EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.— After starting 4-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Tennessee State University Tigers softball team (14-18-1, 5-6 OVC) will be looking to break a five-game losing streak when they travel to Edwardsville, Illinois, to take on SIUE (13-19, 0-7 OVC). Something has to give, as both teams will be looking to break losing streaks against OVC foes. 
 
Both teams have played a demanding out-of-conference schedule this season. Though SIUE has not won an OVC game, they are on a three-game winning streak. In games against common opponents,  TSU is 1-1 against SEMO, 1-2 against UT Martin, and 0-3 against Eastern Illinois University. SIUE is a combined 0-7 against the same schools.
 
The Tigers have enjoyed four different four-game unbeaten streaks this season. They started the season sweeping the four-game River City Classic. After tying the University of Incarnate Word on the road, they traveled to Lindenwood and swept them in a three-game series. In the next game, TSU defeated the SEMO Redhawks to start the OVC at 4-0. The victory broke a 14-game losing streak to SEMO, and it was the first home win over the Redhawks since April 3, 2005. 
 
Last week, the Tigers took on OVC leader EIU at home. In the first game, TSU outhit them eight to five but fell 5-3. In game two, the Tigers got their only run on an Onnika Spencer home run in a 4-1 loss. In game three, Peyton Fointno went 3-for-4 from the plate and drove in three runs in a 5-4 defeat. 
 
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (14-18-1, 5-6 OVC) at SIUE (13-19, 0-7 OVC)
Date/Time: Friday, April 7|| 3:00 p.m. (CST)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 8|| 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. (CST)
Listen Live: http://streaming.siue.edu:8000/cougarsports
Live Stats: http://streaming.siue.edu:8000/cougarsports
Location: Cougar Field | Edwardsville, Illinois
 
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Junior Peyton Fointno was moved to the three-hole in the batting order in Sunday's Game 2 and went 3-for-4 from the plate. She had three RBI, and her single in the third inning forced another run in on a throwing error.
• Freshman Holly Ayala got two of the three starts in this past weekend's series. She completed both games. She is tied for the top stop in the conference catching 18 batters looking.
• Freshman catcher Onnika Spencer is the only Tiger with a batting average over .300. She leads the team in home runs (seven), RBI (23), and slugging percentage (.626). Her three 'round trippers' in OVC play have her tied for second place.
• Junior Anayah Baker-Rowell is a perfect 7-of-7 in stolen bases.
• The Tigers have turned 15 double plays this season while only committing two.

 
 
SCOUTING SIUE

• SIUE boasts the third and fifth-best hitters in the OVC. Junior Lexi King leads the team with a .402 batting average. Sophomore Paige Rocha is hitting an impressive .383 on the season.
• Rocha has scored the most runs in the conference, with 24.
• King is second in the OVC with 24 hits and leads in stolen bases with 10.
• SIUE is the most aggressive team on the base pads. They lead the OVC in stolen base attempts with 46.
• Junior Kelsey Ray is right behind Caitlyn Manus in strikeouts. Her 62 places her in fourth place in the OVC.