Jarad Rettberg (Divernon) tossed eight strong innings in the nightcap and Jameson Sheley (Lincoln) closed out the ninth in relief as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville split a twin-bill with Missouri-St. Louis.
        UMSL, 12-15-1 overall and 7-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, won game one 4-2 while the Cougars took game two 2-1.
        Rettberg allowed just four hits over eight innings for SIUE, which moves to 8-18 overall and 5-8 in the GLVC. He struck out seven and gave up an unearned run in the first inning.
        Sheley proved to be the answer out of the bullpen. With runners on first and second for UMSL, Sheley picked off Josh Morgan from second base and then struck out Doug Wiles and Pat McNichols to end the game.
        SIUE tallied its runs in the third and fourth innings off UMSL starter-loser Steven McCoy. Luke Humphrey (Rantul) doubled home a run in the third. Robert Rahn (Wood River) recorded a sacrifice fly, scoring Wes Pickering (Springfield, Mo.) from third as the eventual winning run.
        In game one, SIUE held a 2-0 lead early and managed just four hits off UMSL starter Blake Burnside. Colby Hughes came in for the save in the seventh inning.
        UMSL hitters climbed on SIUE starter Brian Keating (St. Louis) for four runs in the fourth inning. Ron Jones (Kankakee) came out of the bullpen for 3 2/3 of hitless baseball.
        SIUE now has Friday off before heading to Evansville, Ind., for a Saturday doubleheader at Southern Indiana. First pitch is set for noon. SIUE returns home to Roy Lee Field on Sunday for a doubleheader against Southern Indiana at noon.
       
                -siue cougars-