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Jake Smith
Jake Smith
 March 14, 2005

Cougars Eye Start of Conference Season
        After a successful trip to Florida, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball coach Gary Collins looks for his team to continue its high level of play heading into the start of the Great Lakes Valley Conference season this weekend.
        “We needed some wins and some confidence,” said Collins.
        The Cougars notched a 5-1 mark, sweeping a four-game series from Assumption while in the Sunshine State, to improve their record to 5-6 on the year. SIUE opens up conference play with league favorite Northern Kentucky in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday at T.R. Hughes Park in O’Fallon, Mo.
        “Northern (Kentucky) is a good club,” said Collins. “We will find out how good we are. They will throw some good pitching at us.”
        The Cougars had some outstanding pitching performances on the trip. Adam Tallman (Gillespie) pitched the ninth no-hitter in SIUE history against Concordia (N.Y.) by striking out nine and walking just three. Kyle Jones (New Baden) and Cameron Cheek (Atlanta) each picked up two victories.
        “Our pitchers threw well,” said Collins. “Kyle and Cam pitched well, and Adam was real good.”
        Cheek and Tallman both have an earned run average less than 2.00 ERA.
        The Cougar hitters also caught fire down in Florida as catcher Jake Smith (East Peoria) batted .500 in the six games. Smith leads the club with a .432 batting average, and is tied for the team lead with nine RBIs.
        “Jake continues to hit the ball well,” said Collins.
        Second basemen Jerry Bond (Alton) collected 10 hits during the six games to improve his batting average to .344 on the season.
        Jeff Darnall (Atlanta) and Robert Rahn (Wood River) each lead the team with two home runs. Rahn has eight RBIs with Darnall just one behind with eight.
        “This will kind of tell us where we are right now,” said Collins. “I think this team will continue to get better. Our pitching and defense will be solid all year.”
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