EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE swept a baseball doubleheader from Western Michigan Friday at Simmons Baseball Complex. SIUE won the opener 4-1 before taking the nightcap 12-6. Both games were seven inning contests.
SIUE (4-4) scored four times on four hits in the first inning of the early game. Ole Arnston and Avery Owusu-Asiedu each picked up two-run hits in the inning.
"It was a great start to the weekend," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "We did a nice job of coming right out of the chute and putting four runs up in the first."
Sophomore starter Noah Matheny shined over a six-inning start. He allowed a single run on six hits and struck out eight. Jake Bockenstedt struck out one in a perfect seventh inning.
"Noah was really sharp in game one," Lyons added. "We got six really strong innings out of him and then had Bock to shut the door there in the seventh. He was so efficient there's an opportunity to see him again this weekend."
The Cougars scored early and often in game two. After a first inning run from the Broncos, the Cougars went back to work and put another four-spot on the board. Following a leadoff base hit from Josh Ohl, Brett Johnson hit his fourth home run of the year to make it 2-0. Owusu-Asiedu drove home a run on a groundout and Brett Pierson drove an RBI double to right. Connor Kiffer made it 5-1 in the second with an RBI-single and Owusu-Asiedu connected for a solo home run in the third to make it 6-1.
Richie Well smashed the first pitch he saw in the fourth to deep left center for his first home run of the year and two batters later Johnson hit his second of the game to extend SIUE's advantage to 8-1. He made it 11-1 in the fifth when he dropped a triple into the left field corner with the bases loaded.
Johnson finished 3-4 with the two home runs and six RBIs.
The Broncos got a run back in the sixth and SIUE scored its 12th in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk.
Offensively we really got some things going," Lyons said. "We took advantage of some free bases but we got some really big hits. It is a good thing to see heading into the rest of the weekend."
Western Michigan scored four times in the seventh for the final margin.
Kaid Karnes started game two and worked five innings, allowing a run on five hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
"Kaid has been really good to start the year for us and that is why he got the start today, because of the way he has been pitching, Lyons said. "When he commands all of his pitches, and he throws strikes he's a really tough competitor."
In all SIUE finished with 16 runs on 17 hits with the three home runs and seven extra base hits in the two games combined.
"A lot of guys who had been struggling a bit, put some good swings on the ball and that's a big confidence boost for them," Lyons said.
SIUE also stole seven bases over the course of the day, including five in the second game. Kiffer had four stolen bases.
"That's an aspect that we haven't been able to take advantage of the first two weekends," Lyons said of the baserunning. "That was a focal point throughout practice during the week. We got some right opportunities to be able to get some guys in motion and put pressure on the defense. I think it energized the guys and allowed us to have a big offensive day in game two."
The Cougars will face Western Michigan twice more with single games Saturday and Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. both days.
"To get back to .500 mark, even though it's early, is big for our confidence," Lyons continued. "We know we have to come out and play well the rest of the weekend."
