EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - In an opener that lasted just a few minutes shy of four hours, SIUE edged Southern Indiana 2-1 in 16 innings. It was the longest game for SIUE in the Division I era and the most since the Cougars played a 16-inning contest in 2001.

Southern Indiana won game two of the doubleheader 4-2 in a 1 hour, 37 minute contest.

The two teams will be back at it Sunday for the rubber game of the series in a 1 p.m. game at Cougar Field.

Sydney Baalman went the distance for the Cougars in game one. Her 16-inning performance included 250 pitches where she allowed just a single run in the fifth inning.

"Sydney kept her velocity up," said SIUE Head Coach Ben Sorden. "She was sharp, ball was moving and nobody was squaring her up. We talked every inning and asked how she was doing. She said she was good as long I didn't see any mechanical breakdowns."

Southern Indiana's Josie Newman also went to the 16th inning in the circle. She struck out 13 despite the loss and tossed 189 pitches overall.

Despite the low-scoring contest, the game had its share of exciting plays, many of which were momentum-busting plays on defense.

With USI leading 1-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, Lauren Yslava would send the game to extra innings with a double to right center that drove home pinch runner Jenna Little. It would be nine more innings before another runner crossed the plate. Paige Rocha hit a sacrifice fly to left field that drove home Danelle Shuey.

In game two, USI came out aggressive with two runs in the first inning and held off the Cougars. Raegan Gibson earned the win for the Screaming Eagles while Kelsey Ray took the loss for the Cougars.

Emma Henderson blasted her third home run of the season, a solo shot to left field in the SIUE's two-run fourth inning. Shuey added an RBI bunt single later in the inning.

"Everybody had a piece of success in one way or another, but Anna Henderson stuck out because it always seemed like she was on base," said Sorden.

SIUE, now 15-28 overall and 7-13 record in OVC play, had six hits in game two with two from Anna Henderson.

"I think we need to be a little more aggressive at the plate," added Sorden.