SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Jacksonville State 4, Southeast Missouri 2
UT Martin 9, @Tennessee Tech 1 (6)
@Tennessee Tech 3, UT Martin 0
Eastern Kentucky 5, @Murray State 4
Eastern Kentucky 12, @Murray State 8
@SIUE 8, Tennessee State 0 (5)
@SIUE 8, Tennessee State 1
@Jacksonville State 13, Southeast Missouri 0 (5)
@Eastern Illinois 8, Belmont 4
@Eastern Illinois 4, Belmont 2
@Austin Peay 10, Morehead State 5
@Austin Peay 12, @Murray State 8
JACKSONVILLE STATE 4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2; JACKSONVILLE STATE 13, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0 (5)
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -
The bats came alive at the right time for the Jacksonville State softball team on Saturday and carried the Gamecocks to an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader sweep of Southeast Missouri at University Field.
After being held to just one run through six innings in the opening game, the Gamecocks (21-16, 7-4 OVC) got a dramatic walk-off home run from sophomore Sara Borders to grab a 4-2 win. They then scored 11 runs in the first two innings of the second game to set up a 13-5 win in five innings and a twinbill sweep of the Redhawks (11-21, 3-7 OVC).
JSU banged out 17 hits over the two games, 10 of which came in the finale. Senior Jessica Guy, went 2-for-7 at the plate but reached base seven times in eight plate appearances and scored four runs.
In the first game, SEMO starter Taylor Cowan held JSU scoreless over the first five innings and took a 1-0 lead into the sixth after the first of Simone Patterson's two solo home runs put the Redhawks on the board in the fifth. JSU finally got it going at the plate in the sixth, when senior Kelci Johnston delivered a two-out single up the middle to score Hayden Crawford from second. Crawford was running for Guy, who walked to start the rally.
After Patterson seemed to crush JSU's comeback attempt in the seventh with her second solo homer, the Gamecocks found a little more magic to grab the win. A leadoff walk by junior Amanda Martinez and a two-out single from Guy brought Borders to the plate for her big hit.
After fouling two pitches off, the Alexandria, Ala., native drove Cowan's 2-2 pitch well over the wall in right center for her seventh homer of the season and the walk-off win.
Junior Tiffany Harbin (12-7) earned the win in the circle by tossing her 12th complete game in 19 starts. The Hazel Green, Ala., native gave up two runs on seven hits in seven innings and struck out six to run her career total to 618, 17 shy of Ann Shelton's school record for career strikeouts. The win was the 54th of her career, which is two away from Ashley Eliasson in second place on the school's career list.
Cowan (6-14) suffered the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits in 6.2 innings in the circle. She struck out three and walked three. Cowan and Patterson each had two hits at the plate for the Redhawks.
The Gamecocks fell behind early in the second game, when SEMO jumped on the board with three first-inning runs, but they wasted no time answering in this one. They plated five in the first, starting with a two-run double from sophomore Savannah Sloan. After another Johnston RBI single tied the game at 3-3, Martinez capped the inning with a two-run single that gave the Gamecocks a lead they wouldn't give up.
JSU tacked six more runs on in the second, starting with a bases loaded walk to Tabor and then an RBI single by Sloan. Freshman Cadi Oliver cleared the bases two batter later, driving reliever Lindsey Patterson's 0-2 pitch over the wall in left for a grand slam that staked JSU starter Savanna Hennings to an 11-3 lead after two innings.
Hennings (3-0) settled in after giving up the three runs in the first, holding SEMO at bay until it got two more in the fifth. The junior from Springville, Ala., tossed four total innings and allowed five runs on seven hits in the winning effort. Senior Hilary Phillips tossed the final inning, allowing no runs on one hit.
JSU got one more in the third on a leadoff homer from senior Krystal Ruth that made it a 12-3 game, but RBI singles from Cowan and Xia Wilson in the top of the fifth forced JSU to bat in the bottom half of the inning to secure the mercy-rule win.
JSU loaded the bases with one out for Sloan, whose hot shot grounder got through the hole on the left side and gave the Gamecocks their second walk-off win of the day.
SIUE 8, TENNESSEE STATE 0 (5); SIUE 8, TENNESSEE STATE 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE softball extended its longest winning streak of the season to eight games Saturday with a doubleheader sweep over Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee State.
SIUE, 25-8 overall and 9-2 in the OVC, defeated the Tigers 8-0 in five innings and 8-1.
The Cougars, which moved into second place in the OVC West Division with the sweep, have two games set for Sunday with OVC newcomer Belmont. Game time is 1 p.m. for the doubleheader.
All eight of SIUE's runs in game one came in the third inning. After two Tennessee State errors, SIUE ran off four straight singles and then used a grand slam from Samantha Stanicek, her fourth home run of the season.
Haley Chambers ran her record to 14-2 with her 11th straight victory in Saturday's opener. The Cougar freshman struck out nine and did not walk a batter.
Tennessee State's defensive woes continued in game two. Four errors turned into eight SIUE runs. Olivia Gamache allowed one earned run for the Tigers, 11-25 overall and 2-8 in the OVC.
CC Hutchinson, Brittany Toney, and Rebecca Gray had the only RBIs for the Cougars which scored three runs in the first and five in the third inning.
Amanda Lambrecht improved to 4-3 overall with a four-hitter. Lambrecht fanned six in her 10th complete game of the season.
AUSTIN PEAY 10, MOREHEAD STATE 5; AUSTIN PEAY 3, MOREHEAD STATE 2
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team won in walk-off fashion in one game, while pulling away in the other, as they swept a Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader from Morehead State Saturday afternoon at Cheryl Holt Field 3-2 – in eight innings – and 10-5.
Lauren de Castro’s two-out opposite field homer – her third of the season -- in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Austin Peay (12-16, 3-7 OVC) the walk-off victory in Game 1, as they improve to 3-1 in extra-inning games this season.
It also game de Castro (6-7) the complete-game win, as she gave up six hits and two earned runs in her eight innings of work. She also walked three and struck out two.
The Eagles Kate Pfost (7-7) took the loss, also a complete game, giving up three earned runs on seven hits – while striking out nine and walking one.
The extra innings were forced by Morehead State (13-13, 1-7 OVC) when the Eagles scored a tying run in the top of the seventh inning on a single by Adrena Anderson, scoring Tressa Watson – who came in as a pinch hitter and recorded a single.
The Lady Govs had taken the lead in the bottom of the sixth, 2-1, on a two-out double by Kayla Davidson that brought in Laurel Burroughs, who reached on a single.
After not pushing any runs across for the first four innings, Austin Peay tied the game, 1-1, in the fifth inning on a single by Abby Guest, scoring Shelby Norton – who had doubled to get into scoring position.
Guest was the only Lady Gov to record two hits in the opener.
Morehead State took the early lead, 1-0, in the top of the third inning when Katie Raile -- who reached on a walk – scored on a fielder’s chose off the bat of Kayla Ashbrook.
As much as Game 1 turned out to be a pitcher’s duel, Game 2 got out to a score fest right from the opening inning, as both teams scored three runs in their half of the inning.
Austin Peay starter Morgan Brewer got the first two Eagle hitters out to open the game, but Ashbrook singled and Amber Riddle followed with her fourth home run of the season for a quick 2-0 lead.
Morehead State would add a third run, when after Riddle’s homer, Elizabeth Wagner and Samantha Howard followed with back-to-back doubles.
The Lady Govs would respond in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times on a bases-loaded double by Mel Pavel, with Laurel Burroughs, de Castro and Davidson scoring to make it 3-3.
The Lady Eagles would retake the lead in the second inning, 4-3, on an RBI double by Sam Woodall and extend that to 5-3 in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Woodall.
Howard, Wagner, Riddel and Woodall had two hits each in the nightcap.
Austin Peay would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four times with two outs to take a 7-5 advantage.
With two outs, de Castro walked and scored on a double by Davidson.
Pavel and Norton would walk and reach on a hit by pitch to load the bases, with Guest following with a RBI single to tie the game 5-5.
Guest, de Castro and Burroughs finished the game with two hits.
The go-ahead runs would come in on a two-RBI single by Courtney Brower, as she brought in Pavel and Norton.
Austin Peay would add three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, with the first run coming in off a bases-loaded walk to Davidson and the other two scoring on a single by Guest to make it 10-5.
Guest (1-2) would also get the win, come in to relieve Brewer in the fifth inning and itching three no-hit, shutout innings, while walking one and striking out one.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, BELMONT 4; EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, BELMONT 2
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball swept visiting Ohio Valley Conference east division rival Belmont on Saturday afternoon, as the Panthers doubled up the Bruins behind respective wins of 8-4 and 4-2.
EIU improves to 23-10 overall, but more importantly remain all alone in first place in the conference standings at 11-1. Belmont, meanwhile, dropped to 12-19 and 2-9, respectively, following the defeats.
For the day, EIU juniors Brooke Owens and Carly Willert paced the Panthers at the plate with identical 4-for-7 marks (.571), as Owens finished with five RBIs which tied sophomore Bailey O'Dell.
Willert and sophomore Hannah Cole chipped in an RBI as well in the sweep, while newcomer Jennette Isaac registered the lone stolen base.
The junior duo of Hanna Mennenga and Stephanie Maday would earn respective complete game victories in the circle as the pair combined for 11 strikeouts.
Playing versus high and gusty winds all day, both squads used the long ball to get on the board, as Belmont opened the first game with a two-run bomb to take the early 2-0 lead in the first frame.
However, the Panthers would pull to within one with as Owens earned her first RBI of the day to plate senior Melise Brown.
EIU would erupt for four runs in the bottom of the third as O'Dell jacked her second career grand slam to blow the game open as her shot carried over the right centerfield fence, despite the high winds.
The Panthers would then tack on three more scores in the fourth. Three consecutive singles, including an RBI shot down the left field line by Willert, would eventually bring home senior Ally Seplak. Owens would then deliver a hard ball up the gut of the Belmont defense to score Willert and Brown.
Pitcher Hanna Mennenga, the reigning OVC 'Pitcher of the Week', would earn the complete game win to improve to 15-4 overall and 7-1 in league action. She was held way below her 11 K average in seven innings of play, as she retired four Bruins via strikes, while allowing just one walk and four runs.
In the nightcap, EIU would jump out to a 3-0 lead. Cole delivered an RBI single down the right field line, followed by Owens' own RBI shot to second base, while O'Dell nabbed grounded out for an RBI as well.
Belmont would make things interesting, however, as the Bruins pulled to within one run with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, yet Owens would counter with an RBI double to bring home Willert for the final margin of victory.
The visiting squad had one last chance to tie or retake the lead in the top of the seventh as the Bruins enjoyed a bases loaded situation but ended up stranding the trio in the loss.
With the win in the circle, Stephanie Maday improved her perfect OVC mark to 4-0 on the year, and 8-3 overall, as she struck out seven batters and allowed just one walk and two earned runs. She also held the Bruins to a low .192 bat.
For the day, Belmont's Kat Hollingsworth went 4-for-7, batting .571 with a homerun and four RBI. Mia Vierra batted .400, going 2-for-5 at the plate.
Inside the circle, Vierra tossed six innings and collected three strikeouts to lead the BU pitching corps.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 5, MURRAY STATE 4; EASTERN KENTUCKY 12, MURRAY STATE 8
MURRAY, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team took a pair of game from host Murray State Saturday afternoon, defeating the Racers 5-4 in game one and 12-8 in eight innings in the second contest. The Colonels (21-14, 8-4 OVC) hit six home runs spanning the doubleheader.
In game one, the Colonels (21-14, 8-4) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead when they scored three runs in the first and one in the second. Sarah Fobbs accounted for two of the four runs when she hit her first of three home runs on the day in the opening frame.
The Racers (12-20, 5-6) struck back in the third when they scored three runs of their own, fueled by an RBI double from Sarah Anderson and a two-RBI single from Audrey Woodby. Murray State then carried over that momentum to the fourth where they tied the game at four all on a solo home run by Casey Castile, her fifth of the season.
However, the Racers let the game slip away from them in the top of the seventh when Hayley Shcenasi scored on a MSU error and a stolen base. Woodby led off the bottom of the seventh when she was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Christian Cox. However, the Lady Colonels prevented any further damage in the next at bat with an game-ending double play.
Ellyn Troup led MSU in the contest by going 2-for-3 with a double and a run, while Raquel Howes led EKU at 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI.
Leanna Pitsenbarger (13-7) got the win in relief for the Colonels after allowing just one run on two hits with six strikeouts over the final 5.2 innings of the game. For the Racers, Shelby Kosmecki (5-13) took the loss after she gave up three earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.
In game two, it was the Racers that jumped out to an early lead and did so with a four-run first inning. Leslie Bridges got the scoring started when she drove in two on a double to center field. Anderson followed suit two batters later when she doubled through the right side, making it 4-0.
Despite the Colonels scoring one in the fourth and three in the fifth, Murray State still held a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. In that inning, Alexa Becker gave the Racers an insurance run when she hit her team-high eighth home run of the season to make it 7-4 going into the seventh.
In the seventh, Eastern Kentucky surged to an 8-7 lead when they scored four runs off of back-to-back-to-back home runs from Howes, Fobbs and Katie Tackett. In the bottom of the frame, the Racers forced the game to extra innings when pinch runner Erica Howard scored on a wild pitch by the Colonels.
However, EKU went up permanently in the eighth when Christiana Ciolek and Fobbs hit a pair of two-RBI home runs. The Racers were unable to get any offense going in the bottom of the inning and were retired in order, giving Eastern Kentucky the 12-8 win.
Bridges led the Racers in the game by going 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs, while Shelbey Miller, Troup and Anderson each tallied two hits. For the Colonels, it was Howes leading way at 4-for-5 with two runs, a home run and four RBIs, while Fobbs followed at 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBIs and two home runs.
Hayley Flynn picked up the second game win for EKU to advance to 2-0 on the year after allowing two runs on four hits over 4.2 innings. Reliever J.J. Francis fell to 0-1 on the year in the loss after she allowed four runs on four hits with one strikeout over one complete inning.
UT MARTIN 9, TENNESSEE TECH 0; TENNESSEE TECH 3, UT MARTIN 2
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team split Saturday’s doubleheader at Tennessee Tech, rolling over the host Golden Eagles 9-1 in six innings, before dropping game two 3-0.
Game One: UT Martin 9, Tennessee Tech 1 (6)
UT Martin (26-10, 8-3 OVC) wasted little time jumping on Tennessee Tech in game one, scoring two in the first frame. Senior Leah Taylor led off the game with a walk before swiping her 28th base on the season. Kayla Wade quickly followed with the game’s first hit with a single, advancing Taylor to third. Sophomore Kenzi Tate soon tallied the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, plating Taylor. Senior Becca Williams continued her hot ways, lining a RBI middle through the middle to score Wade from third.
The Skyhawks added yet another run in the second as Taylor reached base for the second time, sending an RBI single down the left field line to score Lindsey Feigl.
Lauren Smith extended her hitting streak to eleven games in the top of the fourth as the Skyhawks tallied five runs to blow the game open. Freshmen Jessie Britt and Mikala Torrence added clutch RBIs as Britt showed patience at the plate to score Tate. Torrence then singled through the left side, scoring Williams and Smith. Sam McClure would not be outdone, doubling up the middle to score the freshman duo and giving the Skyhawks the 8-0 advantage.
The Golden Eagles (14-17, 3-4 OVC) cracked into the score column in the bottom of the third as Hannah Eldridge scored Cortney Fry on a RBI single up the middle.
UTM pushed their final run across in the top of the six as Tate singled, scoring Wilson and giving the Skyhawks the advantage they needed to bring the contest to an end at 9-1.
Sophomore Casey Vincent (11-4, 2.13 ERA) notched her 12th complete game of the season, striking out six and allowing just one walk. Vincent allowed just one earned run and three hits, tallying her 11th win on the season.
Game Two: Tennessee Tech 3, UT Martin 0
UT Martin’s most recent All-American, Taylor did everything she could to will the Skyhawks to the game two victory. The performance was not enough to get past the Golden Eagles, falling 3-0 and snapping the Skyhawks season-best nine-game winning streak.
Taylor did her best to lead the offense, reaching base twice and swiping her 29th stolen base of the season.
Tennessee Tech tallied the game’s first run in the bottom of the second as Fry reached on a fielder’s choice up the middle, scoring Kendall Hooper.
The Golden Eagles tallied a pair of runs in the third and fourth with Tech’s Spalding and Burgess picking up the RBIs in their respective inning.
Tate (14-2, 2.36 ERA) snapped her nine game winning streak as the young sophomore allowed just one earned run in six innings of work. Tate registered one strikeout while allowing no walks on the afternoon.
Tate was outdone by TTU starter Claudia Harke (3-4), who limited the Skyhawks to just two hits in seven innings of work.