Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Baseball	SIUE Baseball SIUE Athletics

Cory Bunner

May 2, 2005 Baseball Begins Crucial Last Week         As the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball team begins its final week of the regular season, the Cougars know that the next six games are crucial if they want to make the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.         SIUE, 27-22 overall and 18-16 in the GLVC, currently sits in seventh place in the league, two percentage points behind Bellarmine for the sixth spot. Only one game separates the Cougars from fourth-place Quincy. Only the top six teams in the conference make the tournament which will be held on May 12-15 at T.R. Hughes Stadium in O'Fallon, Mo.         The Cougars are set to battle Missouri-St. Louis in a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday before a four-game showdown with Bellarmine this weekend.         "We need the two games against UMSL," said SIUE baseball coach Gary Collins. "From the No. 3 team to the No. 8 team, this conference is pretty topsy-turvy."         SIUE is in the midst of a 12-game homestand, going 4-2 last week to start the stretch.         Freshman Cory Bunner (Jacksonville) and senior Craig Ohlau (Chester) have sparked the Cougars offense. Bunner notched a .435 batting average, collecting six hits, and driving in six during the week. The center fielder delivered a game-winning two-run double on Saturday and a three-run triple on Sunday in wins over Indianapolis.         Ohlau leads the team with a .333 batting average after notching nine hits last week. The Cougar first baseman blasted his first two home runs of the year against the Hawks and the Greyhounds.         "Cory and Craig had a lot of hits," said Collins. "They both played well."         The SIUE pitching staff held its own last week as their opponents had a .192 batting average.         "We are getting great pitching," said Collins. "It has kept us in a lot of games and given us a chance to win."         Clay Zavada (Atlanta) came out the bullpen to earn two wins over Indianapolis, running the left-handers mark to 3-3 on the season. "He threw the ball real well," said Collins. "He is hard to hit."         Jarad Rettberg (Divernon) had a masterful performance against the Greyhounds, pitching 9 1/3 innings. He gave up one run on five hits while striking out nine for the no-decision. In his last four starts, Rettberg is 3-0 allowing three runs in 27 2/3 innings, fanning 25 batters.         "Jarad has been really clutch down the stretch," said Collins. "He has pitched some great games. I have to pat him on the back. He has been good for us."         SIUE face the Rivermen at Roy Lee Field on Wednesday The Cougars will then play Bellarmine at Roy Lee Field on Saturday at 1 p.m. before playing the Knights at T.R. Hughes Stadium on Sunday at noon.                 -siue cougars-