EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE softball enjoyed some strong pitching efforts and used numerous extra-bases hits in a Saturday sweep over Tennessee State.
SIUE, 15-20 overall and 2-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference, defeated the Tigers 8-0 in six innings and 4-3 in the nightcap.
"I hope that we are gaining some momentum and are starting to believe in ourselves," said SIUE Head Coach
Ben Sorden.
Sydney Baalman tossed a five-hit shutout in game one, the team's OVC-leading seventh shutout of the season. Baalman lowered her season earned run average to 2.98.
SIUE's offense opened the scoring in the first inning as
Emma Neuman laced a double to center field to score
Paige Rocha.
Rocha would put the Cougars up 3-0 in the fifth inning with her fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot with
Sherri Mason on base.
The Cougars went full force in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Mason, a two-RBI double by
Lexi King and then a game-winning two-RBI single from Neuman.
In game two, Tennessee State pulled ahead by three runs early and drove SIUE starter
Kelsey Ray from the game.
Rylie Pindel entered for the Cougars and shut down the TSU offense for the final 5 1/3 innings, fanning four along the way for her third win of the season.
After being down early,
Grace Lueke got the Cougars back in the game in the second inning. After
Micah Arps reached on a bunt single, Lueke launched her third home run of the season over the left field fence.
"It came at the right time, and she got all of it," said Sorden.
Lexi King scored the tying run in the third inning, plating on a well-hit sacrifice fly by
Hayley Palm,
Rocha, who had four hits for the day, would provide the eventual game winner in the fourth.
Jenna Herron would score easily on a triple down the right field line from Rocha.
"Rocha is a special player. Offensively, she can beat you with her speed or beat you with her power," Sorden said,
SIUE now has a midweek nonconference battle at Purdue on Wednesday before heading to Southern Indiana next weekend for a three-game OVC series.
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