Box Score PEORIA, Ill. – Taylor Tooley's first-inning home run set the pace Tuesday as SIUE softball defeated Bradley 5-3 at Laura Bradley Park.
It was the 11th consecutive win for the Cougars, the longest winning streak since the 2008 season when SIUE strung together 19 in a row.
SIUE, 28-8, now returns home to Cougar Field Wednesday for a single game against Saint Louis. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Amanda Lambrecht was the winning pitcher for the Cougars. She went the distance, giving up nine hits and striking out two. The senior from Rock Island improved to 5-3.
"She threw really well," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery. "She had command to start the game. They did not hit her hard all game. I was happy with how she pitched."
Lambrecht said her pitches were working well against the Braves. She credited the defense behind her for making some tough plays as well as the Cougar offense for having her pitch with a good lead. Lambrecht also was pleased she did not allow a walk to Bradley.
"That was one of my goals today," she said.
Tooley put the Cougars ahead 1-0 in the top of the first with her third home run of the season. She sent a 3-2 pitch from losing hurler Mackenzie Camp over the left field fence. Her 18th career homer tied her for fifth all-time with Kasey Schlafke (2008-11).
The Cougars are now 14-2 when scoring in the first inning.
"I think that home run was huge," said Montgomery. "That took the wind right out of their sails."
Rachel Coonrod provided three RBIs on the day for the Cougars. After Rebecca Gray scored in the third inning off a wild pitch, Coonrod recorded her 10th double of the season and drove home Chelsea Yankolovich and Tooley to give SIUE a 4-0 lead.
"That put us in the driver's seat," Montgomery said.
Coonrod added her third RBI in the seventh with a single through the left side of the infield that would score Yankolovich, who has now reached base in 23 consecutive games.
Bradley, now 20-15 overall, didn't score until the fourth with consecutive hits by Rachel Huggins, Alyson Clemente, and Kathryn Spenn. Madeline Lynch-Crumrine drove home Bradley's other two runs in the seventh with a single.
The Cougars and the Braves each had nine hits. Coonrod said hitting has been contagious for the team this season.
"When one person does it, you want to keep it going," she added.
