Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Baseball	SIUE Baseball SIUE Athletics

Josh Street Game 1 Boxscore Game 2 Boxscore

April 26, 2008 Busy Bats Give Cougars Split           EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball collected 40 hits Saturday but settled for a split against No. 10-ranked Saint Joseph's.           SIUE blew out the Pumas 20-7 in game one. Saint Joseph's, 39-10 overall and 22-4 in the GLVC, used a grand slam to overcome the Cougars in game two 9-8.           The Cougars, 20-22 overall and 14-12 in the GLVC, fell to third place in the West Division of the league standings. Drury is ahead by percentage points after sweeping Rockhurst.           The same two teams face off in a doubleheader at SimmonsCooper Complex. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.           SIUE's offense blistered SJC pitching for 28 hits in game one. All but one Cougar had at least two hits against the Pumas. It was the most hits that SJC has given all season as well as the most runs.           The Cougars jumped out early with five runs on six hits. SJC starter Gord Gateman gave up a single to leadoff hitter Cory Bunner. After a failed pickoff attempt sent Bunner to third, SIUE stringed together one clutch hit after another.           SIUE's biggest inning came in the eighth when 15 batters were sent to the plate. The inning resulted in SIUE doubling its score with a 10-run tally.           In the nightcap, SIUE peppered Saint Joseph's for 12 hits and scored in four different innings. Michael Hopkins had the hot bat for the Cougars with three runs and two RBIs.           Cody Litteken was on his way to victory with a four-run lead headed in the sixth. When Litteken got into a jam, SIUE went to the bullpen for Mitchell Fairley. The Cougar reliever got an out and then walked Mike Pericht to load the bases. First baseman Ryan Murray finally gave the Puma fans in attendance something to cheer about when he blasted a grand slam to right field.                   -siue cougars-