Cougars lose three in Huntsville

Kumar Bhooshan
Sports Editor

The men's baseball team, ranked 28th in the nation, traveled to Huntsville Ala., to face the No. 7-ranked University of Alabama-Huntsville in a doubleheader Saturday and one game Sunday.

The Chargers downed SIUE in the three outings, but as the games progressed so did the Cougars.

"I think things could have gone better," coach Gary Collins said. "We did a lot of things well but would have been happier with a couple of wins."

In game one of the doubleheader, the Chargers steamrollered the Cougars 13-1.

Alabama-Huntsville was led by center-fielder Andy Evans, who totaled four hits in his five at-bats on the day.

Evans also scored twice for the Chargers and drove in a run. Charger second-baseman Hector Guadalupe scored twice and went 3 for 5 on the day.

The Chargers produced on offense, and the Alabama pitching staff did the rest.

Kevin Schomas struck out seven batters in six innings pitched, allowing one run, five hits and only walking one batter to record his first win of the year. The Chargers also got innings out of Brent Davenport and Wesley Mindingall. In two innings pitched, Davenport recorded four strikeouts and allowed only one hit. Mindingall struck out two in the single inning he threw in.

Cougar shortstop Mark Bugger and outfielder Dave Crouthers led the team both going 2-4 on the day. Crouthers was the only Cougar to drive in a run, which came in the first inning when he brought in lead-off man Nick Seibert. Josh Cate and Todd Haug were the only other two players to record hits for SIUE.

"I think we could have hit the ball better," Collins said. "It is the first time we have had live pitching this year and w e'll have to improve as the year goes on."

In game two, the offense stopped and defense took over.

Despite Josh DeWitte driving in Bugger in the final inning of play, the Cougars were again bested by the Chargers 2-1. Again the Chargers only had to produce on the offensive side; the pitchers did the rest.

Adam Bass was the starter for Alabama and only allowed one hit and struck out a batter in just four innings of work to record his first victory of the year.

Philip Donaldson recorded three strikeouts and allowed one run before finishing off the Cougars in the final inning. Seibert, Crouthers, Bugger and DeWitte were the only Cougars who recorded hits in the seven-inning game.

Crouthers struck out five and recorded one earned run in a losing effort. Brett Giaudrone faced five batters and allowed one hit.

"One of my goals was to get in all my pitchers," Collins said. " I was able to do that, and from the looks of things we are in good shape."

In another theme change, offense was the factor in the final game of the weekend for both teams.

In an offensive battle, the Chargers made it three in a row, winning 12-7.

Chad Opel, Pat Key and Haug led the Cougars, each recording two hits.

Opel and Key both recorded hits and Opel drove in a run. DeWitte went 1-5 on the day and drove in three runs. Crouthers went 1-5, scoring twice and driving in a run.

Eight Chargers drove in at least one run en route to a Charger victory.Trai Meadows picked up the win for Alabama, with Seibert recording a loss pitching in just one-and-a-half innings.

"You never get any better beating up on bad teams," Collins said. "Huntsville is one of the best and it was a learning experience for us.

The Cougars will travel to Memphis, Tenn., to play in a doubleheader against Christian Brothers University at noon Sunday.