OXFORD, Ala. –Talisa Morton scored the game-winning run on a four-pitch bases loaded walk by pinch-hitter Jill Niehaus in the top of the seventh inning to give #5 SIU Edwardsville (25-19) a 5-4 victory over #4 Southeast Missouri (33-19) in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Wednesday.
 
Deadlocked at 4-4 entering the seventh inning, Zoe Schafer singled up the middle and was replaced by pinch-runner Morton. Haley Thogmartin entered the game to pitch and Regan Curtis reached on a bunt single. Thogmartin's throw sailed by first baseman Ashley Ellis allowing the runners to move to second and third.
 
After recording consecutive outs, Thogmartin intentionally walked Alana Cobb-Adams to load the bases. Niehaus then walked on four-straight balls and Morton scored.
 
Down to its final three outs, SEMO had the go-ahead run on base after Rachel Anderson reached on an error and Abby Tillotson walked. With runners on first and second and no outs, Sarah Messex popped up to second base. On the next play, Anderson tried to steal third, but was thrown out on a bang-bang play. Ashley Ellis was caught looking on strikes for the final out.
 
SEMO, in its 17^thall-time OVC Tournament appearance, wasted no time against SIUE starting pitcher Emily Ingles. Ingles didn't last a full inning recording just two outs.
 
Mykaela Arellanes led off the Redhawks first at-bat with a single to left field and went to third on a one-out double by Anderson. Tillotson followed with a walk to load the bases. With Messex at the plate, Arellanes touched home on a passed ball. Messex drove Ingles' ensuing pitch for a triple off the center field wall to score Anderson and pinch-runner Randi Dae Conway. A sacrifice bunt by Ellis knocked in Messex to grab SEMO an early 4-0 advantage.
 
SIUE got on the board courtesy of a two-out, two-run home run by Cobb-Adams in the top of the second. Cobb-Adams homered to right centeron a 3-2 count, cutting SEMO's lead in half.
 
The Cougars had chances the next two innings, but SEMO's pitching and defense kept them scoreless in that span.
 
Alyssa Heren doubled to left with a runner on first. Tess Eby tried to score on the play, but was gunned down at the plate. Claudia Gallo fielded the ball in left and threw to Messex. Messex then made a nice throw in plenty of time for Tillotson to tag out Eby.
 
Alexis Estes relieved Madeline Krumrey with runners on first and second and one out in the top of the fourth inning. Cobb-Adams loaded the bases for the Cougars on a long single to center. Estes, however, struck out pinch-hitter Maria Preta and forced Eby to fly out to center ending the threat.
 
SIUE later tied the game in the fifth. Heren reached on an error and advanced to second on a single by Bailey Concatto. Freshman Rachel Rook relieved Estes and was greeted with a double by Schafer as the Cougars loaded the bases with no outs. Heren scored an unearned run when Curtis was hit by a pitch and Concatto scored to make it a 4-4 contest.
 
Rivas (7-8) picked up the win after allowing just two hits in 6.1 scoreless innings. She also struck out eight and walked six.
 
Rook (5-5) suffered the loss. She struck out two and gave up a run on two hits in two innings.
 
SEMO finished with five hits, only two of which came after its big first inning. Arellanes, Anderson, Messex, Parker Bandy and Claire Wernig each had a hit.
 
Schaefer and Cobb-Adams led the Cougars with two hits apiece. SIUE tallied nine hits and left 10 runners on base for the game.

The Redhawks and Cougars met for the fourth time this season.
 
SEMO will play the loser of #1 Eastern Kentucky and #8 Morehead State in an elimination game at 5:30 p.m., CT, Thursday.