Ohio Valley Conference

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Avery Arwood tossed a six-hit shutout Saturday as SIUE softball defeated Southeast Missouri 4-0 in the final game of a three-game series at Cougar Field.

Arwood improved to 4-5 while SIUE advanced to 8-7 in Ohio Conference play and 15-22 overall. SEMO now stands at 12-21 overall and 8-6 in the OVC.

SIUE's offense had big plays all around beginning with a Betsy Woodward blast in the second inning. Her home run was the first of collegiate career.

The Cougars reignited in the fifth inning when Aidyn Barrera delivered a powerful shot to left center for a double off the fence. Abby Harvell then singled her home. Raegan Duncan drove Harvell home with an explosive triple to right center.

SIUE added another insurance run in the sixth inning on a Kaylin Fahy sacrifice fly to right field as Woodward scored on the play.

Arwood struck out five in the complete-game victory for the Cougars. Maddie Carney was credited with the loss in three innings of work for the Redhawks.

WESTERN ILLINOIS 7, TENNESSEE TECH 6
WESTERN ILLINOIS 9, TENNESSEE TECH 6
MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois Softball team (10-20, 5-8 OVC) defeated Tennessee Tech in both games of the doubleheader Saturday afternoon to secure its 2nd series win in conference play. 

Western Illinois got off to a hot start in the opener, with Payton Brown hitting a solo home run to give the Leathernecks the lead in the 1st, which was the 1st of her 3 home runs on the day. Alijah Williams extended the Leathernecks lead in the 2nd when she doubled to left field to extend the lead to 3-0.

Tennessee Tech would add a score of their own in the 3rd when Makayli Harris scored Jailynn Paderez on a sacrifice fly. The Leathernecks would respond in the bottom of the 3rd when Maria Luna singled to center field to score Ruby Tarr and put the Leathernecks in front 4-1.

Tennessee Tech would go on to score 5 straight runs to go ahead 6-4 entering the bottom of the 6th. This is when the rally would begin for the Leathernecks, with 1 out, Alijah Williams singled down the left field line. Addie McLaughlin would reach on a fielder's choice that put Alijah Williams out at 2nd. Then, with 2 outs, shortstop Kam Utendorf singled to put the go-ahead run at the plate with 2 outs. The batter stepping to the plate would be OVC Player of the Year Payton Brown, who homered to left field once again to put the Leathernecks back on top going into the 7th. Lillie Wools would hang on to secure the Leathernecks win in the 7th inning by stranding 2 Golden Eagles runners on base. 

The second matchup was a close contest that featured more 6th inning heroics from the Leathernecks. Tennessee Tech started the game off with the lead in the 1st after a Paderez RBI single to left field made the score 1-0 Tennessee Tech.

The Leathernecks responded with a Sophia Sanchez RBI Single that scored Kam Utendorf. In the bottom of the 3rd, Payton Brown came to the plate with 1 out and delivered her 3rd homerun of the afternoon on a 2-run shot that put the Leathernecks ahead 3-1.

Tennessee Tech came right back at the Leathernecks with a 3-run home run from Paderez, followed by a solo homer from Ashley Capelouto that put the Golden Eagles up 5-3. 

Once again, the Leathernecks would go on to rally in the 6th inning. After loading the bases on a pair of singles and an error by Tennessee Tech, the Leathernecks next two batters, Payton Brown and Ruby Tarr, would walk in runs to put the score at 6-5. Sophia Sanchez would put the Leathernecks ahead on an RBI single that plated 2 more runs. The Leathernecks would add some insurance runs from Maria Luna and Angie Ortiz to make it 9-6 going into the final inning, where Lillie Wools would once again seal the victory for the Leathernecks on the mound.