EDWARDSVILLE – SIUE softball will pivot to Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend after taking a loss in its home opener to Illinois.
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"We're going to be ready to play this weekend," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery. "They'll bounce back from this. I have no doubt."
Illinois improved to 19-9 with a 10-0 victory in six innings over the Cougars.
SIUE, 9-9, next travels to Nashville, Tennessee, for four games this weekend. The Cougars open up OVC play with a Saturday doubleheader at Tennessee State followed by a Sunday doubleheader at Belmont.
Illinois opened the game with a RBI single in the first inning by catcher Stephanie Abello to take a 1-0 lead.
SIUE's confidence was high in the first inning when leadoff hitter Bailley Concatto reached on a walk and Alyssa Heren drilled a double off the base of the fence in right field. Fighting Illini pitcher Taylor Edwards, 6-5, would survive the inning without giving up a run. She fanned five overall in the win.
Emily Ingles took the loss for the Cougars and is now 5-5. Ingles struck out four in 2 1/3 innings of play.
"She's been throwing very, very well," said Montgomery. "She just did not have her best stuff today."
SIUE's Corrina Rivas also threw 3 2/3 innings of relief in her home debut.
Illinois struck for two big innings, a five-run third and a four-run sixth. The Fighting Illinois have now won four straight.
"We're going to get back to work tomorrow and figure some things out," said Montgomery.
