SATURDAY'S SCORES
Saint Louis 5,
Jacksonville State 2
Southeast Missouri 3, Mississippi Valley State 2
@Belmont 7, Jackson State 4
Georgia State 10
, SIUE 9
SIUE 2, South Alabama 1
Jacksonville State 11, Louisiana Tech 1 (5)
UT Martin 7, Louisiana Tech 2
Southeastern Louisiana 2,
UT Martin 0
South Alabama 9,
Tennessee State 1
Central Arkansas 3
, @Belmont 1
Southeast Missouri 6, Grambling State 3
SAINT LOUIS 5, JACKSONVILLE STATE 2; JACKSONVILLE STATE 11, LOUISIANA TECH 1
HAMMOND, La. - The bats came to life in the nightcap of the first day of the Jacksonville State softball teams' 2013 season, when an 11-1 rout of Louisiana Tech earned the Gamecocks a split after dropping a 5-2 decision to St. Louis earlier on Friday in the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic.
After leaving nine runners on base in the earlier loss to the Billikens (1-0), the Gamecocks (1-1) stranded just one runner in their mercy-rule win over the Bulldogs (0-2). They got five RBI each from senior Kelci Johnston and junior Kalee Tabor, while freshman Casey Akenberger stifled the La Tech bats in her collegiate debut.
JSU got things going early against La Tech, using a six-run first inning to set the tone for the five-inning win. The Gamecocks rattled off six hits in the big inning, including a two-run double from Johnston that was followed by a three-run blast from Tabor, her first in a two-home run game.
A Lake Mary, Fla., native and Florida Junior College Player of the Year a year ago at Seminole State college, Tabor also belted a two-run homer in the second inning that put the Gamecocks up 9-1.
Johnston also homered in the win, a two-run shot in the fourth that highlighted her 3-for-3 game. The Northport, Ala., native also doubled in a run in the second. She scored three times.
Freshman Cadi Oliver had the Gamecocks' other RBi in the win, the first of her career, while senior Krystal Ruth added two hits and two runs scored.
Akenberger (1-0), a freshman from Bowling Green, Ohio, had all the offense she needed in her debut. She struck out three and walked three in a one-run, four-hit complete game.
Erin Klipp (0-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs after surrendering seven runs on six hits in just two innings of work. Klipp led La Tech at the plate, going 2-for-2 and scoring the Bulldogs' lone run.
In the first game of the day, a four-run second inning did in Tiffany Harbin and the Gamecocks on what was nearly a record-setting day. The junior from Hazel Green struck out a career-high 15 Billikens, one shy of the school record and making her the fourth player in school history to fan at least 15 batters in a game.
She allowed five runs on six hits, four of which came in the first two innings. She settled down to allow just three base runners after the difference-making second inning.
The Gamecocks couldn't push anything across on offense. They got two in the second on an RBI double from Kelci Johnston and a run-scoring triple from Savannah Sloan, but left a total of eight runners on over the final five innings.
Johnston was 2-for-3 with a run scored in the game for JSU.
After JSU's two-run second gave the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead, the Billikens started working on their answer. A walk, hit-by-pitch and a bunt single loaded the bases and set up the big blow, a three-run double from Jessica Van Nostrand that was followed by an RBI single from Kelsey Biggs that gave them the 5-2 lead.
Harbin struck out 11 batters from that point in a game that saw all but one SLU batter fan at least once. Brianna Lore grabbed the win for the Billikens, allowing two runs on six hits in four innings, while Laney Kneib earned a save by holding JSU scoreless on one hit over the final three frames.
Jessica Buschjost and Erin Harcar each picked up two hits to lead St. Louis.
The Gamecocks continue play in the Lion Classic on Saturday with a 10 a.m. game with Southern and a 3 p.m. matchup with Nicholls State.
GEORGIA STATE 10, SIUE 9; SIUE 2, SOUTH ALABAMA 1
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Amanda Lambrecht tossed a four-hitter as SIUE softball picked up a 2-1 victory Friday over South Alabama on the opening day of the MSU Bulldog Kickoff Classic.
SIUE ended day one of the tournament 1-1 after beginning the tournament with a 10-9 loss to Georgia State.
The Cougars grabbed the early lead against South Alabama with two runs in the second inning when Brittany Toney reached on an infield error as Taylor Tooley and Rachel Coonrod scored on the play.
Kayla Riggs was the big hitter of the day for the Cougars. The junior started both games at first base and responded with big hits. In game one, she was 2 for 3 with four RBIs, including a three-run double in SIUE's seven-run fourth inning. Riggs was 1 of 2 against South Alabama with her second double of the season.
SIUE's seven-run fourth inning against Georgia State was the most runs scored by the Cougars since the 2010 season when SIUE tallied seven against Indiana. The big inning wasn't enough to hold back Georgia State which matched the Cougars with eight hits.
SIUE led 9-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth. Georgia State tallied three runs in the bottom of the fourth and overtook the Cougars with four more in the fifth. Erin Greenwalt took the loss in relief of starter Haley Chambers.
The Cougars now have two more games at the MSU Bulldog Kickoff Classic, hosted at Mississippi State's MSU Softball Field. SIUE faces Troy Saturday at 11 a.m. The Cougars meet Georgia State once more Sunday at 11 a.m.
UT MARTIN 7, LOUISIANA TECH 2; SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 2, UT MARTIN 0
HAMMOND, La. - Morgan Lewis, Lauren “G” Smith and Kenzi Tate fueled the Skyhawks 7-2 victory over Louisiana Tech.
Lewis, who was hampered with a wrist injury a year ago, served as the catalyst with a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Skyhawks a 2-0 cushion.
Louisiana Tech tied the game with a run in the sixth inning and one run in the seventh inning, but in the top of the eighth inning the Skyhawks erupted for five runs and claimed the victory.
Sophomore Kenzi Tate smacked a pair of doubles and drove in two runs, while Smith blasted a three-run home run.
Tate also got the job done in the circle where she came in to relieve Skyhawk starter Casey Vincent. Tate pitched 2.1 innings and gave up four hits and a run while claiming a strike out.
Vincent pitched 5.2 innings and allowed five hits, one run and four walks. The sophomore left-hander struck out five batters.
The Skyhawks suffered a 2-0 setback in their second game of the tournament to host Southeastern Louisiana. The host Lions scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning for the win.
Lewis was tagged with the pitching loss. She worked five innings and gave up the two runs and five walks.
Freshman Autumn Glenn pitched the first inning. She gave up one hit and struck out one batter. The Covington native threw 11 pitches, eight were strikes.
Tate led the Skyhawks at the plate with three singles. Smith and Sam McClure also had base hits in the game.
Senior Leah Taylor, Kristen (Miss UTM) Lackey and McClure had stolen bases in the game.
The Skyhawks will play Saint Louis (10 a.m.) and Delaware (12:30) Saturday in the tournament.
SOUTH ALABAMA 9, TENNESSEE STATE 1
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Tigers dropped the first game of the 2013 season at the MSU Bulldog Kickoff Classic on Friday night. South Alabama used runs in the final four innings to grab a 9-1 win. Tennessee State falls to 0-1 as USA improved to 2-1.
Jayna Hanawahine made her first collegiate at bat in the second inning a memorable one. The freshman drove a hard line drive over the fence that flew just inside the foul pole down the left field line. The blast gave TSU an early 1-0 lead.
Pitcher Shea Morris (0-1) held the lead until she ran into trouble in the fourth inning. Morris hit a batter with one out, but regrouped to force a ground ball out. But with two down, the sophomore hurler walked three consecutive batters to force across a run to tie the game at 1-1.
The Jaguars would go on to score a run in each of the next two innings before exploding for six in the final frame.
Hanawahine finished 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk, while fellow freshman Kiarra Freeman recorded her first career hit in the second inning also finishing 1-for-2.
Junior Ashley Haynes and sophomore Kate Morris were each 1-for-3.
The Tigers continue play Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm. TSU will open with Troy before taking on the host Mississippi State at 3:30 pm.
BELMONT 7, JACKSON STATE 4; CENTRAL ARKANSAS 3, BELMONT 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont softball team (1-1) earned a split in action for the first day of the BU Spring Kickoff Tournament. The Bruins knocked off Jackson State (1-1), 7-4, before being edged by Central Arkansas (1-0), 3-1, in the final game of the day.
Game one saw the teams locked in a defensive battle early with Jackson State until the Bruins broke it open in the top of the third inning. Junior Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) smashed her first double of the season to centerfield and sophomore Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Texas) followed with one of her own down the left field line. Sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) used a sacrifice fly to send Hollingsworth over the plate to tally Belmont's second run of the contest.
BU would let loose again in the top of the sixth, putting five runs on the board with four RBI shared between Hollingsworth and Vierra. Jackson State turned on the afterburners in the bottom of the same inning, notching three runs to cut into the Bruin lead. However, freshman Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) stepped up big in her collegiate relief debut to close the inning with a pair of strikeouts to help Belmont hold on for the 7-3 victory.
Hollingsworth, freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas), senior Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.), and Vierra each finished the game versus Jackson State with two hits. Vierra led BU with two runs followed by Hollingsworth, junior Kayla Brown (Beech Grove, Ind.), Turner, and sophomore Amanda Criscione (Upland, Calif.) recorded one run apiece.
Central Arkansas got on the board first in game two, when Ashley Boswell knocked her first homerun of the season over the centerfield fence in the top of the second inning. The Bears leaned on strong pitching to keep the Bruins off the board for the next two innings. In the top of the fourth, UCA tallied two more runs to go up, 3-0. Freshman Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) turned in an impressive show for her collegiate debut inside the circle to keep UCA from adding to the scoreboard as the Bruins worked to pick up their first run of the game.
Finally in the bottom of the fifth, the Bruins were able to dash the hopes of UCA earning a shutout with its first run crossing the plate. Lawson got things started for BU reaching on a fielder's choice before Hollingsworth singled to right center. Ferrell followed with a single to left, loading the bases before freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) walked in Belmont's lone run of the game. Unfortunately, the Bruins were unable to heat their bats up in the final inning and a half and fell 3-1.
Hollingsworth finished the day with two doubles to lead the team's offensive efforts. Vierra and Criscione each tallied two runs.
Inside the circle, Vierra notched 5.1 innings while Moon finished with four strikeouts. Snodgress and Albright finished with three and two K's, respectively.
The Bruins returns to action on Saturday for day two of the Belmont Spring Kickoff at Rose Park. Belmont takes on Valparaiso at 3:45 pm and Western Illinois at 6 pm to finish the second day of competition. Live stats will be available and the matchups can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 2; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6, GRAMBLING STATE 3
MONROE, La. - Southeast Missouri (2-1) softball swept at day one of the Mardi Gras Classic Friday, defeating Mississippi Valley State (0-1), 3-2, and Grambling State (0-4), 6-3.
Southeast Missouri softball recorded its first win Friday afternoon with a victory over the Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State, 3-2.
The Redhawks were the first to strike when Lindsey Patterson hit a one-out RBI double to left-center to plate Kaitlin Zink and go up 1-0 in the first inning.
A throwing error on a pick-off attempt by Chelsea Smith followed by a throwing error by Elysia Mesa allowed the Devilettes to go up 1-2 on the Redhawks in the top of the second.
The Redhawks were quick to answer back with two runs of their own. Mesa hit an RBI double and advanced to third on the throw to plate C. Smith. An illegal pitch that allowed Mesa to score proved critical to the Devilettes as it was the winning run for Southeast.
Zink went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, her third in two games. Savannah Carpenter, L. Patterson, C. Smith, and Mesa all had a hit in Friday afternoon's game.
Cowan (1-1) recorded the win for the Redhawks after five innings of relief work. Cowan struck out three batters and walked two. Freshman Hannah Clemons pitched two innings, giving up two runs, two hits, striking out two batters and walking one.
Kimberly Spivy (0-1) pitched a complete game giving up three runs on six hits, striking out six batters and walking three.
The Redhawks were able to grab their second win of the day against the Grambling State Tigers Friday night, 6-3. Southeast was down 2-3 in the sixth but scored four runs on four hits to take the lead and record the win.
Zink was able to score when no one was covering the plate after a foul-out to the catcher and give Southeast an early 1-0 lead.
Grambling's Kailey Howard hit a monster home run to straight-away center field to record the Tigers' first run of the season in the top of the second. With bases loaded and no one out, Clemons entered the game in relief for starting pitcher Lauren Reinagel and struck out the side for Southeast.
For the second time Friday, L. Patterson knocked a double in to right field to bring Zink home and give Southeast the lead, 2-1 in the third.
In the top of the fourth, Grambling manufactured a run: scoring on a ground-out to tie the game. The Tigers scored again during the following at-bat on a wild pitch and took a 2-3 lead.
Alexis Anderson started off a huge sixth inning for the Redhawks when she split the left center gap for a double and brought Simone Patterson around from first to tie the game. C. Smith then plated Anderson on a single to left to retake the lead. Brittany Smith reached base on an error to keep the inning going for Carpenter who added to the lead with a two-RBI double to left and extend the Redhawk lead, 6-3.
Zink finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base, her fourth of the season. Anderson finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Carpenter closed the game 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Clemons (1-0) picked up her first career win in relief after going six innings in the circle. Clemons struck out five batters and walked two.
Howard (0-2) suffered the loss for the Tigers after giving up six runs on nine hits.
Southeast will return to action Saturday afternoon when they take on host-school ULM at 1:15 p.m. followed by Northwestern at 5:30 p.m.