EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Murray State rallied for four runs in the seventh and slipped past SIUE 5-4 in Ohio Valley Conference softball action at Cougar Field.

"That was a hard loss," said SIUE Head Coach Jessica Jones.

Murray State improved to 10-14 overall and 7-2 in the OVC while SIUE dropped to 2-12 overall and 2-7 in the OVC.

Jones said putting everything together with offense, defense and pitching always has been a priority.

"We put two pieces of the puzzle together today, but we need the third," she added. "We need all three facets working at the same time."

Bailley Concatto led the Cougar offense with RBIs in the third inning and the sixth inning. She also scored in the sixth on an infield base hit by Amber Storer.

Concatto joined Alana Cobb-Adams with two hits each. SIUE outhit the Racers 8-6.

The Racers scored four times in the seventh with Sierra Gilmore providing the go-ahead RBI on a sacrifice fly that scored Logan Braundmeier.

SIUE came back with one run in the bottom of the seventh when Cobb-Adams doubled home Micah Arps, but Murray State pitcher Jenna Veber held off SIUE to earn the win. She is now 3-6. Mia Haynes took the loss, her first of the season, for the Cougars.

The Cougars next head to Evansville for a nonconference contest Wednesday. Game time is 5 p.m. The next OVC action for SIUE is this Friday and Saturday at Jacksonville State.

"We are going to treat every game with the same importance. We can't play not to lose. We have to play to win," said Jones.