MOREHEAD, Ky. – SIUE softball tied Sunday's game in the top of the seventh and scored the eventual game winner in the eighth in a 4-3 extra-inning victory at Morehead State.

It was the seventh extra-inning game of the season and the second series sweep for the Cougars, which passed the .500 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play for the first time this season at 15-14. The Cougars are 15-21 overall and have won six straight games.

SIUE will close out the regular season next weekend with a three-game series against Belmont at Cougar Field.

"It was a hard-fought win," said SIUE Assistant Coach Valerie McCoy. "The kids just kept coming back and fighting when things weren't easy."

Sydney Baalman improved to 8-9 for the season. She struck out seven and went the full eight innings.

"Sydney settled down and gave us everything she had to allow us to fight our way back in offensively in the game," said McCoy.

The Cougars had plenty of key moments in the game. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, SIUE chipped away at Morehead State, 11-27 overall and 3-23 in the OVC.

Ava Bieneman picked up an RBI in the third inning. Micah Arps scored on a heads-up play on a foul out to right field by BIeneman.

"Micah also had a good day going 2-3 at the plate," added McCoy.

Morehead State made it 3-1 in the fourth before Amber Storer got SIUE within one run again with a solo home run, her fourth blast of the season.

"Amber comes up huge and hits a solo home run for us to get back within a run," said McCoy.

McCoy said SIUE played small ball well late.

Storer reached on an infield error. As Kylie Lane pinch ran, she moved over to second on a sacrifice by Rachael Quaritsch. Bailley Concatto then singled through the right side to drive home Lane and tie the game.

Zoe Schafer provided the eventual game winner in the eighth inning. She singled home Alana Cobb-Adams, who opened the inning with a double.

"The upperclassmen came through in the clutch for us today and proud of them for the perseverance and grit they showed today," said McCoy.