PEORIA, Ill. – Avery Arwood scattered five hits Thursday as SIUE softball advanced through the Ohio Valley Conference Championships winner's bracket with a 3-0 victory over UT Martin.
The Cougars, 29-27, next play Friday at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex beginning at 1:30 p.m. against top-seeded Eastern Illinois, which defeated fifth-seeded Southeast Missouri 7-6.
Arwood, a sophomore from St. Joseph, Michigan, bolstered her claim as the OVC Pitcher of the Year with her second straight OVC Championships win in as many days and her ninth straight victory overall. She improved to 14-6 with a shuout behind a six-strikeout effort.
SIUE's offense secured the only run it needed for Arwood in the first inning.
Cougar shortstop Juztyne Torres opened the game with an extra-base hit down the right field line. Ashley Duran made it 1-0 as she pushed the ball through the right side of the infield off UT Martin starter Payton Harris.
It was Torres once again causing havoc against the Skyhawks in the fifth. She led off the inning with another double, this time toward left field. That double was the last hitter for Harris as Natalie Kreuziger entered for UT Martin in the circle.
Raegan Duncan pushed Torres over to third base with an infield out. After Ashley Duran drew a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, SIUE inserted Elle van Breusegen at second base to run for Duran.
Abby Harvell then sent the second pitch she saw from Kreuziger toward center field. Her team-leading 47th hit of the season resulted in two RBIs as both Torres and van Breuesegen scored.
