OXFORD, Ala. – SIUE softball is heading to the consolation bracket after the conclusion of day one at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships.

After overpowering Austin Peay in an early elimination game 8-3, the Cougars dropped the second game of the day to Southeast Missouri at Choccolocco Park. The Redhawks defeated the Cougars 9-1 in six innings.

SIUE next faces the loser of the UT Martin and Belmont game, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday. The SIUE game is set for 3 p.m.

"We have talked about it all year," said SIUE Interim Head Coach P.J. Finigan. "It rang true again today. It's more about us and what we do than about who we are playing."

Lauryn Yslava blasted her ninth home run of the season in the fourth inning, further extending her Cougar freshman home run record. It was the lone run scored for the Cougars, and Yslava had both of two hits off Southeast Missouri's winning pitcher Rachel Rook.

"She put together great at bats, competed like crazy and hit the home run off Rook with two strikes. It was big time," said Finigan.

SEMO's bats came alive for 11 hits, including a 4-for-4 performance by Kynsie Wrigley. She also homered for the Redhawks.

"We were riding a high after getting the big, avenging the weekend," said Finigan. "I was proud of how they were ready. We just ran into a better team today."