OXFORD, Ala. - SIUE softball eliminated four teams along the way but fell to second-seeded Eastern Illinois 2-0 Saturday for the Ohio Valley Conference Championship.

Paige Rocha, Lexi King and Sydney Baalman were named to the All-Tournament team with an impressive performance. SIUE had eliminated Morehead State, Southern Indiana, Southeast Missouri and UT Martin before dropping the final game of the tournament.

Baalman posted a 4-1 record and a 1.11 earned run average, including a no-hitter to start the tournament against Morehead State.

"Syndey Baalman threw outstanding the entire tournament and kept us in every game while she was in the circle," said SIUE Head Coach Ben Sorden. "She was a warrior all week,"

Rocha hit .500 (11-22) over the six games at the OVC Championships.

"Paige Rocha did a great job at the plate all tournament, setting the tone for our offense and played a solid shortstop," said Sorden.

King hit .411, including three doubles and six RBIs.

"Lexi is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached," said Sorden. "She anchors our outfield and had several diving catches this week. At the plate, she's a constant force. On the bases, she pressures defenses." 

The Cougars did not find the offense they had enjoyed in the previous five games of the tournament. SIUE had two hits against Eastern Illinois' Olivia Price, who named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.

Baalman went the distance for the Cougars and completed the season with a 17-9 record. Baalman allowed just four hits. She appeared in five of the six games in the tournament and never allowed more than two runs in a game.

SIUE, 30-26, closes out an incredible run to finish off the season. Despite starting the 2023 campaign with six losses and the OVC regular season with eight straight losses, the Cougars were one of three teams to finish with a better than .500 record overall with tournament champion Eastern Illinois (34-19) and top seed Southeast Missouri (29-14).

OVC All-Tournament Team
Aniya Holt, Eastern Illinois
Kendall Grover, Eastern Illinois
Amber Cieplinski, Eastern Illinois
Olivia Price, Eastern Illinois
Lexi King, SIUE
Sydney Baalman, SIUE
Paige Rocha, SIUE
Katie Dreiling, UT Martin
Avry Blume, UT Martin
Kat Sackett, Southeast Missouri
Anayah Baker, Tennessee State
Allie Goodin, Southern Indiana

MVP: Olivia Price, Eastern Illinois