COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – SIUE softball picked up two wins on opening day of the Ohio Valley Conference regular season. The Cougars defeated Tennessee Tech 3-1 and 8-1 in a road matchup.

SIUE improved to 9-12 overall and 2-0 in the OVC while Tennessee Tech dropped to 2-16 overall and 0-2 in the OVC. The two teams complete the three-game series tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Avery Arwood, 2-2, was dominant in the circle for the Cougars with a three-hitter during game one Friday. The Cougar sophomore gave up just one hit after the first inning as she fanned three batters.

The Cougars' offense rapped six hits overall, including three doubles.

Arissah Garza's double in the fourth brought home the game-tying run in the fourth inning. Betsy Woodward scored on the play after she had drawn a two-out walk.

Kaylin Fahy added a ground-rule double in the fifth that put SIUE ahead for good. Abby Harvell scored on the play. Juztyne Torres, who reached on a single in the fifth, would later score on an Ashley Duran sacrifice fly.

In game two, SIUE rapped 10 hits and never trailed.

The Cougars opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI from Duran that scored Harvell.

A four-rally in the fourth inning put the Cougars ahead 5-0. Fahy blasted a solo home run to start the scoring. It was her first home run of the season and extends her to a team-leading 10 home runs for 2026. The Cougars then loaded the bases for Harley Limberger, who delivered a triple to left field.

Tennessee Tech scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth before SIUE added two more in the fifth on an RBI double by Duran and a sacrifice fly by Garza.

Torres added another insurance run on an RBI single in the sixth.

Kiana Villa earned the win in relief and is now 3-1.