COMMERCE, Texas – The magic number today for SIUE softball was 10.
SIUE improved to 6-8 for the season with a pair of victories at Day Two of the Lion Classic. The Cougars bested Southern University 10-4 early in the day and North Texas 10-6 in game two. SIUE has now won four straight games.
The Cougars face North Texas in a 9 a.m. rematch Sunday in what will be the tournament finale.
In SIUE's game against Southern, the first inning was a lesson in patience as the Cougars loaded the bases and then scored on bases-loaded walks by Jesslyn Stairs, Arissah Garza and Kaylin Fahy. Aidyn Barrera provided a sarifice fly. Garza would score on a double steal, and Gretchen Trello's RBI single made it 6-0.
Abby Harvell extended the lead to 7-0 in the second inning when she doubles, advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on a bad infield throw from Southern.
Southern's only offense came in the four-run fourth, but SIUE countered with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Fahy drove home two runs with a double to the gap in right center. Elle van Breusegen added an infield hit that brought home Fahy.
SIUE collected 11 hits, including two each from Harvell, Fahy, and Raegan Duncan.
Kiana Villa picked up the pitching win for the Cougars. She is now 2-0.
In the North Texas contest, SIUE fell behind 6-0 after two innings and didn't must its offense until the fourth when Duncan singled home Juztyne Torres.
The game was more than interesting for Cougar fans in the fifth when SIUE put up a seven-spot in the inning.
After the Cougars managed to get bases loaded with no one out, Harley Limberger drew a four-pitch walk that scored Fahy. Torres added an RBI single to right field that plated Barrera.
North Texas thought it forced out a runner at home on a infield play by Harvell. But the umpire ruled Kaylie Frydenlund safe because UNT catcher Elizabeth Moffitt was off the plate when receiving the ball. The play was reviewed by the umpires and upheld as the correct call on the field.
SIUE would then tied the game 6-6 as Jesslyn Stairs ripped an opposite field double to the wall in left field. That brought home Torres and Harvell. Duncan had moved to third on that play and scored on a heads-up play. She tagged up as Arissah Garza's short fly ball was caught in foul territory. Stairs also moved to third on the play.
The Cougars added a well-executed squeeze bunt as Fahy brought home Stairs. Fahy's bunt left no play at either home or first base for North Texas.
SIUE scored 10 unanswered runs with two more in the sixth. Duncan added two more RBIs on a double.
Mia Volpert was the winning pitcher in relief of Stairs. She is now 4-3 for the season.
