Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Baseball	SIUE Baseball SIUE Athletics

March 21, 2005 Baseball Cougars Split Series with NKU         If someone told Southern Illinois University Edwardsville coach Gary Collins that his team would score six runs and split a four-game series with Northern Kentucky, he probably wouldn't believe them.         Still, that's what happened Saturday and Sunday as the Cougars swept Northern Kentucky 1-0 and 4-0 in the series opener, and then lost 12-1 and 5-0 in the final two games.         SIUE, 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, struggled at the plate but picked up a pair of strong pitching performances from Kyle Jones (New Baden) and Cameron Cheek (Atlanta).         Jones tossed a three-hit shutout, outdueling the 2004 GLVC Pitcher of the Year Derrik Moeves in an extra-inning contest. Both pitchers on Saturday held their teams scoreless until the SIUE catcher Jake Smith (East Peoria) singled home the game-winning run with two outs in the eighth.         Cheek matched Jones' effort in game two of the doubleheader with a three-hit shutout. He struck out six, walked one, and didn't allow an NKU runner past second base.         On Sunday, SIUE's pitching couldn't hold off Northern Kentucky.         "It was disturbing to me that we walked too many people yesterday," said Collins. SIUE allowed 16 walks in 16 innings of pitching on Sunday.         Collins was pleased with the hitting and defense of Joe Wargo (Streator) and Cory Bunner (Jacksonville).         "Both Joe and Cory gave us some good gloves in the outfield and were swinging the bats better," said Collins.         The Cougars next head to Lewis for a four-game series in Romeoville. Lewis is 2-14 overall and 0-4 in the GLVC after dropping a four-game set to Missouri-St. Louis.                 -siue cougars-