SIUE (25-18, 15-5 OVC) at Eastern Illinois (26-17, 17-3 OVC)
Sat., April 26, 3 p.m.
Sun., April 27, 12 p.m. (DH)
Charleston, Ill./Williams Field
Live Video:
ESPN+
Live Stats:
https://eiupanthers.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
• This weekend's battle features the two teams in first and second place in the Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern Illinois holds a two-game lead in the standings.
• The Cougars are near the end of an eight-game road trip. The road trip ends this Wednesday in West Lafayette, Indiana, with a 4 p.m. CT contest at Purdue.
• SIUE recorded 10 OVC wins all last season and now hold a 15-5 record in OVC play. There are six OVC games left on the schedule for the Cougars.
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Emma Henderson hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season last weekend at Western Illinois. It is the second most in the Division I era behind
Grace Lueke's 12 in 2022.
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Emma Henderson also is chasing the Division I era lead in RBIs. She has 40 this season, and the Division I best is 43 by Alex McDavid in 2013. The school record is 61 by Erin Newman in 2001.
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Lauryn Yslava has 14 doubles, which is tied for fourth in the Division I era.
Paige Rocha recorded 22 last season.
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Juztyne Torres, who has played both the second base and shortstop positions this season, leads the OVC in assists (102) and assists per game (2.49).
• Torres also is No. 1 in the OVC and 27th nationally in sacrifice bunts per game (0.24).
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Kaylynn Salyars and Yslava each have recorded 15 multiple-hit games. Salyars holds the team's longest current hitting streak at seven games.
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Avery Arwood leads the OVC in shutouts with three.
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Piper Montgomery leads the OVC in walks per game (0.63).
• SIUE leads the OVC in several statistical categories, including doubles (64), fewest hit batters (9), home runs (37), home runs per game (0.86), RBIs (200), scoring (5.58 runs per game), shutouts (6), runs (240) and slugging percentage (.461).
• SIUE is 19-0 when scoring six or more runs in a game and 21-2 when outhitting its opponent or a tied number of hits.
• SIUE opponents are only outscoring the Cougars in one inning -- the first inning (45-37). The Cougars are outscoring their opponents 51-30 in the fourth inning.
NEXT UP
The Cougars play at Purdue Wednesday before returning home for the final regular season OVC series against UT Martin.
