Lion Invitational
John Cain Family Softball Complex
Commerce, Texas
Friday, Feb. 14
SIUE (2-3) vs. Rutgers (1-4), 10 a.m.
SIUE vs. Abilene Christian (0-5), 12:15 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15
SIUE vs. Rutgers, 2:30 p.m.
SIUE vs. East Texas A&M (2-2), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16
SIUE vs. Iowa (2-3), 9 a.m.
Video:Â All games available
Live Stats:Â SIUEstats.com
WEEK TWO
Just as in week one, this weekend provides five opportunities for the Cougars, including three games against Big Ten Conference competition. Each Big Ten game starts the day for the Cougars with Rutgers on Friday and Saturday as well as Iowa on Sunday.
VIDEO COVERAGE
Host East Texas A&M will be broadcasting every game on its website. To catch SIUE games, go to https://lionathletics.com/sports/2024/2/1/2024-softball-live-feed.aspx.
ONCE MORE
SIUE's opening tournament was in San Antonio, Texas, and this week the Cougars return to Texas. The next two weeks feature tournaments in Arkansas and Alabama.
OVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauryn Yslava was named the Ohio Valley Conference softball Player of the Week after leading the Cougars to a pair of victories this past weekend at the UTSA Tournament. Yslava finished the weekend with a .471 batting average, hitting 8 of 17 mostly as the team's leadoff hitter. Five of her eight hits went for extra bases, and she collected four multi-hit games. Yslava belted two home runs in a game against Weber State. For the week, she recorded nine runs scored, three RBIs, one stolen base and 17 total bases and had an OPS of 1.500.
PRAIRIE FARMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Emma Henderson received Prairie Farms Cougar of the Week Honors after her performance at the UTSA Tournament. Henderson started out tossing six innings of shutout softball and hitting SIUE's first home run of the 2025 season Feb.7 against UMass Lowell. In the second game on Friday, she got the Cougars started with an infield RBI early in the game, and another home run against UTSA. She would go on to take her second win of the season against UMass Lowell after entering the game in the fourth inning Feb. 9, giving up no hits. The Prairie Farms Cougar of the Week Honors an SIUE student-athlete who demonstrated excellence in competition.
SERIES RECORDS
SIUE defeated Rutgers 8-0 in five innings during the 2009 season, the only previous meeting between the two schools. The Cougars are 2-0 against Abilene Christian with the most recent win being in 2015. The previous three meetings between SIUE and East Texas A&M was a three-game series last season in which the Cougars swept the series. This is the first meeting between SIUE and Iowa.
HOME RUN POWER
SIUE is tied for 19th nationally in home runs per game (1.40). SIUE has seven home runs in five games. Last season, it took 29 games to get to seven home runs.
SENIOR LEADERS
The Cougars feature seven seniors on the 2025 roster: Anna Henderson, Kaylynn Salyars, Lauryn Yslava, Danielle Shuey, Piper Montgomery, Madison Kearns and Emma Henderson.
FRESHMAN CLASS
Meanwhile, SIUE's rosters also includes seven true freshmen in outfielder Carle Bachman, infielder Juztyne Torres, infielder Arissah Garza, pitcher Avery Arwood, pitcher McKayla Anderson, catcher Aidyn Barrera, and infielder Raegan Duncan.
YEAR THREE
Lone Tree, Iowa, native Ben Sorden is in his third 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.
