EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – After a two and a half-hour delay due to thunderstorms, Eastern Kentucky defeated SIUE 8-1 at Cougar Field.

EKU improved to 27-8 and 11-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Cougars dropped to 13-19 overall and 7-6 in the OVC.

"We're not playing any phase of the game well," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery. "We have to pick ourselves up and get back at it. We're better than what we're playing."

Eastern Kentucky outhit the Cougars 9-3 and jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with two runs in each of the first two innings. The Colonels took advantage of three SIUE errors and picked up two hits each from Kayla Joyce, Sarah Fobbs and Hannah Clark.

"We're just not doing the little things it takes to be successful," said Montgomery.

Alyssa Heren was the bright spot for the SIUE offense with two hits, including an RBI double that drove home Haley Adrian in the fifth inning. Heren had two of SIUE's three hits, improving her team-leading batting average to .314. Allison Smiley recorded the third hit of the day for the Cougars with a single down the right field line in the sixth inning.

Hayley Flynn was the winning pitcher with 11 strikeouts and improved to 18-3. Baylee Douglass took the loss and is now 8-7.

SIUE now has one day to prepare for a Tuesday home doubleheader against Western Illinois. The first game is set to start at 3 p.m. The Cougars' next action in OVC play is a three-game series Saturday and Sunday at Murray State.

"We going to use this whole week to get ready for Murray State," said Montgomery. "We've got to build confidence and get back on track."

The second game of the doubleheader was cancelled.