Metro East Sun

Cougars, Aces Meet in Midweek Contest

PROBABLE PITCHERS
SIUE RHP Taylor Bruninga (1-0, 4.76) vs. UE RHP Jarrett Blunt (1-0, 2.00)

ROAD TRIP: Poor weather in Edwardsville forced SIUE and UIC to play last weekend's series in Millington, Tennessee.
RECENTLY: The Cougars won two of three from the Flames last weekend in Tennessee.
HOT START: SIUE began the year 10-2. It is the best start through 12 games since the 1990 team also started 9-2.
WEEKEND WINNERS: The Cougars won their now won four of their first five weekend series this year, taking two of three from Incarnate Word, Louisiana-Monroe and UIC while sweeping Western Illinois at home.
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 designated hitter Brady Bunten earned OVC Player of the Week honors Monday. It was his first award this year, and the third of his career. Starter Jake Bockenstedt has won Pitcher of the Week three times, marking the most for an SIUE player in a single season. 
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: 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 fifth in the league with a .249 batting average, but lead the league in doubles with 38. SIUE pitchers are second in the OVC in earned run average at 4.92 and are tied for second in total strikeouts with 148. The Cougars also hold the highest fielding percentage in the league at .982, good for No. 14 in the NCAA.  
ROUNDTRIPPER RECORD: SIUE's 99 home runs last year set a school record. The 1998 team held the previous record with 69. The Cougars were second in the OVC and No. 21 in the NCAA. at 1.8 home runs per game, the Cougars were No. 15 in the country. 
EXPERIENCE MATTERS: In addition to SIUE's All-OVC picks, the Cougars return Avery Owusu-Asiedu, Ole Arntson, Brett Pierson, Drew Mize and Braedyn Brewer, all of whom played in at least 30 games in 2022.
CLOSING IN ON CAREER MARK: Bunten is closing in on SIUE's caeer home run mark. Bunten has 32 home runs (fourth). SIUE's career record for home runs is 35, held by Brock Weimer (2016-19). Bunten is sixth in career RBI's in SIUE's Division I era with 123. 

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