CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - In a pair of low-scoring games, Southeast Missouri edged SIUE to open the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference regular season.

SEMO, 9-6 overall, defeated the Cougars 4-2 in the opener and 3-2 in the nightcap that went eight innings.

"Everything we hit was right at somebody," said SIUE Head Coach Ben Sorden. "We had a couple of hit-and-run plays in which we got doubled up because we hit the ball right at the defense."

SIUE, 8-13 overall, relied on the long ball for much of its offense.

In game one, Lexi King blasted a solo home run to right field in the third inning. Grace Lueke, who was pinch hitting, hit a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning.

"It was great to see Lueke get a great at-bat," said Sorden.

Kelsey Ray went the distance for the Cougars and struck out three without giving up a walk. She allowed five hits. Delaney Kell was the winning pitcher while Marisa Davis grabbed the save.

Katc Sackett collected three hits and had an RBI for the Redhawks.

SIUE leadoff hitter Paige Rocha got her team off to a perfect start in game two. The fourth pitch she saw left the park for her third home run of the season.

Sorden noted that Rocha and King both started the league season strong. Both had four hits over the doubleheader.

SEMO would even the score in the third on an RBI triple by Paige Halliwill.

Neither team would score until extra innings. Rocha doubled to lead off the eighth and scored on a single by King.

The Redhawks, however, countered with a one-out, two-run single by Aubrie Shore.

Sydney Baalman went 7 1/3 innings for SIUE and took the loss. Marisa Davis, who threw the final inning was credited with the win.

Both teams are back in action at the Southeast Softball Complex Saturday to close out the three-game series. First pitch is schedule for noon.