Ohio Valley Conference Championships
#8 SIUE (18-33) vs. #5 UT Martin (30-21)
Peoria, Ill. (Louisville Slugger Sports Complex)
Game 1 - 12:30 p.m. Wednesday
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: SIUEstats.com

2024 OVC Softball Championship Schedule
 
Wednesday, May 8
*Game 1: #6 Lindenwood vs. #7 Tennessee Tech, 10:00 a.m. (ESPN+)
*Game 2: #5 UT Martin vs. #8 SIUE, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 3: #3 Tennessee State vs. Winner Game 1, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 4: #4 Southern Indiana vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Thursday, May 9
Game 5: #2 Southeast Missouri vs. Winner Game 3, 10:00 a.m. (ESPN+)
Game 6: #1 Eastern Illinois vs. Winner Game 4, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 7: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 4, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 8: Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 3, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Friday, May 10
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 11:00 a.m. (ESPN+)
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 11: Loser Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

Saturday, May 11
Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 11:00 a.m. (ESPN+)
Game 13: IF NECESSARY, 30 Minutes After (ESPN+)

*Please note Games 1 and 2 are single elimination

ALL TIMES CENTRAL

WELCOME TO THE POSTSEASON
This is SIUE's 11th appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championships. SIUE holds a 22-17 record in the OVC Tournament, including a run last season in which the Cougars eliminated three teams and advanced to the title game.
OPENING ROUND
SIUE and UT Martin are 4-4 in OVC Championships games. Last season, UT Martin won the first meeting of the Championships 8-5 only to be eliminated by the Cougars 4-2 later in the week.
LAST TIME OUT
SIUE took two of three games from Morehead State to close out the regular season, including a pair of walkoff 8-0, five-inning contests.
PREVIOUSLY THIS SEASON
UT Martin took the first and third games of the series in Martin, Tennessee.
THE LONGEST DAY
On April 20th, SIUE and Southern Indiana played a 2-1 contest over 16 innings. It is the longest NCAA Division I game of the 2024 season.
16 INNINGS, ONE PITCHER
Sydney Baalman threw a complete game and tossed 250 pitches in that contest. That is the most pitches thrown in a single NCAA game in at least three years. Southern Indiana's Josie Newman also went the distance in that contest and threw 189 pitches. SIU Carbondale and Missouri State played a 15-inning game in 2022 and pitches were not tracked.
LONGEST HITTING STREAK
Paige Rocha broke the school record for consecutive games with a hit at 29 games, which also stands as the longest such streak among Division I players this season. The streak ended in game two of a doubleheader against Western Illinois. Rocha broke the previous record of 27 set by Erin Newman in 2001.
ROCHA NATIONALLY RANKED
Rocha leads the OVC in a handful of statistical categories and is among the nation's best as well. She is ranked second in the nation in doubles with 22 and second in doubles per game (0.43). Her 76 hits, which is a Division I-era best for the Cougars is seventh best nationally. She also leads the OVC in total bases (111).
SIUE'S TOP FOUR HITTING STREAKS OF DIVISION I ERA (2008-present)
29, Paige Rocha (2024); 15, Alyssa Heren (2017); 15, Paige Rocha (2023); 14, Lexi King (2022). 
MULTI-TALENTED
Jenna Herron, who has been the No. 2 hitter in the Cougar lineup, has played her offensive role well. Batting behind Rocha, she is fourth in the OVC in doubles (13) and third in the OVC in sacrifice bunts per game (0.20).
YEAR TWO
Lone Tree, Iowa, native Ben Sorden is in his second season as head coach of the Cougars. Sorden came to SIUE after holding positions at Michigan State and Indiana, helping the pitching staffs to national honors and top-notch results.