YOUNGSVILLE, La. -
Mia Volpert tossed six innings and
Avery Arwood closed out the seventh as SIUE softball blanked Northwestern State 5-0 to open the Mardi Gras Mambo at Supreme Rice Field.
SIUE closed out day one of the tournament with a 2-1 loss to Sam Houston.
In game one, Volpert allowed just an infield single in her six innings of work. The Cougar freshman threw 59 pitches and struck out three. Arwood, in her first appearance of the season, struck out two in the scoreless seventh.
SIUE's offense came alive in the fourth inning with a four-run rally.
Volpert helped herself by putting the ball in play and drawing an infield error that brought home
Raegan Duncan.
Ashley Duran then scored on a wild pitch.
Kaylin Fahy later made it 4-0 with a two-RBI single to cent field, driving home Volpert and
Haley Strain.
SIUE added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a successful squeeze bunt by
Arissah Garza. Fahy, who doubled to the gap in left center to lead off the inning, scored on the play.
In Friday's second game, the Cougars scored the game's first run in the top of the fifth when a wild pitch from winning pitcher Amy Abke allowed
Abby Harvell to score.
Harvell recorded both of SIUE's hits.
Abke outdueled SIUE's
Haley Strain, who allowed just five hits over the seven-inning contest. She struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Sam Houston, 5-2, tied the game in the fith on an RBI triple by Morgan Holliday. The eventual game winner came in the sixth on a sacrifice bunt play that plated Sophia Lundtrom unearned.
SIUE's schedule continues Saturday with a 3 p.m. contest against Southeastern Louisiana and a 5 p.m. game against Louisiana Tech. SIUE faces Nicholls in a 10 a.m. Sunday finale.