EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE softball dropped a pair of contests Saturday in its home opener to visiting Murray State.

The Cougars fell 3-2 in the opener and 7-1 in the nightcap. The two teams will return to Cougar Field for a 1 p.m. single Ohio Valley Conference contest Sunday.

It was the first home contest for SIUE softball since the final day of the 2019 regular season (May 5, 2019).

In the opener, Murray State scored three runs in the top of the seventh to push past the Cougars.

SIUE had seven hits total in the opener, including two hits from catcher Amber Storer. She provided SIUE's RBI in the seventh inning, driving home Ava Bieneman as the Cougars' comeback fell short.

"They have to figure out how to shut the door when the opportunities are there," said SIUE Head Coach Jessica Jones.

The Cougars would get on top early in game two when starting pitcher Lexi King helped herself with a sharp single that brought home Alana Cobb-Adams.

SIUE, 2-11 overall and 2-6 in the OVC, would collect five hits in the nightcap.

"We couldn't string anything together," added Jones.

Murray State, 9-14 overall and 6-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference, recorded single tallies in the second, third and fifth innings before rallying for four runs in the top of the seventh. The Racers had 10 hits in the second game, including three from Logan Braundmeier.