Jamie Cowell’s seventh-inning at-bat was nothing like she expected.

The bases were loaded, and a lackluster defensive effort had the Salukis trailing Southeast Missouri State University 3-2 Tuesday afternoon.

And Cowell stepped up the plate and calmly hit a single to left field off SEMO pitcher Debbie Schmelz, plating two runs.

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Sophomore pitcher Carisa Winters sealed the deal by retiring the side in the bottom half of the inning. The Salukis won 4-3 despite committing four errors in the first game of a doubleheader with the Otahkians in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

But Cowell wanted to end in a more exciting fashion.

It was a little dinker, said Cowell, who went 3-for-6 in game one. There were four players around the ball but couldn’t get to it.

A win is a win, and on this night it was especially important. The second game of the twin bill ended in a 3-3 tie after the game was called because of darkness. The tie was only the third in school history and first since 1992.

The Salukis improved their record to 16-5-1, while SEMO slipped to 11-5-1.

Despite the win, SIUC would have to give itself an E for its performances, not meaning effort. The Salukis’ seven errors in two games almost cost dearly.

We were very fortunate to come away with a win and tie, assistant coach Kerri Blaylock said. I was happy with the way our player came up with clutch hits.

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In game one, it appeared the poor fielding would doom coach Kay Brechtelsbauer’s team. The Otahkians got two runs courtesy of two fielding errors and a wild pitch by Winters to take an early first inning lead.

The Salukis did not make up any ground until a sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Theresa Shields in the third scored freshman third baseman Julie Meier.

But Winters (8-3) settled down to throw a four-hit complete game. She held SEMO hitless four consecutive innings after the shaky start.

Behind an RBI single from junior catcher Brooke Hattermann and clutch pitching from Winters, the Salukis trailed only 3-2 after six. Winters faced a one-out bases loaded situation but fought her way out the jam to keep SIUC in contention.

That was huge. I can’t tell you how much she has improved as far as mental toughness from last year, Blaylock said. When she’s on, she is tough to stop.

The Saluki hitters finally came around in the end to aid Winters. Sharp eyes of freshman centerfielder Marta Viefhaus and Shields forced SEMO hurler Debbie Schmelz into two walks to load the bases before Cowell’s game winner in the seventh.

A failed second-inning pickoff attempt by Hattermann of a SEMO baserunner opened the scoring in the nightcap. Otahkians catcher Michelle Frank doubled off Saluki sophomore Tracy Remspecher and Hattermann’s error turned into a 1-0 SEMO lead.

Again, it took a while for the Saluki bats to warm up. Sophomore infielder Jamie Campbell tripled in the fifth and later stole home in the inning. Junior outfielder Jen Feldmeier then followed with a one-run double to score junior third baseman Nikki Beard and take a 2-1 advantage.

The Otahkians followed with a two-run inning of their own. A lead-off homer by SEMO shortstop Jenny Oermann and double from centerfielder Kim Palmer sparked the rally.

Campbell tied it for SIUC with a home run in the top of the seventh. The game was called after SEMO failed to score in the bottom of the inning.