COMMERCE, Texas – SIUE softball swept a pair of games Friday at the Lion Classic, defeating St. Thomas (Minn.) 3-0 and host East Texas A&M 4-3.
SIUE improved to 4-8 for the season and next meets Southern and North Texas in Saturday's play.
Mia Volpert and Avery Arwood combined on a five-hit shutout in SIUE softball's opener. Volpert improved to 3-3 with 5 1/3 innings of work, fanning four in the process. Arwood took over in the sixth out of the bullpen and struck out two for her first save of the season.
Abby Harvell picked up the eventual game-winning RBI in the fourth inning, driving home Juztyne Torres. Raegan Duncan also would scored later on the play as Harvell avoided being thrown out advancing to second.
In the fifth inning, Torres added an insurance run as she drove home Aidyn Barrerra with a bases-loaded single.
SIUE finished with seven hits overall.
In the nightcap, SIUE upended East Texas A&M with single tallies in the first, second, fourth and the sixth innings.
Kiana Villa earned the victory for the Cougars in relief of Arwood. Villa struck out three in 2 2/3 innings and did not give up a run. Volpert threw a full inning in the seventh and earned her first career save on the same day she collected her third victory.
Duncan opened the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Torres. East Texas A&M countered in the bottom of the first with an RBI double by KK Cosek.
Haley Strain put the Cougars ahead once again in the second with a single through the right side of the infield, driving home Gretchen Trello. Arissah Garza's aggressive play put SIUE ahead 3-1 in the fourth as she scored on a wild pitch from losing hurler Madison Kloepper.
East Texas A&M once again tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-RBI single by Aaliyah Wilcox.
In the sixth inning, Arissah Garza successfully stole home on an attempted double steal. Garza scored before Gretchen Trello, who was on first, was caught stealing at first base. Trello was originally called safe but the call was overturned by video review. Nevertheless, Garza's run proved to be the difference in the game.
