Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Baseball	SIUE Baseball SIUE Athletics

Kyle Jones

April 10, 2006 Jones Breaks NCAA D-II Record         EDWARDSVILLE - The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball team has won nine of its last 11 games as the Cougars’ pitching staff continues to shine.         The Cougars, 23-11-1 overall and 18-10-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, have a 1.86 earned run average this season as opponents are hitting .197 against SIUE.         SIUE is in third place in the conference, one game behind Quincy for second place, and a half-game (loss side) ahead of Indianapolis.         “Our goal is to try and finish in the top three, and put ourselves in a position to get in the (NCAA) regional,” said Collins. “Any where from second to seventh in the conference is a dog fight.”         Senior pitcher Kyle Jones (New Baden) came through with his fifth straight 1-0 victory last weekend. Jones has not allowed a run this season in 48 innings, breaking the NCAA Division II record set by former St. Louis Cardinal Danny Cox, of Troy, at 43 innings in 1981.         “It’s tough on the old coach,” said Collins. “I have never seen anything like all these 1-0 games.”         Jones has a 7-0 record this season with five shutouts, tying former SIUE pitcher Ryan Cox for the single -season NCAA Division II record for shutouts. Jones has 56 strikeouts and 12 walks.         “He refuses to let them score on him,” said Collins. “He gives us a chance every start. He doesn’t let anything bother him, and he just pitches.”         Jones will take his streak to Evansville, Ind., this Saturday as the Cougars face the Screaming Eagles. SIUE returns to Simmons Cooper Complex Sunday to battle Southern Indiana in doubleheader at noon.         “They are dangerous,” said Collins. “Our pitching will give us a chance to win any of those four games.”         The Cougars have 14 shutouts as a team this year. The NCAA record for shutouts is 16, set by Central Missouri State in 2005.         SIUE went 4-2 last week with four wins over Lewis after dropping a doubleheader to Quincy earlier in the week.         “We needed to go out and win all four against Lewis,” said Collins. “We went and did that.”         Clay Zavada (Streator) notched his third win of the season (3-2) last Saturday versus the Flyers. Zavada dropped his earned run average to 1.58. He ranks second on the team with 54 strikeouts.         Cameron Cheek (Atlanta) tossed a two-hitter on Sunday for his third complete game shutout this year. Cheek has five walks this season in more than 42 innings pitched.         Freshman Patrick Keller (Newton) came through with his second relief victory of the season over Lewis. Keller has a 0.00 earned run average in ten appearances over 22 innings with 26 strikeouts.         “They have been very consistent,” said Collins talking about his pitching staff.         Catcher Jake Smith (East Peoria) hit .350 (7-20) driving in five runs last week. Smith holds a .297 average and leads the club with 22 RBIs this season.         Kyle Amerson (Springfield) notched .412 batting mark last week (7-17) with four runs scored.         Danny Fletcher (East Peoria) had five hits in six games (.333), scoring a pair of runs.         “Amerson and Fletcher broke out and their bats came alive,” said Collins. “That’s a good sign. Our hitting is getting better, but we have some little things that we need to do better.”                 -siue cougars-