EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – After delaying the start of the Ohio Valley Conference softball series because of rain for most of Saturday, SIUE grabbed game one of the three-game set with a 2-1 victory over Austin Peay.

The two teams will be back at it Sunday for a noon doubleheader at Cougar Field.

Sydney Baalman went the distance in the circle for the Cougars. She scatted four hits and struck out two in her fifth victory of the season.

"Sydney threw a great game," said SIUE Assistant Coach Valerie McCoy. "She worked around a few hits, especially the one in the seventh and showed great composure on the mound."

Austin Peay, which entered the weekend third in the OVC standings, fell to 18-8 in league play and 23-10 overall. The Governors scored their lone run in the fifth on a Drew Dudley sacrifice fly RBI.

SIUE's Lexi King was the offensive star of the day, providing two of the team's five hits and was big part of both runs scoring.

"Lexi had a great all-around day," said McCoy. "She came up big twice with runners in scoring position and then made a phenomenal play in right on a diving catch to double off a runner at second in the sixth inning."

Alana Cobb-Adams scored from second when King dropped a single in front of Austin Peay centerfielder Bailey Shorter. Cobb-Adams as waved home after Shorter quickly misplayed a hop.

King picked up the game-winning RBI in the fifth when she singled through the right side to drive home Micah Arps, who had singled to open the inning.

SIUE's defense came up big in the sixth. APSU's Lexi Osowski doubled to right field with one out. The Cougars then shut down the threat as King made a diving catch in right field on a line drive by Kelsey Gross only to double up Osowski at second base for the third out.

SIUE is now 10-21 overall and 10-14 in the OVC.