OXFORD, Ala. - SIUE softball unleashed a season-best 18 hits Saturday as it advanced at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships with a 10-3 win over Southern Indiana at Choccolocco Park.

The victory sends SIUE to Game 9 of the Championships against the winner of the Southeast Missouri-Tennessee State game that kicks off play Friday. SIUE's game time is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

The Cougars eliminated OVC newcomer and third-seeded Southern Indiana as five different players recorded multiple hits. Paige Rocha, Lexi King, Micah Arps and Madisyn Webster each had three hits. Emma Neuman added two.

With Rocha's three hits, she hit the 70 mark for the season, the most in the Division I era. King has matched her 68 hits from last season.

"Big time players show up in big times," said SIUE Head Coach Ben Sorden. "I think  they're the best 1-2 punch in the league."

SIUE, 28-25, jumped out in front in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Grace Lueke. Neuman would later score on a wild pitch by USI starter Hailey Gotschall.

Sydney Ballman, winning her second game in the circle in as many days, yielded one run in the first and two more in the sixth but gave up just six hits to the Screaming Eagles. She earned her 15th win of the season and struck out three batters.

"Sydney showed up to play," said Sorden,

SIUE's bats made up for the rest of the runs. King hammered out three doubles and drove in four runs. She now has 19 doubles this season, the most in the Division I era and tied for fourth all-time.

The Cougars also got a lift off the bench as Lauren Yslava hit a pinch-hit home tun in the top of the seventh. Her fourth home run of the season was a two-run blast to center field.

"How about that pinch hit home run for Lauren," said Sorden. "She put a walloping on that,"

Remaining OVC Tournament Schedule
Friday, May 12
Game 8 - #1 Southeast Missouri vs. #6 Tennessee State, 10 a.m.
Game 9 - #5 SIUE vs. Winner of Game 8, 12:30 p.m.
Game 10 - #2 Eastern Illinois vs. #4 UT Martin, 3 p.m.
Game 11 - Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 10

Saturday, May 13
Game 12 - Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11
Game 13 - Game 12 pairing repeated (if necessary)