make matters worse, sophomore outfielder Cory Roper and senior outfielder Dusty Neeley quit the team. Roper is trying to transfer, and Neeley wants to concentrate on his school work.

It hurts us depth-wise, Callahan said. That’s what concerns me more than anything is that everyday has become an adventure as far whose going to be healthy. I am concerned a little bit.

We have no infield depth. We’ve got four outfielders. Depth is a problem, so we are just going to have to keep our fingers crossed and hope that nobody goes down with an injury.

Callahan said he does not beg players to stay. He wants to have players who desire to be in Carbondale playing baseball at SIUC.

I want guys who want to be here, Callahan said. We’re not going to sacrifice our standards because we are down as far as our numbers. We still expect guys to come in on time, to work hard, to play hard. If for some reason at the end of the year, we end up with 15, 18 guys then so be it.

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Senior pitcher Chris Kulig said the team is not really bothered by the recent loss of two players or the loss of three players earlier in the season. Freshmen Casey Boydstun and Daniel Adams and junior transfer Joe Trigg quit the team during the first week of school this spring.

We just have to keep going, Kulig said. We’ve just got to deal with it and move on from there.

Kulig believes the main concern should be getting the first win of the season. The 0-3 Salukis gave up 16 walks, combined for a total of six wild pitches and beaned six batters last weekend.

We were just trying to pick at the corners, Kulig said. I think we just have to come after the hitters. If we get behind them, then they are just going to be all over us.

On the offensive side, the Salukis combined for a .315 average and hit three homers last weekend, which did give Callahan a few positives to work from.

Facing the Cowboys will be tough this weekend because they are a strong hitting team despite their four losses. Kulig said though they have dropped from the preseason top 10, the Cowboys will be tough to play, especially at home.

They are definitely a hitting team, Kulig said. We are going to have to throw up our strikes. We walked too many guys, hit too many guys.

The Salukis play Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.