Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - After nearly five hours of weather delays Sunday, SIUE softball closed out the regular season by defeating Lindenwood 4-1 at Cougar Field.

The Cougars next head to the Ohio Valley Conference Championships where they have earned a No. 5 seed and will face eighth-seeded Morehead State in a 12:30 p.m. contest Wednesday.

SIUE completed the regular season with a 26-24 overall record and a 12-10 mark.

Sunday's Senior Day festivities were delayed when a lightning delay caused a pause nearly 35 minutes before the scheduled start time of 2 p.m. With the first pitch at 4:05 p.m., the two teams played 2 1/2 innings before lightning once again caused a nearly two-hour delay.

Once the game restarted with Lindenwood leading 1-0, SIUE flexed its offensive muscles.

After fouling off a handful of pitched, Madisyn Webster led off with a single to left field. Paige Rocha followed with a single to center field that stretched out to two bases on an outfield error. Webster scored on the error. Lexi King added a double off the fence to drive home Rocha. Grace Lueke then made it 4-1 as she tied for the team lead in home runs with six, blasting a pitch over the left field fence.

"What a great inning," said SIUE Head Coach Ben Sorden. "Grace Lueke was outstanding today. She played some fantastic defense at third base and had some hot shots and handled them. She looked like an absolute pro."

Kelsey Ray earned the complete game victory, pitching even stronger after the lightning delay, Ray struck out seven and yielded just two hits against Lindenwood, which finished the regular season with a 16-31 record and an 8-15 mark in OVC play.

"I think Kelsey Ray was absolutely outstanding today. She was in control the entire time. In fact, the last batter she called her own pitches."

2023 OVC Softball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 10
*Game 1 - #6 Tennessee State vs. #7 Lindenwood - 10 a.m.
*Game 2 - #5 SIUE vs #8 Morehead State - 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 - #3 Southern Indiana vs. Game 1 winner - 3 p.m.
Game 4 - #4 UT Martin vs. Game 2 winner - 5:30 p.m.
*Please note Games 1 and 2 are single elimination
 
Thursday, May 11
Game 5 - #2 Eastern Illinois vs. Game 3 winner - 10 a.m.
Game 6 - #1 Southeast Missouri vs. Game 4 winner - 12:30 p.m.
Game 7 - Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser - 3 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser - 5:30 p.m.
 
Friday, May 12
Game 9 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner - 11 a.m.
Game 10 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner - 1:30 p.m.
Game 11 - Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 loser - 4 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 13
Game 12 - Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner - 11 a.m.
(If necessary, Game 13 follows approximately 30 min. after Game 12)
ALL TIMES CENTRAL