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Box Score 2 CLARKSVILLE,Tenn. – SIUE softball became the first Ohio Valley Conference team to 30 victories this season with a doubleheader sweep Saturday at Austin Peay.
The Cougars, now 30-8 overall and 13-2 in the OVC, defeated Austin Peay 8-4 and 8-2 to extend their winning streak to 13 games. Austin Peay fell to 12-20 overall and 3-11 in the OVC. The two teams play the final game of the series Sunday at noon.
SIUE, which is one-half game out of first place in the OVC West Division after Eastern Illinois split at Southeast Missouri Saturday, used big innings to defeat the Governors.
Alex McDavid hit her second grand slam of the season and her team-leading seventh home run overall in the fourth inning. McDavid drove home Jordan LaFave, Chelsea Yankolovich, and Taylor Tooley.
Austin Peay had held a three-run lead previous to the home run.
"That was huge because we were down 4-1," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery. "It was clutch, huge, and an outstanding way to get us back in the ball game."
McDavid's homer set the tone for the rest of the day. "That was the shift in the offensive mindset," said Montgomery.
McDavid said she did not have two particularly good previous at bats against Austin Peay starter Lauren de Castro, now 6-9.
"I wasn't even thinking long ball," McDavid said, "just something to get the runners in."
McDavid now leads the team with 35 runs batted in. "As the No. 3 hitter in the lineup, it gives me confidence when Chelsea and Taylor get on base early. They have done their job. I just need to do my job and get them across."
Haley Chambers continued her string of victories in the circle with her 14th straight. She struck out six, did not walk a batter, and improved her season record to 16-2.
In the nightcap, Erin Greenwalt improved her record to 9-3 with a five-hitter against the Governors.
Rebecca Gray and Brittany Toney each had four hits on the day with two in each game.
"We have confidence in all of our hitters and the team chemistry to know that if we don't get a hit someone else will be the one to pick you up," Gray said.
Gray improved her season batting average to .326 and matched McDavid with four RBIs in game one. She added her fifth RBI of the day in SIUE's five-run sixth inning of game two. Toney also provided a two-run single in that inning.
Montgomery said the Cougars, which hold a team batting average of .303, have not peaked yet and are working hard on their focus. "We're still trying to get sharp," Montgomery added.
