CARBONDALE - Cody Adams is pretty sure of his decision. Mark Kelly said Friday he'd wait until June to see if he'll return for his senior season with the Southern Illinois University baseball team.

The two juniors could make their last home appearance today, as the Salukis close their three-game set with Evansville.

Adams, SIU's No. 1 starter almost all season, won his 20th career game Friday in the first game of a doubleheader. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-hander allowed two runs in seven innings to move to 5-4 on the season. Adams became the first Missouri Valley Conference pitcher in 26 years to win at least 10 games in a season when he took 11 last year. He likely won't approach that number this season, but scouts were still out in force at Abe Martin Field on Friday.

"He's struggled from time to time, as far as his success, but his velocity has never dwindled," SIU coach Dan Callahan said. "Even when he wasn't throwing well, he was still throwing in the mid-90s. He's had games where he's throwing seven, eight innings, and, in the seventh or eighth inning, he hasn't thrown a pitch below 90, and is still touching some 90, 95."

The 21-year-old from Viola plans to sign with whoever drafts him, if he is drafted by a Major League Baseball team this June. Where that will be is still the question. Callahan said people he has spoken with about Adams have told him anywhere from the second to the fifth round. Adams didn't venture a guess, only to say he is almost positive he will not return for his senior season.

"It's hard to say," Adams said. "I've just been telling everybody that I'm coming out this year. I'm signing. I haven't really gotten any feedback."

Callahan said Adams has great professional tools. SIU has a history of professionals, as at least two players have been drafted for the last three years. Adams and Kelly, a junior catcher hitting over .360 this season, could make it four later this year.

Adams has a 3.81 ERA in 13 appearances. He has struck out 71 in 87.1 innings and allowed 97 hits with 21 walks.

"We have some guys who just aspire to be pro drafts. You know, get their foot in the door, get their opportunity to play pro ball," Callahan said. "I think the stakes are different for Cody because of his ability and because of his drive. His No. 1 goal has never been to play pro ball. It's been to play in the big leagues."

Kelly, a 6-4, 210-pound right-hander who was preseason All-Valley this year, isn't sure what he'll do. He wants to wait to see if he gets drafted at all before deciding whether to come back next season.

"If I get the opportunity, who knows? I just hope to have the opportunity," Kelly said. "We'll deal with that when the time comes. I'm just enjoying playing right now, just trying to win, trying to get fifth place."

SIU can earn the fifth seed for next week's MVC tournament if it wins today and Wichita State is able to sweep Bradley.

Kelly, 21, went 4-for-5 in Friday's opener and had an RBI double in the eighth of Game 2. Ranked as one of the top 10 catchers in the country by Rivals.com before the season, he is batting .374 with 18 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 106 RBIs this season. He is the only player on the team who has started all 52 games.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087