MEMPHIS, Tenn. - SIUE softball opened the Blues City Tournament Friday with a pair of one-run losses to DePaul and Indiana State.

"Kelsey Ray and Sydney Baalman both pitched well today," said SIUE Head Coach Ben Sorden. "We just need to finish."

SIUE fell to DePaul 5-4 and Indiana State 4-3 in eight innings.

Day two of the tournament includes a 9 a.m. rematch against DePaul and a 2 p.m. contest against host Memphis.

Sorden also pointed out a strong performance from left fielder Jenna Herron, who had four hits on the day, including three in game two. Herron is batting a team-leading .444 through 10 games this season.

"Jenna Herron continues to have a hot bat," said Sorden. "She's worked hard and it's paying off for her."

In game one, SIUE's Paige Rocha homered to lead off the game. Her center field blast set the pace early.

SIUE added three runs in the third but fell late when DePaul rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh.

In game two, the Cougars and the Sycamores were tied 1-1 after seven innings. 

Indiana State capitalized in the eighth on a hit by a pitch, a walk, a hit and an infield error to push three runs across the plate.

A eighth-inning, two-run home run by SIUE's Grace Lueke would pull the Cougars back within one run, but Indiana State's defense would halt the Cougars' rally.

"I like the fight in this team showed against Indiana State," said Sorden. "We hit a lot of balls hard today. We just need to clean up the defensive miscues."