TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 3, Northern Kentucky 0
@Morehead State 8, Northern Kentucky 5
@Belmont 7, Memphis 0
@East Tennessee 8, Tennessee Tech 7 (8)
@East Tennessee 6, Tennessee Tech 5
SIUE 6, @Southern Illinois 4 (12)
Memphis 2,
@Belmont 0
Evansville 1,
@Southeast Missouri 0
@Southeast Missouri 3, Evansville 2
@No. 4 Alabama 11,
Jacksonville State 3
@No. 6 Tennessee 19,
Tennessee State 1
MOREHEAD STATE 3, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 0; MOREHEAD STATE 8, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 5
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State senior Amber Riddle him a home run to set a new school career mark in game one of a softball doubleheader sweep over Northern Kentucky at University Field on Tuesday
In game one, MSU defeated the Norse, 3-0, and the nightcap ended in an 8-5 decision for the Eagles. The sweep improved MSU to 13-11 on the season, while NKU dropped to 7-25.
Riddle went 1-for-2 in game one, while seniors Adrena Anderson, Sam Woodall and Kayla Ashbrook and freshman Tressa Watson all recorded hits. Ashbrook and Watson registered the Eagles’ other two RBI.
Senior Katie Pfost earned the shutout in the circle to improve her record to 7-6 on the season. Pfost allowed three hits and struck out eight in the contest. Senior Emily Schwaeble suffered the loss for NKU to fall to 2-13 on the season.
MSU picked up the early lead in the contest with an RBI double from Ashbrook in the first inning that drove in Anderson. The Eagles’ extended the lead in the fourth inning by Riddle’s record breaking hit, and further in the sixth when freshman pinch hitter Tressa Watson hit a single to right that forced an error and brought in fellow freshman Dana Hutchins.
The second contest started the same as the opening game as MSU picked up a run in the first to take another early lead. This time, senior Elizabeth Wagner connected on an RBI single down the left field line to score Anderson. Anderson came around to score again in the following inning via a Riddle base knock that also plated sophomore Katie Raile.
MSU extended its lead when senior Anna Sommer hit her first home run of the season, and fifth of her career, to put the Eagles on top 5-0 in the third frame. NKU stole a run back from the Eagles in the fourth off a bases loaded walk.
The Eagles tacked on three more in the fourth off a pair of sacrifice flies and an NKU error to secure the victory. NKU constructed a two-run fifth and a one-run seventh inning.
Junior Greta Smeins (4-2) earned the victory in 3.1 innings of work. She allowed five hits, one earned run and struck out two. Fellow junior Kelcey McMurray pitched 1.2 innings of relief and struck out two, while Pfost added 2.0 innings of work and struck out a pair. Sophomore Kelley Benhase absorbed the loss to dip to 5-11.
At the plate, Anderson, Woodall, Sommer and Raile all registered a pair of hits.
ALABAMA 11, JACKSONVILLE STATE 3
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Senior Krystal Ruth went 3-for-4 and the Jacksonville State softball team jumped on Alabama, but the No. 4 Crimson Tide pulled away for a 11-3 win in non-conference play on Tuesday night at Rhoads Stadium.
Ruth, a native of Wylie, Texas, singled in her first three at bats to account for more than half of the Gamecocks (19-16) hits and scored a run, but a pair of big innings by the Crimson Tide (33-5) proved too much for JSU. Ruth drove in a run, as did sophomore Sara Borders and junior Amanda Martinez.
The top two batters in the Alabama lineup did a lot of the damage against JSU, with leadoff batter Haylie McCleney going 4-for-4 and Kayla Broad going 2-for-2 behind her. The duo scored a combined five runs and used their speed to force problems for the Gamecocks in a five-run second and a four-run fourth.
The Gamecocks threatened in the first and couldn't get a run across but came through in the second with the game's first run. After a walk to freshman Cadi Oliver and a pitch that hit Martinez on the thigh put two runners on, Ruth laced her second single of the game into center to plate Oliver and give JSU a 1-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide answered in the home half of the inning with five runs to grab a 5-1 lead. McCleney drove in two on a single and an infield hit by Braud made it a 3-1 game. Tiffany Harbin got Jackie Traina to pop up to shallow right, but the ball popped out of Borders' glove and allowed two more to score and give the Crimson Tide a 5-1 advantage.
JSU got one back in the top of the third, thanks to a rope up the middle from Martinez that drove in Savannah Sloan from second and made its 5-2 game. The Gamecocks cut one more run off its deficit in the fourth, this time on a Borders single that drove in Ruth after her third single of the game, a leadoff bloop to right center.
The Crimson Tide broke it open in the fourth with four more runs on four hits. The big blow was a three-run home run to left that gave them a 9-3 advantage and chased starter Tiffany Harbin. The junior from Hazel Green surrendered nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in 3.1 innings of work. She struck out one and walked two.
Traina ended the game in the fifth with a two-run single to right that put the final score on the board.
Hennings gave up two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work to finish the game for JSU. Lauren Sewell (7-0) earned the win by allowing three runs on five hits in 3.1 innings of work. Leslie Jury tossed 1.1 hitless innings to earn her first save of the season.
SIUE 6, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 4
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Brittany Toney unleashed a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the 12th inning as SIUE softball defeated SIU Carbondale 6-4 at Charlotte West Stadium.
The Cougars won their sixth straight game and improved their overall record to 23-8. SIU Carbondale dropped to 14-17.
Haley Chambers earned her 10th straight win with a 12-inning complete game victory. She struck out 13 and improved to 13-2 overall. The extra-inning game could have been taxing on the Cougar left-hander.
SIUE had two previous leads in the game. The Cougars scored first when Samantha Stanicek singled home Toney in the second inning.
The Salukis, who were outhit 14-9, tied the game in the fourth on a home run by Jayna Spivey.
SIUE erupted for three runs in the fifth. Taylor Tooley singled home Rebecca Gray. After a McDavid double, CC Hutchinson drove home two runs with a double of her own.
SIU Carbondale added a single run in the sixth and then tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of unearned runs.
The Cougars stranded two runners in the ninth, and Stanicek nearly homered to left field in the 11th.
Six different hitters had two or more hits. McDavid led the team with three followed by two each from Toney, Stanicek, Rebecca Gray, and Chelsea Yankolovich.
EVANSVILLE 1, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, EVANSVILLE 2
CAPE GIRARDEAU. Mo. - The Southeast Missouri (11-19) softball team split a doubleheader Tuesday with the Evansville (10-19) Purple Aces, dropping game one, 1-0, and holding off a late-inning comeback in game two, 3-2.
Evansville 1, Southeast Missouri 0
The Purple Aces quickly crossed home in the first scoring the only run of the game. Tamara Robey led off with a triple to right center. Kayla Fortner drove Robey home with a single, 1-0 Evansville.
The rest of the game was a pitching duel between Cowan and Annie Moore.
Cowan (6-12) pitched her tenth complete game this season giving up six hits to the Purple Aces. Cowan tied a career-high for strikeouts in a game with eight which she set at Missouri State on Feb. 25, 2012.
Moore (1-6) pitched a complete game shutout giving up eight hits to the Redhawks.
Southeast outhit Evansville 8-6 in the contest.
Xia Wilson went 2-for-3 while six other Redhawk batters contributed a hit.
Robey recorded two hits for Evansville with Fortner adding a hit with an RBI.
Southeast Missouri 3, Evansville 2
The Redhawks scored in the first inning. With Alexis Anderson on first, Cowan hit a shot down the left field line to score Anderson from first. Wilson threaded a single up the middle to plate Cowan and go up 2-0 on the Purple Aces.
Lindsey Patterson hit a monster home run down the left field line in the sixth which would prove to be the deciding run of the game, 3-0 Redhawks.
Mariah Ferguson pinch hit in the seventh inning and blasted a one-out, two-run home run down the left field line to bring the Aces within a run. With two out, the Aces loaded the bases on two walks and a single. The Redhawks were able to hold off the Aces and nab the win, 3-2.
Southeast and Evansville each had five hits in the game.
Jamie Woodworth went 2-for-3 with L. Patterson, Cowan, and Wilson each adding a hit.
Victoria Dellorto had a 2-for-3 performance in game two.
Clemons (2-4) recorded the win in 5.2 innings of work in the circle giving up no runs and four hits, striking out four batters. After starting the game, Clemons came out in the sixth inning but reentered the game in the seventh to get the final out and secure the win.
Sarah Patterson (6-6) suffered the loss giving up three runs, striking out five batters and walking one.
BELMONT 7, MEMPHIS 0; MEMPHIS 2, BELMONT 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
After turning in a strong performance to open Tuesday's doubleheader with in-state rival Memphis (15-26), the Belmont softball team (12-17) split with the visiting Tigers in the nightcap. The Bruins won game one, 7-0, notching their fourth shutout of the season before falling 2-0 in the nightcap.
The Bruins leaned on a combination of strong pitching and great defensive plays to keep Memphis scoreless for the first three innings of action. Belmont was able to notch its first runs of the contest in the bottom of the third. Junior Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) and sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) got things started with back-to-back doubles to notch BU's first run of the day. Things got interesting as the Bruins took advantage of some defensive miscues. Sophomore Amanda Criscione (Upland, Calif.) reached after being hit by a pitch and junior Ashley Hammer (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) singled to right, opening the door for sophomore Amanda Criscione (Upland, Calif.) and Ferrell to score on a Memphis throwing error.
Belmont added three more runs in the following inning after freshman Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Texas) reached on a UM error and back-to-back singles by senior Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) and freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) netted an RBI. A well placed bunt by Ferrell and a hard hit single by Criscione added two more runs, giving Belmont a 6-0 advantage. The Bruins went on to add one more run in the shutout victory in the bottom of the fifth when a double to left by Gift scored sophomore Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Texas). BU buckled down in the final two innings to keep Memphis off the board and secure the 7-0 win.
In the nightcap, Memphis worked for a complete reversal of fortune and was the first to get on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning after an untimely throwing error opened the door for a runner to cross the plate. The Tigers were able to notch a second run in the top of the fifth after a triple by Lelani Bernandino sent Hannah Harrell home.
Belmont worked to stay within striking distance in the late innings, stranding numerous Memphis base runners. Unfortunately, the Bruins were unable to duplicate their hot hitting of game one down the stretch and were held off 2-0.
For the day, sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) went 5-for-7, batting .714 with a double, a triple and two RBI. Gift batted .500 with a double and an RBI.
Inside the circle, junior Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.) picked up the win in game one, collecting three strikeouts in five innings of work. Freshman Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) tossed six innings in the nightcap and fanned one batter. Classmate Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) logged three innings in relief and recorded one strikeout.
EAST TENNESSEE 9, TENNESSEE TECH 7; EAST TENNESSEE 6, TENNESSEE TECH 5
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech junior Kendall Hooper went 4-for-7, swinging .571 in two games, blasting two home runs and a double for the Golden Eagles as the were swept in a doublehader with East Tennessee. The Bucs edged Tech, 9-7, in eight innings in the opening game and defeated the Golen Eagles, 6-5, in the nightcap.
Tech opened the doubleheader with a 2-0 lead and jumped to a 6-1 lead thanks to three runs in the fourth, Hooper's first home run in the fifth and a home run by Christian Gibbs in the sixth, but East Tennessee State stormed back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring six runs to send the contest into extra innings.
Sophomore Taylor Ketchum (9-6) took the loss, pitching six innings, holding the Bucs hitless through the fourth, but lost steam in the seventh. Freshman Hannah Weaver took the circle in search of the save, but couldn't fend off the Bucs offense, giving up four hits and five runs.
The Golden Eagles, stunned by the comeback took four innings to get back into the second game. Down 4-0, the Golden Eagles scored three runs sparked by back-to-back home runs by Hooper and freshman Olivia Bennett, both over the left field fence.
Tech rode the hot streak into the fifth, scoring two runs off lead off Melody Christian and Hannah Eldridge to take a 5-4 lead. The Bucs again proved to be too much, scoring two more runs in the fifth, to edge the Golden Eagles 6-5.
TENNESSEE 19, TENNESSEE STATE 1
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee State ran into an uncommon occurrence in the fourth inning of their Tuesday evening game with Tennessee. The 5th ranked Volunteers sent 18 batters to the plate en route to a 19-1 five inning victory. Tennessee is now 31-6, while TSU fell to 11-23.
UT got on the board first with two runs in the second inning off starting pitcher Shea Morris. TSU tried to comeback in their next at bat as Kacie Daugherty opened with a single and moved to second on a two-out single by Jennifer Givens. The two would be stranded as the half inning ended one batter later.
The Lady Vols added two more runs in the bottom of the third, but once again the Tigers would try to fight back. In the top of the fourth, Lindsey Burgess singled to left after a Jayna Hanawahine walk to give TSU a pair of runners on with one out for Ashley Haynes. The Knoxville native hit a ball towards the 5-6 hole that third baseman Raven Chavanne dove and deflected towards second base. Hanawahine never broke stride and scored to make the score 4-1.
Ellen Renfroe was then brought in to relieve starter Erin Gabriel and preceded to strikeout the first batter she faced. Tayler Shimizu would reach after being hit by a 1-0 pitch to load the bases and bring the go ahead run to the plate. Renfroe would help UT get out of the jam by getting Bri Roberts to chase a rise ball.
UT would put the game out of reach with the 15-run inning. After seven runs into the inning the Tigers had a chance to get out of the inning, but an error extended the inning and eight more unearned runs crossed the plate.
Morris fell to 7-12 on the season, while Gabriel improved to 5-1.