SUNDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 4, @Belmont 2
@SIUE 10, Jacksonville State 0 (5)
@Belmont 3, Murray State 2
@Eastern Illinois 6, Tennessee Tech 1
@Eastern Illinois 4, Tennessee Tech 1
Jacksonville State 3, @SIUE 2
Morehead State 7, @Southeast Missouri 6
@Southeast Missouri 5, Morehead State 4
Eastern Kentucky 4, @UT Martin 1
Eastern Kentucky 5, @UT Martin 3
@Tennessee State 5, Austin Peay 0
@Tennessee State 5, Austin Peay 0
MURRAY STATE 4, BELMONT 2; BELMONT 3, MURRAY STATE 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Literally coming down to the last out to have a chance to pull out a win in game two, the Belmont softball team (14-29, 4-16 OVC) pulled off an incredible come from behind win over visiting Murray State (19-24, 10-10 OVC) on Sunday afternoon at Rose Park. After falling in game one, 4-2, the Bruins rallied in the nightcap to win 3-2.
Game one was a back and forth defensive battle through the first three innings. Finally the 0-0 stalemate would be snapped in the fourth inning. Murray State saw its bats heat up with back-to-back singles to left before a sacrifice fly moved the runners into scoring position. A single by Leslie Bridges netted her a pair of RBI and gave the Racers a 2-0 lead before they added two more to pull away 4-0.
Belmont rallied in the bottom of the same inning, putting two runs over the plate after sophomore Heather Turner (Rosenburg, Texas) knocked a double down the right line. Classmate Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Texas) reached on four balls before a single by freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by junior Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) scored Hammer to cut the MSU lead to three runs. Two batters later, freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) singled, loading the bases once again before junior MJ Lawson (Tucson, Ariz.) reached on four balls, walking in the Bruins' second run of the game.
Despite several surges and near scoring opportunities down the stretch, the Bruins were unable to get another run over the plate and fell, 4-2.
Game two saw the Bruins waste little time putting runs on the board. Junior Ashley Hammer (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) smashed her first triple of the season to open the bottom of the first inning of play. Heather Turner used a sacrifice fly to send Hammer over the plate to put BU on top 1-0.
Murray State fired back in the top of the third inning, overtaking the lead with a pair of runs scored. The Bruins remained one run down for three and a half innings before launching their final rally attempt in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) got things started with a hard hit single that the MSU shortstop stumbled to field. The next two batters made contact but were unable to get on base. With two outs on the board, the lot fell to Hollingsworth to try to win the game for Belmont. On the second pitch thrown, she launched a ball deep to left field and the Bruin faithful rose to their feet as the ball sailed over the fence, giving BU the 3-2 victory with Hollingsworth's 10 homerun of the season.
For the day, Hollingsworth led the Bruins, batting .500 with two runs, three hits, a homerun and two RBI. Senior Courtney Elrod also hit .500 while junior Ashley Hammer (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) finished the pair of games batting .429 with one run, three hits, a double and a triple.
Inside the circle, junior Mia Vierra picked up the win in the nightcap, throwing seven innings and fanning two batters. Classmate Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.), sophomore Katie Clancy and freshman Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) also saw time.
SIUE 10, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0; JACKSONVILLE STATE 3, SIUE 2
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE freshman pitcher Haley Chambers threw a perfect game Sunday, and the Cougar softball team recorded a split with Jacksonville State at Cougar Field.
SIUE won the opener 10-0 in five innings and dropped the nightcap to the visiting Gamecocks 3-2.
It was the first perfect game since Katie Young tossed one during the 1999 season. The perfect game also was the fifth in school history and the 29th no-hitter overall. It also was SIUE's second no-hitter of the season as Erin Greenwalt no-hit Detroit earlier this season.
The Cougars had their 17-game winning streak snapped in game two and now stand 34-9 overall and 17-3 in the OVC. The SIUE winning streak, which lasted one day short of a month, had been the third longest streak in Division I softball headed into the day's action.
Chambers picked up her 19th victory of the season as she needed just 58 pitches to retire Jacksonville State, 25-22 overall and 10-10 in the OVC, in the opener.
Taylor Tooley hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth to put the Cougars over the top. It was Tooley's fifth home run of the season as she became just the fourth player in school history to hit 20 career homers.
SIUE's offense was on target with 12 hits as the Cougars handed Jacksonville State starter Tiffany Harbin the loss. Harbin fell to 13-11.
The Cougars were aggressive at the plate with Rebecca Gray, who hit .700 for the weekend, leading the team with three hits. She doubled home Jordan LaFave in the third inning and doubled home Kayla Riggs in the five-run fifth.
LaFave, Alex McDavid, and Brittany Toney each had two hits for the Cougars.
In game two, McDavid provided the only run support for the Cougars with her 10th home run of the season in the third inning. McDavid became the first player of the Division I era to smack double-digit home runs in a single season and only the fifth individual to accomplish the feat overall.
The last time a player hit double-digit home runs in a season was in 2007. Jodie Ohlau hit 11 in the Cougars' Division II national championship season.
Jacksonville State picked up single tallies in the first three innings against Chambers who also started game two. Two of the three runs were unearned as Chambers recorded just her third loss of the season. All three of her losses have been by one run.
Savanna Hennings improved her record to 5-1 for Jacksonville State as she held SIUE to four hits. Hennings also recorded 16 groundouts against the Cougars.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 6, TENNESSEE TECH 1; EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, TENNESSEE TECH 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball captured a pair of league wins over visiting Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee Tech on Sunday (April 21) via scores of 6-1 and 4-1.
With the sweep, the Panthers have now nabbed their fifth consecutive regular-season league series over the Golden Eagles dating back to 2009. EIU has also won five consecutive home games over the traditional OVC power to pull to within 31-20 of TTU in the all-time DI series history.
Over the course of the twinbill, senior outfielder Ally Seplak paced all Panthers with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, which included two runs and walk.
Junior catcher Hannah Cole followed with a 4-for-7 (.571) bat mark, as she registered an RBI triple, a run and a team-high six total bases.
Junior Carly Willert tallied a four RBI day, thanks to a pair of extra-base shots, tying both Cole and senior Melise Brown with their own respective triple.
Both Ashleigh Westover and Reynae Hutchinson delivered perfectly placed sac bunts.
In the circle, the junior pitching duo of Hanna Mennenga and Stephanie Maday continued their fine play with respective first and second game victories. Mennenga fanned 12 TTU batters and held the Golden Eagles to just one hit, a low .043 bat mark and one unearned run, while Maday chipped in six Ks of her own while allowing only one run and one walk.
In the opening game, Eastern essentially won the game in the first frame as the Panthers scored a pair of runs. After earning a spot at first base off an untimely TTU error, Brown would eventually score thanks to an RBI triple to right center by Cole. While, junior Brooke Owens stepped up to deliver an RBI double to left center to plate Cole.
With bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, the Panthers would eventually add four more runs as Willert blasted a bases-clearing double to right center to bring home Brown, Seplak and newcomer Haylee Beck.
Mennenga would up her season win mark to 21-4 with the complete game win, as she notched her 14th double-digit strikeout performance of the year, while also getting out of a bases-loaded situation in the fifth with consecutive Ks.
After setting a new EIU single-single tally for strikeouts in yesterday's first game win over Jacksonville State, the righthander now sports 265 total Ks on the season.
However, her potential second career no-hitter would be stymied thanks to a late TTU RBI shot in the top of the sixth, accounting for the final score.
The nightcap between EIU and TTU started off tight as both teams played through four scoreless innings until the Panthers erupted for four runs in the fifth frame.
Freshman April Markowski got things going as she nailed an RBI single to bring home pinch runner Kaylie Pruett from second. Following a single by Seplak, Brown roped a two-RBI triple to left center, while Willert followed with her own triple to plate Brown for the final Panther point.
A solo homerun by TTU in the top of the seventh would end the possible shutout for Maday, yet the eventual victory in the circle would move her to 11-4 on the season.
For the day, the Panthers held the advantage over Tech (19-25/8-10) in hitting (.306-to-.106), runs (10-to-2), hits (15-to-5), doubles (2-to-zero), triples (3-to-zero), RBIs (9-to-2), total bases (23-to-8), walks (6-to-4), and strikeouts (18-to-5). TTU did hold the led for homers (1-to-zero), and stolen bases (2-to-zero).
Following EIU's sweep, and a split by SIU Edwardsville to Jacksonville State, the Panthers extend their league lead over the Cougars to one-and-a-half games.
MOREHEAD STATE 7, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, MOREHEAD STATE 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri (14-27, 6-13 OVC) softball team split a doubleheader with Morehead State (20-19, 6-11 OVC) Sunday afternoon. Morehead State came from behind in the final inning to steal the win in game one, 7-6, and tried to do it again in game two but Southeast held on for the split, winning 5-4.
Morehead State 7, Southeast Missouri 6
The Eagles came from behind to tie the game and scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh and snuffed a chance to tie the game by the Redhawks in the bottom of the inning to nab the win.
Morehead State touched home first when Kayla Ashbrook hit a monster home run with a runner on to take a very early 2-0 lead.
Southeast was able to take both runs back in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Cowan punched a ball through the left side to score Alexis Anderson. Simone Patterson followed up with an RBI double to right, tying up the game.
Kelsey Gass recorded her first career hit as a Redhawk to lead off the second inning. A single by Anderson that was misplayed by the left fielder allowed Gass to score and Anderson to advance to second. With bases loaded, S. Patterson was hit to drive in the Redhawk's fourth run, 4-2 Redhawks.
MSU brought the lead within one in the fourth with a sacrifice fly by McKenna Bartko; 4-3 Southeast.
Another fielding error by the left fielder allowed the Redhawks to pull away from the Eagles in the fifth. Once again, Anderson reached on a single that was mishandled by the left fielder, allowing a run to score and Anderson to advance to third. Hot off posting five RBI in game one on Saturday, Xia Wilson singled through the left side to plate Anderson, extending the lead to 6-3.
Bartko narrowed the lead once again in the seventh with a lead-off home run to bring the Redhawk's lead to two runs. With runners on second and third, Amber Riddle hit a sac fly to inch closer to the Redhawks. MSU tied the game on an RBI single by Elizabeth Wagner. Anna Sommer singled to drive in the go-ahead run; 7-6 Morehead State.
Chelsea Smith led off the bottom of the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Leah Becker. The attempt to score came up short as the Eagles stole the victory, 7-6.
Anderson had an impressive game, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a season-high three runs scored. Lindsey Patterson and S. Patterson each added two hits of their own. S. Patterson also had two RBI in the game.
Four separate Eagle batters recorded two hits each. Ashbrook and Bartko each had two RBI.
Hannah Clemons (4-6) suffered the loss after giving up the lead in the sixth. Clemons gave up four runs on five hits. Game one's starter, Cowan, pitched 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits.
Eagle reliever Kelcey McMurray (4-6) earned the victory. McMurray pitched 2.0 innings giving up no runs on one hit. Starter Katie Pfost pitched 5.0 innings giving up five earned runs on 11 hits.
Southeast Missouri 5, Morehead State 4
Game two proved to be a nail biter, similar to game one. Southeast held a 5-2 lead going to the seventh inning. Morehead was able to put two runs in the frame but the Redhawks held on to force the doubleheader split.
The Redhawks got on the board in a big way early in the game. With runners in scoring position, Cowan stepped in an drilled a single to plate two. Two more runs were added when C. Smith singled and advanced on a fielding error, allowing two runs to score; 4-0 Redhawks after one inning.
MSU scored a run in the second on a passed ball but Southeast got the run back on an effective double steal; as Cowan was caught up in a run-down between first and second, L. Patterson took the opportunity to steal home; 5-1 after two innings.
The Eagles were able to inch closer to the Redhawks in the sixth with an RBI single by Katie Raile; 5-2 Southeast.
With a three-run lead going to the seventh, the Eagles had runners on second and third with two out, Sommer came up big again with a two-RBI single, coming within one run. With runners still in scoring position, Clemons caught the last out of the game looking at the plate.
Morehead State outhit Southeast 11-8.
Anderson finished 5-for-8 on the day with four runs scored. Wilson had two hits in the contest while Cowan had two RBI.
Riddle went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Four Eagle batters combined for the other eight hits, each adding two. On the day, Southeast turned four double plays.
Starter L. Patterson (3-2) earned the victory, pitching 2.0 innings giving up one unearned run on only one hit. Lauren Reinagel pitched 3.0 innings, giving up one run on five hits.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 4, UT MARTIN 1; EASTERN KENTUCKY 5, UT MARITN 3
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team registered nine hits and four runs, but it wasn’t enough to outlast Ohio Valley Conference east division leader Eastern Kentucky at Bettye Giles Field.
Game One: Eastern Kentucky 4, UT Martin 1
The Skyhawks (30-16, 11-9 OVC) were unable to overcome the first inning of the visiting Eastern Kentucky Colonels (29-17, 16-5 OVC) as they scored two runs quickly in the top of the first inning, proving to be enough in the 4-1 decision.
The visiting Colonels capitalized on three Skyhawk errors, all of which came in the first two innings, scoring three runs with only one of which being earned.
The Skyhawks managed only three hits in the ballgame but none of which were bigger than the hit by sophomore Kenzi Tate in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Tate went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate while launching her tenth home run on the season over the left field deck in the sixth.
Sophomore Casey Vincent picked up the tough loss as the young lefty tossed her 16th complete game, while striking out five. Vincent allowed just two earned runs on the afternoon while also tallying a single and a walk at the plate.
Game Two: Eastern Kentucky 5, UT Martin 3
The Skyhawks came out in game two with plenty to prove, quickly retiring the Colonel offense in order through the first two frames breaking the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second.
After Lauren Smith drew a lead-off walk, senior Becca Williams doubled to deep center field, moving Smith from first to third with no outs. With runners on second and third, Vincent tallied her first RBI of the season with a fielder’s choice to the shortstop as Smith scampered home to take the 1-0 lead.
UTM offense wasn’t done in the third when they expanded their lead to 3-0. Shortstop Sam McClure got the inning started with a bang, tripling down the right field line, instantly putting herself in scoring position with the top of the order looming on-deck. Tate soon walked before Smith connected for an RBI single up the middle to score McClure from third. Senior Becca Williams quickly followed Smith with a hit of her own through the gut of the defense to score Tate from second and give the Skyhawks the three run advantage after three innings of work.
The Colonel offense quickly came to life in the top of the fourth as Katie Tackett launched her 11th home run over the left field stands to cut the Skyhawk lead from three to one. EKU offense wasn’t done as they tallied yet another two-run home run in the fifth to take the 4-3 lead and the ultimate decision.
Kenzi Tate registered the loss, allowing four earned runs over 4.1 innings pitched. Autumn Glenn appeared in relief for the Skyhawks, tossing 2.2 innings, striking out two and allowing just one run.
TENNESSEE STATE 5, AUSTIN PEAY 0; TENNESSEE STATE 5, AUSTIN PEAY 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - – Shea Morris threw two complete game shutouts against Austin Peay on Sunday in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader. The sophomore went 7.1 innings in game one holding the Lady Govs hitless before Lauren de Castro ended the no-hit bid. Tennessee State would win a pair of 5-0 ballgames to improve to 14-31 and 5-14 in conference play. APSU dropped to 15-24 and 6-15 in the OVC.
Morris held Austin Peay to one hit in the opener as she fanned 11 batters. Head coach Jeff Dabney gave the nod to Morris again in game two after the sophomore threw just 100 pitches, 75 for strikes, in game one. In the nightcap, Morris scattered six hits and two walks as she fired her fourth shutout of the season. The Lawrenceburg native struck out seven while tossing 118 pitches, 86 for strikes.
With the two wins, Morris moved to 10-16 on the year and now has 178 punch outs. The two shutouts also move her into a tie for third with six on the TSU career list.
In game one, Jennifer Givens put the Tigers on the board in the third inning. After reaching on a single and moving to second on a Kiarra Freeman ground out, Givens stole third base and created an errant throw that would allow her to score standing up.
Later in the inning, Audrey Sensing delivered a single to left to bring home Kacie Daugherty, who reached on a walk, making the score 2-0 after three innings.
The Tigers would add to the lead with two more runs in the fourth. Briana Roberts made the score 3-0 as she crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by Daugherty. Two batters later, with bases loaded, Lindsey Burgess grounded out to first plating Givens from third.
Freeman closed out the scoring in the fifth inning with a single to left that brought home Ashley Haynes. Freeman, Givens and Haynes each finished the game with two hits apiece. Sensing and Tedra Alford each recorded a hit in the game.
In game two, the Tigers would give all she would need in the first inning. Givens and Freeman led-off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back singles. The duo executed a double steal to give Daugherty runners in scoring position. The freshman followed with a single of her own that Givens would score on to take an early 1-0 lead.
The score would stay the same until TSU added four insurance runs in the fifth. Haynes opened the inning with a double to right center and scored a batter later as Kate Morris laid down a sacrifice bunt. Morris reached safely as the attempt to throw her out wound up in right field. Morris took second as Haynes touched home.
With bases loaded, Alford hit a ground ball to third for what seemed to be the final out of the inning. Freeman was able to use her speed and avoid the tag and reached third safely to extend the inning. On the play, Givens scored for the fourth time of the day and pushed the score to 3-0. Burgess followed with a hard single landing just inside the leftfield line to plate Daugherty and Freeman.
The Tigers used the four unearned runs to take a 5-0 lead.
APSU had started to show life as they threatened in the third, fourth, and fifth, but Morris and the Tigers would shut down the Lady Govs forcing them to strand five runners over the period. Mel Pavel led off the top of the sixth with a blast to centerfield. Jennifer Givens broke back and leaped as she reached the wall to catch and bring back a would-be home run for the APSU catcher. The catch ignited TSU to sit down APSU in order to save the game.
Freeman added three more hits in the nightcap as Givens, Daugherty, Burgess and Haynes each registered a hit.
Kayla Davidson and Marissa Lake each had two hits for APSU.