SUNDAY'S SCORES
Jacksonville State 6, Sam Houston State 5
@Mississippi State 4,
Murray State 1
Northwestern State 3,
Murray State 2
Eastern Kentucky 8, Ball State 6
SIUE 8, Mercer 7
SIUE 4, Liberty 3
Ball State 10,
Tennessee Tech 0
UNC Greensboro 5,
Eastern Illinois 1
@Alabama State 5,
Eastern Illinois 0
Indiana State 9,
Tennessee State 6 (8)
UT Martin 5, Kennesaw State 4
@Florida International 6,
Morehead State 3
@Florida International 6,
Morehead State 5
@Kennesaw State 3,
Tennessee Tech 0
UT Martin 2, UAB 0
Eastern Kentucky 2, Mercer 1
JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, SAM HOUSTON STATE 5
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Jacksonville State softball team used some heroics of its own on Sunday, when a four-run seventh inning helped overcome a five-run deficit and cap a 6-5 walk-off win over Sam Houston State in the final game of the Southern Miss Invitational.
After dropping four games in the first two days of the event, three in the final inning and another by one run, the Gamecocks (3-6) were finally on the winning end of a dramatic finish. In a game that saw them trail 5-0 after three innings, they got a run in each the fourth and fifth to set the stage for the rally in the seventh.
The inning started with an error by Bearkat shortstop Cecilia Castillo that allowed junior Amanda Martinez to reach. Sophomore Savannah Sloan followed with a single that pushed Martinez to second. She would score on a single up the middle from freshman Ella Denes, cutting the SHSU led to 5-3.
Bearkat pitcher Shelby Lancaster got a couple of outs to put JSU's backs against the wall, but sophomore Sara Borders delivered a two-out double to left center that drove in a pair and tied the game at 5-5. SHSU opted to intentionally walk junior Kalee Tabor and pitch to senior Krystal Ruth, who made them pay when she found a hole up the middle to drive in Borders and gave the Gamecocks the walk-off win.
Junior Tiffany Harbin earned the win in relief for JSU, holding the Bearkats scoreless on two hits in 4.2 innings of work. She struck out six batters and didn't issue a walk. Freshman Casey Akenberger earned the start and allowed five runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits in 2.1 innings in the circle.
Lancaster suffered the loss for SHSU, giving up two unearned runs on three hits, while recording just two outs. Haley Baros started the game and allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in five innings. Amber Neal tossed the other frame, allowing a pair of unearned runs on two hits.
Borders and Ruth each went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Sloan had a 2-for-3 afternoon. Over the five-game tournament, Borders went 9-for-16 (.563) with three doubles, two home runs, four walks and four RBI. Ruth hit .333 with two doubles, a homer and five RBI in the event.
The Gamecocks will open their home schedule on Tuesday, when they host Alabama A&M in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at the newly renovated University Field.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 4, MURRAY STATE 1; NORTHWESTERN STATE 3, MURRAY STATE 2
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Murray State softball team dropped two close games on Sunday in the final day of the Bulldog Battle in Starkville, Miss. The Racers dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to Northwestern State in their first game of the day, followed by a 4-1 loss to host Mississippi State in the second game.
In the first game, Murray State (1-3) was first on the board thanks to a two-RBI single from Casey Castile that scored Leslie Bridges and Ellyn Troup in the top of the opening frame. However, in the bottom of the second, Northwestern State (6-2) answered with its own two-RBI single from Britt Virgoe, who eventually scored on the play due to an a MSU error to make the it 3-2.
After the first inning, the Lady Demons limited the Racers to just two hits and did not allow them to score for the remainder of the game. However, Murray State also shutdown the Northwestern State offense after the second, but without offensive production of its own, it fell, 3-2.
Bridges led the Racers in the game with two hits, while Castile also notched a hit and her team's only RBIs. CheyAnne Gaskey threw six complete innings for MSU in the game, allowing two earned runs off of eight hits with just three walks and seven strikeouts.
In the second game against the host Bulldogs (5-3), the Racers got off to a slow start and fell behind early. In the second, Mississippi State's Shelby Fisher drove in Jessica Cooled with an RBI single to put her team in the driver's seat at 1-0.
The Bulldogs would go on to extend their lead in the fourth and fifth with a two-RBI double from Cooley and an RBI single from Julia Echols, respectively, to make the score 4-0. However, the Racers attempted a comeback in the sixth when Shelbey Miller scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 4-1.
The Racers were then able to hold Mississippi State in the bottom of the sixth to give themselves to tie or take the lead. However, Bulldog reliever Jacey Punches would not allow that to happen and retired the side in order in the top of the seventh with two strikeouts and a foul out.
Miller, Castile and Alexa Becker all notched hits in the game, with Miller being the lone Racer to cross the plate. Shelby Kosmecki tossed her second straight complete game and finished with four runs off of seven hit and five strikeouts.
The Racers will now travel to Fayetteville, Ark., nest weekend for five games in the Arkansas Invitational. While in The Natural State, MSU will take on Saint Louis, Louisiana-Monroe and the host Razorbacks.
UNC GREENSBORO 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1; ALABAMA STATE 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Eastern Illinois softball dropped the final two contests to finish up Alabama State Invitational action on Sunday, as the Panthers lost to UNC Greensboro and the host Hornets by respective scores of 5-1 and 5-0.
The losses move EIU to 1-3 on the early season.
Sophomore Hannah Cole led all Panthers with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, which included an RBI shot versus the Spartans of UNCG. She also earned a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Senior Melise Brown, juniors Reynae Hutchinson and Kaylie Pruett all registered a stolen base, while Brown also tallied a piar of hits and Hutchinson accounting for the lone EIU run on the day.
The pitching of duo of juniors Janele Robinson and Stephanie Maday were tagged with respective losses to UNCG and ASU, while classmate Hanna Mennenga also saw six innings of play in the circle and led with six strikeouts.
Eastern returns to action next weekend, as the Panthers are set to compete at the multi-team Louisville Cardinal Classic as EIU will face Buffalo twice, Kent State and the host Cardinals.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8, BALL STATE 6; EASTERN KENTUCKY 2, MERCER 1
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team tallied two more wins at the KSU Classic on Sunday – defeating Ball State (8-6) and Mercer (2-1). The Colonels stand at 3-1 overall at the conclusion of the opening weekend.
Freshman Kayla Joyce produced the game-winning hits in both games.
Against Ball State, Eastern trailed 6-4 heading to the top of the sixth before rallying for the win. Senior Raquel Howes got things going with her first home run of the year. Sophomore Katie Tackett added the tying single later in the sixth.
The Colonels used three singles in the seventh for the go-ahead runs. Sophomore Darcy Schueler and redshirt freshman Haley Schenasi opened the frame with back-to-back singles. With one away, Joyce laced a two-run single to center field.
Sophomore pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger (2-0) did not allow a hit the final two innings to earn the win.
Howes went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored. Joyce only managed one hit versus the Cardinals, but came away with three RBIs.
Poor field conditions pushed the Mercer game, originally the first game of the day, to a later start following the Ball State contest.
Sophomore Lauren Mitchell gave the Colonels a 1-0 lead in the third inning thanks to an RBI double.
Mercer tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a home run, but EKU responded in the top of the fourth. Joyce tallied a bases loaded infield single to push across the go-ahead run.
Starting pitcher Shaylon Robb (1-1) combined with Pittsenbarger to hold Mercer scoreless the rest of the way.
Eastern Kentucky is back in action next weekend at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.
SIUE 8, MERCER 7; SIUE 4, LIBERTY 3
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - SIUE softball swept a pair of games at the KSU Classic, picking up wins over Liberty and Mercer.
Like Saturday, both games were decided by a single run. This time, it was the Cougars' turn for the victories. SIUE downed Liberty 4-3 and Mercer 8-7.
SIUE improved its overall record to 4-3 and next travels to Memphis, Tenn., for the Blues City Classic Feb. 22-24. The Cougars play Kansas City in an 11 a.m. game Friday and follow that with Wright State and Detroit Saturday as well as Mississippi State Sunday.
In game one Sunday, SIUE jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on double by Alex McDavid. That drove home Chelsea Yankolovich who led off the game by drawing a walk.
Liberty moved ahead with two runs in the second and a single tally in the third to take a 3-1 lead. The Cougars chipped away at the lead, including a solo homer by Yankolovich in the fifth to tie the score 3-3.
Yankolovich said the team was confident it could come back.
SIUE went ahead for good in the bottom of the sixth on a Taylor Tooley sacrifice fly which scored Kayla Riggs.
Haley Chambers picked up the win in relief of Amanda Lambrecht. Chambers struck out seven over 4 2/3 for her second win of the season.
In SIUE's second game of the day, the Cougars doubled their offensive output. SIUE also finished game two with a season-high 14 hits.
Sophomore Brittany Toney would have the busiest bat of the day, going 6 for 7 with two runs batted in. She had three hits in both games.
Toney said that after losing a pair of games Saturday the team was looking to get its wins for the weekend.
SIUE got off to a flying start against Mercer with four runs in the first inning. CC Hutchinson belted her team-leading third home run of the season in the first inning.
The Cougars would hold a 5-0 lead headed to the third inning when Mercer's offense struck. The Bears rallied for two runs in the third and five more in the fourth. Mercer picked up three home runs along the way, including a grand slam by Kaytlin Haney.
SIUE's offense bounced back with three runs in the top of the fifth. Rachel Coonrod ripped a two-run, pinch-hit double to tie the score 7-7. Jill Rackers would go into run for Coonrod and later scored on an infield error off the bat of Yankolovich.
Erin Greenwalt was SIUE's victorious pitcher. Her first win as a Cougar was 3 1/3 innings of relief work. She struck out three, allowed two hits, and yielded no runs.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 6, MOREHEAD STATE 3; FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 6, MOREHEAD STATE 5
MIAMI, Fla. - The Morehead State softball team was swept by host Florida International in a doubleheader on Sunday and closed out the Felsberg Memorial Tournament with a 1-3 record.
The Panthers took game one, 6-3, and went on to complete the sweep with a 6-5 victory in game two.
MSU jumped out to an early lead in the first inning of game one on an RBI fielder’s choice by senior first baseman Amber Riddle, but could not get another run on the board until the seventh. Junior second baseman Stephanie Etter drove in two on a single, but the Eagles could not complete the comeback.
Senior Katie Pfost suffered the loss in the circle, striking out four and allowing three earned runs off six hits. She is now 1-1 on the young season.
The Eagles out-hit FIU, 6-4 in game one, but also committed three errors to the Panthers’ one in the contest.
In the nightcap, MSU used a five-run fourth inning to close a 6-0 deficit, but eventually fell short.
Senior shortstop Kayla Ashbrook led the Eagles with two hits, while four other players each chipped in one each. Senior outfielder Anna Sommer and freshman outfielder Lizzy Margagliotti had MSU’s only two RBI with a walk and a sacrifice fly, respectively.
Pfost and juniors Kelcey McMurray and Greta Smeins saw action in the circle, with McMurray picking up the loss. She went three innings and allowed six earned runs off eight hits. Smeins allowed one hit in two innings of relief and Pfost added an inning with one hit and two strikeouts.
The Eagles are back in action on Friday when they travel to Wilmington, N.C., for the Seahawk Classic. MSU will face Gardner-Webb, Maryland-Baltimore County and host UNC Wilmington.
UT MARTIN 5, KENNESAW STATE 4; UT MARTIN 2, UAB 0
KENNESAW, Ga. - UT Martin picked up a pair of wins on the final day of the Kennesaw Classic, defeting host KSU, 5-4 and UAB, 2-0.
Despite having a field day on the base paths in the Kennesaw Classic, Leah Taylor hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to break open a 4-4 tie and give the Skyhawks a 5-4 victory over the tournament host.
The Skyhawks jumped claimed a 4-2 advantage with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. However, Kennesaw State tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning.
The Skyhawks scored their four runs on two hits and two errors. Stephanie Nidiffer had a single in the inning, while Williams added an RBI double.
Kenzi Tate earned the win in the circle for the Skyhaws. She pitched seven innings, gave up 10 hits, four runs and a pair of walks. She also struck out five in the game.
Lauren Smith led the Skyhawks to a 2-0 victory over UAB with a two-run blast to right field in the top of the seventh inning. Her round-tripped plated also played Taylor who reached base on an error by the shortstop.
Casey Vincent earned the win in the circle. She pitched seven innings, gave up eight hits and struck out four. She did not allow a walk.
UAB entered the Kennesaw Classic with a 4-2 win over No. 16 Washington.
INDIANA STATE 9, TENNESSEE STATE 6
AUBURN, Ala. - The Tigers made a furious comeback in the final game of the Auburn Tiger Invitational on Sunday afternoon before dropping a heartbreaker to the hands of Indiana State. TSU was a step away from grabbing their first win of the season, only to see it slip away in extra innings. The Sycamores would score three runs in the top of the eighth inning to escape with a 9-6 win. TSU remains winless at 0-7, while ISU improved to 6-4.
The Sycamores looked to walk away with the game early as they used two hits, five base-on-balls, and a hit-by-pitch in the top of the first inning to compile a 5-0 lead. Junior pitcher Olivia Gamache would only allow two more free passes on the game after her struggles in the first inning. This would mark the second consecutive game Gamache would be charged with a loss in extra innings as she falls to 0-3.
TSU started to chip away at the Sycamores in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs. With one out, the youth movement of Jeff Dabney’s team stepped up to load the bases. Freshmen Kiarra Freeman and Kacie Daugherty each picked up singles, while fellow first-year player, Audrey Sensing, earned a walk. Freeman would beat a play at home on a grounder to third off the bat of sophomore Kate Morris giving TSU their first run of the game.
Indiana State would try to turn an inning ending double play off the bat of Lindsey Burgess. The freshman reached safely as Daugherty crossed home plate to cut the lead to 5-2. Both teams had opportunities through the middle innings, but the score would remain the same until ISU scratched an unearned run in the top of the sixth.
The Tigers would answer the call as they trailed 6-2 heading into their final at bat. Senior Jennifer Givens drove a one-hopper to centerfield for a triple to open the bottom half of the inning. Freeman followed with a hard slap up the middle to plate Givens and begin the comeback. After a Daugherty single, Sensing would ground to third advancing her fellow classmates’ one base giving the Tigers two runners in scoring position.
After a two out walk to Burgess, junior Ashley Haynes delivered a single through the right side of the infield scoring Freeman and Daugherty bringing TSU within one run.
The excitement would continue to build in the ballpark as freshman Jayna Hanawahine ripped a hard shot down the left field line. Burgess would score easily as the Sycamores tried to dig the ball out of the corner. Haynes was in full gear as she attempted to score all the way from first. ISU executed a perfect relay home allowing for a tag on Haynes just inches before touching the plate for the winning run. The clutch double by Hanawahine knotted the game at 6-6 and sent the Tigers into extra innings for the second time in three games.
TSU looked to be in good position in the extra frame when, with a runner on third and one out, Gamache enticed a grounder to Sensing at first. The Charlotte, Tenn., native seemed to get the ball to Daugherty covering first in time for the second out, not allowing the run to score. But a safe call gave ISU runners on the corner with just one out. The following batter lifted a fly to leftfield where Freeman was able to gather and deliver what seemed to be a strike to Burgess at home. The ball would glance off of the runner giving ISU the lead once again at 7-6.
Indiana State took full advantage of their extra inning as Megan Stone deposited her fourth hit of the game over the right field fence and gave ISU a 9-6 lead. The Tigers would not be able to generate the same magic as they did in the seventh and finished the tournament 0-4.