Baseball

Bugger has Record-Setting Day
         Despite losing the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament this afternoon, senior Mark Bugger (Edwardsville) had a record-setting day at the plate.
         Bugger entered the day three hits away from setting Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's record for single season hits and tying the NCAA Division II record for career hits. He fell short of the feat in game one, going 0 for 4, but capitalized in game two. With two hits already in the second game, Bugger came through with his record-setting single in the bottom of the ninth inning with one away.
         The hit in the ninth inning gives Bugger 95 hits this season and 341 in his four-year career at SIUE. The 95 hits this season surpassed the 10-year-old record set by Tim Degener in 1991 with 94. On the very same single, Bugger also tied the NCAA Division II career hits leader, Mike Stevenson (Lewis), with 341.
         "I wouldn't have been able to tie the record if the team hadn't done as well as they did in the tournament," said Bugger.
         Despite tying an NCAA Division II record, Bugger said it was more difficult to reach the school record.
         "It is harder (to set the SIUE single season record) than setting the other record because you are not sure how many at-bats your going to get during a season."
         The NCAA Division II record for career hits was set in 1988-1991 by Stevenson in 236 career games. Bugger had played in 222 career games and may have an opportunity to break the record should the Cougars get a bid to the NCAA Regionals next weekend.
        
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* The NCAA Division II career hits record is not official until certified by the NCAA. Another player at the Division II level also could be chasing the same record.