(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) After falling short in game one, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball team pounded out 15 hits to split the doubleheader at Roy Lee Field this afternoon.
         The Coguars, 30-18 overall and 16-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, lost by a run, 5-4, in game one, but pulled out the victory in game two 6-2.
         Northern Kentucky struck first in game one. The Norse scored three runs in the first inning after string together four consecutive hits. Nick Seibert (Worden) responded with his team-leading eighth home run of the season, a solo shot to left, in the bottom of the first. The Cougars tied the game 3-3 off Chad Opel's two-run homer in the third inning. Both teams would score one more run apiece to tie the game at 4-4. The Norse pulled out the victory in the top of the seventh, scoring on an error.
         Dave Crouthers (Edwardsville) picks up the loss (6-6), pitching six and one third innings. Crouthers allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits while striking out four batters. Chad Opel (Edwardsville), Josh Cate (Imperial, Mo.) and Luke Humphrey (Rantoul) each recorded two hits in game one. Opel also had three runs batted in.
         In game two, the Cougars fell behind 2-0 after the first inning but answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one away, Steve Berra (St. Charles, Mo.) singled to right field. Mark Bugger (Edwardsville) followed with an RBI triple to center. Cate then flew out to right to score Bugger. SIUE added the go-ahead runs in the fifth. Humphrey led the inning off with a single to right. With one out, Crouthers doubled to left, scoring Humphrey. Seibert followed with an RBI single to left, as the Cougars went ahead for good. SIUE added one run in the sixth and one in the seventh to win 6-2.
         Seibert pitched 5.1 innings to pick up his first win of the year. Seibert gave up two runs on four hits while striking out five batters. He is now 1-2 on the season. Bret Giaudrone (Gillespie) earned his 10th save, pitching 3.2 innings and striking out four batters in relief.
         Bugger was 3-for-3 in game two with a home run, double, two runs scored and two RBI. Seibert, Humphrey, Opel and Berra each recorded two hits in the nightcap.
         The Cougars return to action on Wednesday when they face Lindenwood in their final non-conference match up of the season. The single game is set to begin at 3 p.m. at Roy Lee Field.
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