SIUE Takes Two From Western Michigan

The Cougars moved to 17-14 after the split. Western Michigan is 11-4.

"We were able to manufacture some runs today," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "It is nice to be able to get a guy on, get him over and get him in."

Western Michigan picked up a run on two hits in the first inning against SIUE starter Jake Bockenstedt, who was making his first start since March 13.

SIUE tied the game in the second inning when Ole Arntson led off the inning with a single. He advanced to third on a pair of passed balls and scored on a wild pitch. Brett Johnson and Richie Well each added RBI-singles in the inning to give SIUE a lead for good at 3-1.

WMU cut the lead to 3-2 with a run on a hit and an SIUE error in the fourth inning.

SIUE extended its lead to 4-2 with some small ball in the fifth inning. Brady Bunten walked to open the inning and Ole Arntson singled to move him to second base. Avery Owusu-Asiedu followed with a sacrifice bunt to move both runners. Bunten then scored on a groundout by Steven Pattan.

Raul Elguezabal led off the seventh inning with a triple and scored on a groundout. Pattan added an RBI-hit to drive home Bunten who had walked.   

Arntson finished with two of SIUE's nine hits. Pattan was 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.

"Steven Pattan had a big hit and did well to pick up a couple of RBIs for us," Lyons said. "We executed in key situations. We need to have that execution to win close games."

Bockenstedt (2-0) worked three innings on a limited pitch count. He allowed a run on two hits and struck out two to earn his second win of the year. Kaid Karnes allowed an unearned run on three hits and struck out five in three scoreless innings of relief.

Effingham's Braydon Bone went one inning, allowing one hit, one walk while striking out two.

"It was great to have Jake back on the mound," Lyons said. "He looked sharp today. He did a nice job. Kaid was very effective today to help us get the win."
Western Michigan right hander Easton Sikorski tossed a complete game, limiting SIUE to two runs on five hits in game two. The Broncos took control of the game with a six-run fourth inning.

"Sikorski did a nice job locating his fastball and he was good mixing in his slider," Lyons said of the Western Michigan starter. "We hit some balls hard without much to show for hit. Once he got a good cushion he settled in."

The Cougars' only runs came in the fifth inning. Trailing 9-0, Owusu-Asiedu picked up an RBI hit and Arntson scored on a wild pitch after singling earlier in the inning.

Sunday's Game

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – SIUE baseball finished off a nonconference series win with an 8-1 win Sunday over Western Michigan. The Cougars won three of four in the weekend set.

The Cougars improved to 18-14 with the win. The Broncos dropped to 11-15.

"This was a good series win," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "We played a good brand of baseball this weekend."
Western Michigan opened the scoring with a run and a hit off SIUE starter Brant Glidewell before Glidewell settled in.

The Cougars tied the game with a run on two hits in the second inning when Ethan Copeland drove home Avery Owusu-Asiedu with a single to left. Connor

Kiffer and Raul Elguezabal picked up back-to-back one-out hits in the fifth inning and both advanced on a passed ball. Ole Arntson plated both with a single up the middle to put the Cougars up for good at 3-1.

Kiffer and the Cougars cashed in on a two-out walk in the sixth inning. After Richie Well Walked, Kiffer homered to left to push SIUE's lead to 5-1. SIUE then made it 8-1 in the seventh. Copeland and Well each picked up RBIs in the inning, which also included a passed ball to score a run.

"Offensively we did a really  nice job," Lyons said. "Once the game got settled, we did a nice job executing some small ball. We didn't hit a lot of ball overly hard, but we found some holes.

Glidewell improved to 4-0, working a career-best seven innings while allowing just the single run on four hits. He struck out three.

"Brant gave up the early run but then bounced back," Lyons said. "They weren't able to get anything going. He did a good job of making them put the ball in play and we were playing well behind him.

Rob Parks worked two scoreless innings to finish out the game on the mound.

The Cougars did not commit an error and turned three double plays in the field.

Owusu-Asiedu, Elguezabal and Copeland each collected three hits. Copeland, Kiffer and Arntson each finished with two RBIs.

"It's nice to have different guys stepping up on different days," Lyons added. "Nobody feels like they have to shoulder the load."

The Cougars return to Ohio Valley Conference play when they travel to Austin Peay for a three-game series beginning Friday.

"We have talked about what we need to do and the way we need to play," Lyons said. "I am hopeful that they way we played this weekend will carry through into the second half of the OVC season."