NASHVILLE, Tenn. – SIUE softball swept its Ohio Valley Conference opponent of a three-game series for the fourth time this season, besting Tennessee State 7-5 Sunday.
With the victory, SIUE evened its overall record at 25-25 and improved to 16-8 in the OVC. Tennessee State dropped to 2-34 overall and 2-22 in the OVC. The Cougars currently sit in third place in the OVC and have locked up at least one of the top four seeds for the upcoming OVC Tournament in Peoria, Illinois.
SIUE previously has swept three-game OVC series against Tennessee Tech, Morehead State and Southern Indiana.
The Cougars close out the regular season this week with four games. SIUE travels to SIU Carbondale for a 6 p.m. nonconference battle with the Salukis. Next Friday and Saturday, SIUE welcomes Western Illinois for the final regular season OVC series.
Gretchen Trello led the Cougars Sunday with three hits and two RBIs. She collected RBI hits in both the third and fourth innings.
SIUE scored in each of the first four innings. Ashley Duran opened the scoring in the first with a sacrifice fly. Aidyn Barrera's RBI single in the second put the Cougars ahead 2-0.
Two more runs came across in the third with Trello's RBI double followed immediately by another RBI double by Abby Harvell.
SIUE's biggest inning was the fourth. This time, it was Duncan and Trello with the RBI hits.
Avery Arwood earned her 10th win of the season, tossing 6 1/3 innings. Kiana Villa threw the final two outs for her first save of the season.
