EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE finished its first home weekend of the season by winning two of three games over Austin Peay.

SIUE defeated Austin Peay in Sunday's first game 4-3 and dropped a 4-2 decision in the nightcap.

SIUE Coach Sandy Montgomery said the Cougars let the second game get away as Austin Peay rallied late.

"We did not make plays when we need to and had very poor decision making in the late innings. You're now going to win game when you make mental mistakes," she said.

"We outhit them 8-4 but couldn't seem to get enough runs across," Montgomery added.

The Cougars now hold a 10-16 record overall and a 2-4 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play. Austin Peay collected its first conference win of the season and is 1-5 as well as 7-13 overall.

Amanda Lambrecht won her third straight outing in Sunday's opener and is now 7-6. The junior right-hander struck out seven Sunday.

"She threw well, and this was a very good outing for her," said Montgomery.

SIUE's pitching staff has had its setbacks with Alex McDavid relegated to hitting only. Montgomery said she couldn't ask for much more from freshman Rebecca Gray, who gave up just one hit through five innings before taking the loss in the second game. That has left Lambrecht with more responsibility.

"Amanda knows the weight is on her shoulders. She's handling it well, and I'm very proud of her," Montgomery said.

In game one Sunday, the Cougars jumped out to an early lead. Lindsey Barron singled and later scored on a RBI hit by McDavid. Chelsea Yankolovich followed that up with an RBI single to put SIUE ahead 2-0.

Whitney Davis led the Cougars in game one with three hits and an RBI. Her fourth-inning RBI single drove home Taylor Tooley who doubled to start the inning.

After Austin Peay rallied to tie the game in the sixth, SIUE answered with the game winner in the bottom of the sixth. Davis scored from second when Jill Rackers reached first on a single and then advanced on an error by APSU pitcher Morgan Brewer.

In the second game, Gray finished 3 for 4 at the plate along with her pitching duties. Austin Peay didn't break through until the sixth on a hit batter, an infield error and a two-run single by pitcher Ashley Bolda.

McDavid provided the offense for the Cougars with a two-run single in the fifth. The Cougar freshman has a team-leading 14 RBIs.

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