CHARLESTON, Ill. – SIUE softball pulled within one game of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference Saturday with a 3-1 victory at Eastern Illinois.
The Cougars and the Panthers are set for a 12 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow at Williams Field. Both teams are now 26-18 overall. SIUE, which halted Eastern Illinois' 10-game OVC winning streak, is 16-5 in league play while EIU is 17-4.
Avery Arwood scattered eight hits for her team-leading 11th victory of the season. She struck out four and walked two batters.
Kaylynn Salyars provided the big offensive presence for the Cougars. The Cougar second baseman hit a solo home run to left field in the third inning that proved to be the game-winning hit. She also drove home an insurance run with a double in the fifth inning.
Anna Henderson put the Cougars on the scoreboard in the first inning. She singled home Salyars who had drawn a walk from losing EIU pitcher McKenzie Oslanzi.
Eastern Illinois scored its lone run in the fourth inning on a single by Abbey Crain.
The Cougars finished with six hits overall, including singles by Lauryn Yslava and Emma Henderson as well as a double by Danielle Shuey.
