SIUE baseball sent a Division I-era program record eight home runs over the outfield wall en route to an impressive 18-9 win over Austin Peay on Friday evening.
The Cougars began the game on the wrong end of the scoreboard, as the Governors stormed out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The momentum would shift in SIUE's favor in the home half of the third, as the Cougars hung six on the visiting Governors. Josh Ohl, Connor Kiffer, and Brady Bunten all notched home runs in the inning, while Brett Pierson singled to right field to send home Brennan Orf.
"Quite an offensive output by our guys tonight," said SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons following the win. "It was windy and warm and a good night to hit, but our guys did a really good job. Really good night for Josh Ohl and Brady Bunten with the home runs. Guys had some really good at-bats to extend some innings for us to put some big innings together."
Austin Peay would cut the Cougar lead to four with a home run to center field in the visitor's half of the fourth; however, SIUE would return with a pair of homers to left field by Bunten and Orf. The Cougars' offensive onslaught would continue one inning later, as Brett Johnson sent the ball over the wall to extend the SIUE lead to nine before a single through the left side from Kiffer scored Ritchie Well and gave the Red & White an eight-run advantage.
The Governors cut the SIUE lead to three in the seventh, but a triple down the right field line from Johnson and a two-run blast to left field from Ohl in the home half of the inning extended the Cougar lead to six.
Bunten would send his third home run over the wall in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring Kiffer and pushing the SIUE lead to eight. Shortly after, Ohl doubled down the left field line and score Johnson, Orf, and Drew Mize and giving the hosts an 11-run lead. A two-run top of the ninth for the Governors was not enough, as the Cougars take the first game of the weekend series by a nine-run margin.
Brant Glidewell had a masterful performance on the mound, pitching 6.1 inning and striking out seven Governor batters. Glidewell improves to 3-2 on the season. Quinn Waterhouse turned in an equally-impressive outing in relief, hurling 2.2 innings and allowing just three runs on four hits with a trio of strikeouts.
"Another good outing from Brant [Glidewell] in these conditions to give us six-and-a-third, and Quinn [Waterhouse] to come in and keep the other team at bay and give us an opportunity to win," said Lyons. "Just a real gutsy effort from Brant and Quinn, and we should be lined up well for tomorrow."
The Cougars (16-18, 4-6 OVC) will return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the first game of a doubleheader. Sunday's contest has been moved to tomorrow and will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the early game. Both games can be heard live on the SIUE Cougar Network.
"It's a good Friday win," closed Lyons. "We're going to have to turn the page and take this momentum into tomorrow, because I'm sure they will come out ready to play."
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