SIU Carbondale Salukis (6-6) at
SIUE Cougars (8-2)
March 7, 3 PM
Roy E. Field / Simmons Baseball Complex
Edwardsville, Illinois

Probable Pitchers:
SIUE LHP Garrett Helsel (1-0, 4.15) vs. SIUC RHP Jake Combs (0-1, 5.62)

LAST WEEKEND: The Cougars swept Western Illinois at home and have now won four straight. The Cougars also improved to 4-0 at home.
HOT START: SIUE's 8-2 start at home is the best start through 10 games since the 1998 team also started 8-2.
LAST YEAR: With 27 wins in 2022, SIUE had its most wins under Sean Lyons and the second most wins since moving to Division I. The most wins at Division I is 28 by the 2011 team, which was the year before SIUE played a conference schedule. The Cougars finished fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference. SIUE returned to the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2015. For the first time ever, SIUE won at the tournament, finishing 2-2. 
WEEKEND WINNERS: The Cougars have now won each of their first three weekend series, taking two of three from Incarnate Word and Louisiana-Monroe before the sweep of the Leathernecks.
WALK-OFF WINNER: SIUE opened the home season Feb. 21 with a 6-5 win over Illinois State in 10 innings. 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior starter Jake Bockenstedt was named the OVC co-Pitcher of the Week Monday. He threw six shutout innings, striking out nine, against WIU. He also earned Pitcher of the Week honors following opening weekend. He threw six shutout innings (seven strikeouts) to lead SIUE to an opening day win at Incarnate Word.
CENTURY MARK: The April 3 win over UT Martin last season was Head Coach Sean Lyons' 100th for his career. He has a career record of 115-160 all at SIUE.
PRESEASON ALL-OVC: Desginated hitter Brady Bunten, outfielder Brennan Orf and third basemen Josh Ohl each were named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference preseason team. 
LEAGUE LEADERS: SIUE hitters are fourth in the league with a .256 batting average, but lead the league in doubles (24) and doubles per game at 2.4. SIUE pitchers are second in the OVC with a 4.45 earned run average and are second in total strikeouts with 83. The Cougars also hold the highest fielding percentage in the league at .987, good for No. 13 in the NCAA.