The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville softball Cougars opened the Great Lakes Valley Conference season with a pair of victories over Saint Joseph's Saturday at Cougar Field.
         SIUE, 14-7 overall and 2-0 in GLVC play, won the opener 7-1 and capped the day with an 8-0 triumph in five innings. Saint Joseph's fell to 2-10 amd 0-2.
         In the opening game, the Cougars used key hits to overpower the Pumas. Shannon Evans cleared the bases with a triple in the third inning. Libby Lenart doubled home a pair of runs in the sixth.
         Ashley Hoheimer improved to 4-3 by allowing one unearned run in seven innings. She strick out six and walked one.
         SIUE didn't waste any time in the second game. Alicia DeShasier doubled home a pair of runs in the first as the Cougars cruised.
         Melissa Lindgren scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Saint Joseph's hurler Ashley Matson.
         Missy Koenig tossed a two-hit shutout, her second of the season. Koenig improved to 3-1.
         SIUE faces Indianapolis on Sunday. The first pitch is set for noon at Cougar Field.