SATURDAY'S SCORES
Jacksonville State 7, St. Bonaventure 2
Murray State 4, Gardner Webb 2
Evansville 3,
Belmont 1
@Kennesaw State 5,
Tennessee Tech 3
Houston Baptist 6,
Southeast Missouri 3
Southeast Missouri 9, Grambling State 1 (5)
Oklahoma 7,
SIUE 2
UT Martin 9, @Georgia State 7
Jacksonville State 9, @Charleston Southern 1 (5)
@Kennesaw State 4,
Tennessee Tech 3
Murray State 6, @Alabama State 2
@Austin Peay 5, IUPUI 2
IUPUI 4,
@Austin Peay 1
UT Martin 7, Indiana 1
@Samford 3,
Eastern Kentucky 2
@Arizona 10,
Tennessee State 1 (5)
@ULM 7,
Eastern Illinois 1
Eastern Kentucky 3, Belmont 2
Washington 17,
SIUE 0 (5)
Eastern Illinois 20, Grambling State 2 (5)
JACKSONVILLE STATE 7, ST. BONAVENTURE 2; JACKSONVILLE STATE 9, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Jacksonville State offense erupted for 16 runs in a pair of wins on Saturday at the Charleston Southern Tournament, downing St. Bonaventure 7-2 before a 9-1 mercy-rule win over CSU to close the day.
The Gamecocks (6-3) hit .385 as a team and held the Bonnies and Buccaneers to a combined .182 average over the two games, with five JSU players recording three hits.
Senior Hayden Crawford went 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBI, while senior Kalee Tabor and junior Sara Borders each drove in four runs on three-hit days. Sophomore Ella Denes went 3-for-5, while freshman Taylor Sloan rode a 3-for-4 first game to a 3-for-6 day.
The Gamecock duo of freshman Logan Green and senior Tiffany Harbin was dominant in the circle on the day. In her second-career start, Green held St. Bonaventure to an unearned run on five hits in six innings, while Harbin overcame two first-inning hits to hold CSU hitless over the final 4.1 innings.
In the opening game of the day, freshman Logan Green held the Bonnies in check after being spotted a four-run lead in the first. Fellow freshman Taylor Sloan went 3-for-4 with an RBI double, while senior Kalee Tabor drove in three on her fourth home run of the season.
The Gamecocks wasted no time giving Green some run support in her second career start. They rattled off four-straight hits to start the first, sparked by a pair of single from Ella Denes and Taylor Sloan. An RBI single from Sara Borders set the stage for the big blast of the frame, a three-run homer off of the bat of Kalee Tabor.
Green got another run in the second, when Hayden Crawford snapped an early season slump with a leadoff single. She then stole second and scored on a Sloan double to center to make it 5-0.
After The Bonnie got on the board in the third to make it 5-1, sophomore Casey Craig got it back for JSU in the fifth. The Birmingham native delivered a two-run double, her first extra-base hit of the season to make it a 7-1 JSU lead.
SBU was able to push one across in the top of the 7th, but JSU's Brooke Carvey settled in to preserve the win.
Green (2-0) grabbed her second win after holding the Bonnies to an unearned run on five hits in six innings in the circle. She struck out five and didn't issue a walk before Carvey came on in relief to pitch the final frame.
Kristen Hickling (0-1) settled down after a bumpy start but still surrendered seven runs on eight hits in six innings of work. She struck out two, walked five and hit four JSU batters.
In the finale of the day, Tabor gave JSU an early 1-0 lead over the Buccaneers. Her RBI single plated Taylor Sloan, but CSU got a Hayes Holdsworth RBI double to tie it in the bottom of the inning.
Tiffany Harbin and Lauren Darden put zeroes on the board until the fourth, when Hayden Crawford broke the tie.
With the bases loaded and no outs, the senior from Sparkman ripped one back up the middle to plate Stephanie Lewis and Amanda Maldonado and give JSU a 3-1 lead. Two throwing errors later, JSU had jumped to a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth.
Harbin continued to deal while the bats continued to work. The Gamecocks broke it open in the fifth, starting with an RBI single from Stephanie Lewis, which was followed by Crawford's second RBI single of the game. Borders capped the four-run frame with a two-run double that gave Harbin the deciding 9-1 advantage.
Harbin (2-2) grabbed the win in holding the Buccaneers to a run on two hits in her third complete game in three starts. The win is the 61st in her JSU career, second only to Jill Wilcoxson's record of 64. She struck out five and walked three.
Lauren Darden was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits in three innings. Morgan Dowdy pitched the final two innings and surrendered five runs, four earned, on five hits. Each CSU pitcher walked two JSU batters.
The Gamecocks and Buccaneers will play the final game of the tournament on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.
MURRAY STATE 4, GARDNER WEBB 2; MURRAY STATE 6, ALABAMA STATE 2
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Murray State softball team picked up two wins on Saturday by taking down Gardner-Webb, 4-2, and host Alabama State, 6-2, on the first day of the 2014 Hornet Invitational at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex in Montgomery.
Game 1 - Murray State 4, Gardner-Webb 2
In game one, the Racers (4-2) used strong fourth and fifth innings to break a deadlock and get past a scrappy Gardner-Webb team. Jocelynn Rodgers broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the fifth with a single that scored Casey Castile and Maggie Glass. However, the Runnin’ Bulldogs (1-2) answered in the top of the fifth with a lead-off home run from Jessica Childers to cut the deficit in half.
In the bottom of the fifth, Murray State tacked on two more runs thanks to hits from Mo Ramsey and Alexa Becker, as well as an error by GWU. Ramsey was first in when she crossed the plate on an error by the Runnin’ Bulldogs after a successful steal attempt by Becker. In the next at-bat, Castile brought Becker home with a sacrifice fly to left pushing the lead to 4-1.
Gardner-Webb attempted a comeback in the seventh when Kellie Beres reached on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded, allowing Childers to score and make the score 4-2. However, GWU would get no closer, as J.J. Francis caught a line drive in the next at bat to end the game and give her the first save of her career.
Along with Rodgers, Becker and Ramsey, Leslie Bridges and Cayla Levins also tallied hits in the game to give the Racers five on the afternoon. In the circle, CheyAnne Gaskey moved to 3-1 on the year after she allowed just one run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts over six innings of work.
Game 2 - Murray State 6, Alabama St. 2
In game two, the Racers jumped on Alabama State early and held on for the win. Murray State scored one run in the second, two in the third and three in the fifth in a game in which they never really allowed the Hornets to get in. MSU tallied 14 hits in the contest and added an additional four via the walk. Meanwhile, Alabama State got just eight base runners in the game on six hits, a Racer error and a hit by pitch.
Rodgers put the Racers on the board in second when she came up with her second RBI single of the day to score Glass, who reached in the previous at-bat on a double. In the third, Becker made it 3-0 with her first home run of the season and the 20th of her career. With the long ball, Becker moves into a four-way tie for second on MSU’s career home run list.
In the fifth, the Racers added their final three runs with RBI singles by Glass and Levins and a RBI fielder’s choice by Rodgers. The Hornets added two runs in the sixth, but it was not enough as Murray State held on for the 6-2 win.
Mason Robinson went six innings for MSU in the circle for the first win of her collegiate career. She finished the game with two unearned runs on five hits and eight strikeouts. Leslie Bridges entered the game in the top of the seventh to close out the win, marking here first appearance in the circle for MSU since 2011. She made the most of the opportunity as well, allowing no runs on just two hits in the final frame.
Becker finished the game with two runs on three hits and two RBIs, while Glass went 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI. Levins also went 2-for-3 in the second game and to go along with a RBI. Ten different Racers got a hit in the game including Ramsey, Bridges, Rodgers, Jessica Twaddle, Shelbey Miller, Taylor Odom and Mallory Young, with the last two each recording their first collegiate hit.
On Sunday, the Racers will close out play in the Hornet Invitational against Alabama A&M. First pitch against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., in Montgomery.
HOUSTON BAPTIST 6, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, GRAMBLING STATE 1
MONROE, La. - Southeast Missouri (2-2) scored seven runs in the first inning to fuel a commanding 9-1 win over Grambling State (0-2) Saturday afternoon at the Mardi Gras Classic. The Redhawks split a pair of games for the second-straight day at the event, falling to Houston Baptist (3-4), 6-3, earlier.
Southeast Missouri 9, Grambling State 1
Chelsea Smith went 3-for-3 with a run scored, while newcomers Nicole Deering and Haylee Krack each added multiple hits to lead Southeast to its shortened five-inning victory over Grambling State.
Southeast wasted no time getting to Tiger starting pitcher Aaliyah Lowe in the first. The Redhawks batted around to set the tone early and chased Lowe after just two-thirds of an inning.
Deering led things off with a bunt single and scored on Alexis Anderson's ensuing home run to center. Krack, Savannah Carpenter and Smith then singled consecutively with one out. Krack scored on Smith's base knock before Kelsey Gass smacked a three-RBI double with two away. The Redhawks tacked on an unearned run to take an early 7-0 lead.
Grambling State scored its only run in the third before Southeast pushed across two more runs to put its win on ice in the fifth.
Renee Terry singled and stole second to get into scoring position. KC Saxe followed with a base hit through the left side and Terry scored. Lindsey Patterson reached on an error and came around to score when Krack doubled down the left field line.
Aubrey Denno (1-0) picked up her first career win. Denno went the distance, allowing seven hits and one run. She also struck out two and did not allow a walk.
Lowe was charged with the loss. She gave up seven runs and six hits and faced only nine hitters.
Southeast registered 12 hits with seven coming from Deering (2), Krack (2) and Smith. Nine different Redhawks scored a run, as well.
Houston Baptist 6, Southeast Missouri 3
A four-run seventh inning was the difference in Houston Baptist's 6-3 win over Southeast Missouri Saturday morning.
Southeast led, 3-2, after six before the Huskies pulled off their late comeback. Shay Orsak had a RBI-single and Kirsten Schwirtlich blasted a three-run home run to send HBU to its third win of the season.
The Redhawks loaded the bases and had the go-ahead run at the plate during their turn in the seventh, but came up empty.
Carpenter went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Krack went 2-for-4 with run scored and also homered for the Redhawks.
Keaira Schilling (0-1) took the loss. Schilling scattered eight hits, gave up five runs, walked two and struck out two in seven innings.
Southeast wraps up play at the Mardi Gras Classic with one more game against Grambling State Sunday.
TENNESSEE STATE 3, GRAND CANYON 2; #22 ARIZONA 10, TENNESSSEE STATE 1
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Tigers split a pair of games on day two of the Hillenbrand Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Tennessee State (2-7) earned a 3-2 victory over Grand Canyon University (4-6) and lost a five inning 10-1 game to No. 22 Arizona (6-0) in front of 2,471 fans.
The Tigers opened the day by avenging a loss from a day ago against Garand Canyon. Kate Morris continued her hot hitting with a double to left center, as Courtney Gearlds tried to score from first on the hit. GCU executed the relay to get the freshman as she slid in to home plate. Morris advanced to third two pitches later and scored on a passed ball late in the at bat to give TSU an early 1-0 lead.
The Lopes tied up the game at 1-1 in the top of the third with an unearned run off starter Shea Morris. The junior would get help in the Tigers half of the inning from her twin sister, as Kate Morris would once again come through in a key situation. Jayna Hanawahine reached on a one-out single and moved to second as Gearlds was hit-by-pitch for the second of three times in the game. Morris came up with a drive off the wall in left center driving in both base runners for a 3-1 lead.
The runs would stand as Shea Morris continued to put out any fires the Lopes tried to start. The hurler improved to 2-2 by allowing just six hits and a walk. Morris struck out five batters, including Camree Wartman for the final out of the game with runners on second and third.
In the late afternoon game, the Tigers tried to stand toe-to-toe with the Wildcats. Arizona looked to get things started early with a leadoff double by Hallie Wilson, but she was stranded at third as Morris recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Kellie Fox and Chelsea Goodacre.
Eventual winner, Michelle Floyd (1-0), would retire all nine batters she faced in her three innings of work. The perfect innings led to the bottom of the third when the Wildcats took advantage of a leadoff error and a two-out home run to take a 3-0 lead. Morris would give up four runs in the inning, all unearned, as Arizona took a 4-0 advantage into the fourth.
The Tigers would end a bid for a perfect game as Hanawahine greeted relief pitcher Nancy Bowling with a hard line drive over the wall in left center to cut the lead to 4-1. The blast is the second of the season for the Waimanalo, Hawai’i native.
It would be as close as the Tigers would get as UA exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The Big Blue will wrap up play at the Hillenbrand Invitational as they face New Mexico at 9:00am (MT) on Sunday.
SAMFORD 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 2; EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, BELMONT 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior Christina Ciolek and freshman Amber Murray hit solo home runs in the fourth inning to lift the Eastern Kentucky University softball team to a 3-2 win over Belmont Saturday evening.
EKU (3-5) lost its first game of the day, a 3-2 decision to host Samford. Both games were a part of the 2014 Samford Invitational. The Colonels conclude play at the tournament tomorrow, Feb. 15 against Evansville.
The Colonels trailed Belmont, 2-1, heading into the fourth before Ciolek led off the inning with a solo blast to left field. Two batters later, Murray gave Eastern the lead for good with another long shot to left field.
Murray, hailing from Elk Grove, Calif., was making her first appearance in a collegiate game against Belmont. The freshmen reached base in all three of her plate appearances which also included a single and a walk.
Junior pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger (2-2) made the lead hold up by pitching the final 3.2 innings in relief without giving up a hit.
In Saturday’s opener against Samford, Abby Sweeney’s two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference for the Bulldogs. Eastern Kentucky entered that frame leading 2-1 thanks to a Ciolek home run and Krislyn Campos sacrifice fly.
Junior pitcher Shaylon Robb (0-2) was the hard-luck loser as she pitched six innings while allowing just two earned runs and three hits.
EVANSVILLE 4, BELMONT 1; EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, BELMONT 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - he Belmont softball team dropped a pair of contests Saturday on the second day of the 2014 Samford Tournament. The Bruins fell to Evansville, 4-1, and dropped a 3-2 contest to OVC foe Eastern Kentucky in the night cap.
Evansville 4, Belmont 1
The first contest of the day had Belmont facing off against the Purple Aces of the University of Evansville. The contest was scoreless through the first two and a half innings before a pair of Belmont errors in the bottom of the third inning led to three Evansville runs as the Aces jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage.
Evansville added another run in the fourth inning before the Bruins lit up the scoreboard for the first time of the day in their half of the fifth off an RBI single by third baseman Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.).
Belmont (2-4) couldn't muster enough offense the rest of the way as Evansville (2-0) defeated the Bruins, 4-1.
Wilson paced BU's offense as the sophomore went 3-for-3 with one RBI on the contest.
Eastern Kentucky 3, Belmont 2
The Bruins ended the day with a close match up against OVC foe Eastern Kentucky.
Belmont (2-5) took the early advantage in the second inning when Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) scored on a pass ball error by EKU. Heather Turner (Rosenburg, Tex.) added to the Bruin lead later in the inning as a single up the middle scored Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) as BU jumped out to the early 2-0 advantage.
EKU (3-5) got on the board in the top of the third inning off an RBI single from junior catcher Katie Tackett to draw the Colonels to within a run.
EKU's comeback was completed in the fourth inning thanks to a pair of home runs to left field from Christina Ciolek and Amber Murray as the Colonels took a 3-2 advantage over the Bruins.
Belmont had a chance in the bottom of the sixth inning as Vierra walked to load the bases but a fly out by Turner ended the inning and the Bruins went 1-2-3 in the home half of the seventh inning as EKU escaped for the 3-2 victory.
Hollingsworth paced BU's offense as the junior went 2-for-2 on the contest.
The Bruins will return to action for the its final game of the three-day Samford Tournament as Belmont squares off against host Samford University on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CT.
UT MARTIN 9, GEORGIA STATE 7; UT MARTIN 7, INDIANA 1
ATLANTA, Ga. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team exploded for 16 runs to sweep day one of the Georgia State Panther Invitational, knocking off Georgia State 7-5 and Indiana 7-1.
The Skyhawks (3-3) tallied three home runs while posting a .323 batting average on the day. Four players tallied three hits on the day, led by Kenzi Tate who went 3-for-7 with a home run and two RBIs. Tate was joined by classmate Casey Vincent along with freshmen Taylor Manning and Gabby Glenn to each tally three hits on the day.
Junior Lauren Smith joined the duo of Tate and Glenn to tally home runs on the day, each driving in a pair on the afternoon. Sophomore catcher Deven Wilson led the way with three RBIs on the afternoon while Carly Gonzales, Kayla Wade and Renate Meckl each drove in a run.
Tate and freshman Elizabeth Wiegand each picked up complete game victories in the circle. Tate (2-1, 3.34 ERA) was nearly untouchable on the day, striking out eight while allowing just three hits and one earned run in seven innings of work. Wiegand (1-0, 5.38 ERA) provided a gutsy performance to secure the victory this afternoon, striking out four batters while allowing seven earned runs.
Game One: UT Martin 9, Georgia State 7
The Skyhawks would get on the board first in the opening frame. Wade began the game with a single up the middle, before getting into scoring position following a stolen base. Wade would come around to score on the next batter as Manning reached on an error by the third baseman, plating Wade.
The Panthers would respond with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first. A pair of single, compounded with a walk, loaded the bases with just one out. Megan Litumbe would tie the game at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly to right center.
UT Martin would strike again in the top half of the second inning, tallying three runs on four hits. Smith got the rally started with a walk before Wilson lined a stroked a double down the left field line to score pinch runner Bella Zizzi. Samantha McClure would follow with a single of her own into centerfield. Wade would notch her first RBI of the game with a grounder to the shortstop, scoring pinch runner Juli Layne. Following a single by Manning, Tate would line a single up the middle to score McClure from third to cap off the inning.
For the third consecutive inning, the Skyhawks tallied another pair of runs in the top of the third to stretch their lead out to 6-1. Both Meckl and Smith would reach on errors before Wilson would tally her second RBI double of the contest to plate the pair.
The Panthers would look to cut into the Skyhawk advantage in the bottom half of the inning, scoring one run. Taylor Anderson led off the inning with a triple to centerfield before scoring on an infield error.
Georgia State would threaten again in the fourth inning, using the long ball to cut the Skyhawk lead to 6-5 after four innings of work. The Panthers would tally singles out of two of their first three batters in the inning before Anderson roped a three-run home run over the left field wall.
The Skyhawks would add on some insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Vincent would lead off the inning with a single up the middle, before being relieved for pinch runner Kelsey Dixon. Meckl would reach base on a fielder’s choice which would retire Dixon at third. Glenn would follow Meckl with a two-run home run to left field, the first of her career. Smith would not be outdone by the freshman, smashing a solo home run of her own to left center, her third of the season.
The Panthers would put together a last ditch rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a pair of runs. With two outs, Jessica Clifton would double to right center, scoring one. MeQuilla Franklin would follow up Clifton’s double with a single of her own to score the game’s final run. With the game ending on a fly to left field, the Skyhawks picked up the 9-7 victory.
Wiegand got the victory for the Skyhawks in the circle, moving to 1-0 on the season. Wiegand tossed a complete game, striking out four while allowing seven earned runs.
Game Two: UT Martin 7, Indiana 1
UT Martin jumped out to a quick three run lead in the opening frame in the second game of the Panther Invitational. Wade led off the inning with a single through the left side before being caught attempting to steal second. Following the botched steal attempt, Tate blasted her first home run of the season to center field, giving the Skyhawks the early lead. Vincent then singled to the pitcher before Meckl doubled to left center, plating Vincent from first. Meckl’s time on the bags didn’t last long, scoring on the ensuing single by Glenn up the middle.
Indiana looked to quickly respond in the bottom half of the inning. The first three Hoosiers reached base after a single and two walks. Indiana then got on the board via a wild pitch which moved each runner up a base. Despite the run, the Skyhawks still maintained the 3-1 lead.
The Skyhawks used the third inning to blow the game wide open. Already leading by two, the Skyhawks tacked on an addition four runs in the third inning. Vincent led off the inning with a single into left field before being pulled for pinch runner Zizzi. Zizzi then moved from first to third on a sacrifice bunt and fielder’s choice before scoring on an error. Gonzales would then single up the middle to score Glenn from second for the second run of the inning. Both Gonzales and pinch runner Lindsey Feigl who each score on an error by the catcher.
The third inning proved to be enough for the Skyhawks as Tate shut down the Hoosier offense from there. Tate (2-1) earned the victory with a complete game after allowing just three hits and one earned run. She struck out eight batters while issuing five walks.
UT Martin will return to action in day two of the Panther Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 16. The Skyhawks will face Bowling Green at 11:15 a.m. Central before taking on Georgia Tech at 1:30 p.m.
KENNESAW STATE 5, TENNESSEE TECH 3; KENNESAW STATE 4, TENNESSEE TECH 3
KENNESAW, Ga. - Late inning dramatics didn't swing Tennessee Tech's way Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagle softball team fell in a pair of close ones, 5-3 and 4-3, to Kennesaw State in TTU's first non-tournament action of the season.
The Golden Eagles (0-7) found themselves squared away heading into the fifth inning of each game of the doubleheader, but the tide turned in each affair with the Owls (4-2) combining for six runs in the two frames.
Knotted up at 1-1 in the fifth of game one, the Owls struck for four runs after their first five batters reached base in the inning. After back-to-back singles by freshman Taylor Denton and senior Carly Van Auken to start things off, sophomore Kara Chambers drove in the first run of the frame with a base hit up the middle to plate Denton.
An infield single by junior Natalie Rhodes loaded the bases, before a Golden Eagle error allowed a second run to score, which was followed by a strikeout, a bases loaded walk to senior Angie Dascoli to plate a third run, and an RBI groundout off the bat of senior Bianca Durant to cap off KSU's fifth inning scoring.
Tech made some noise in the top of the seventh inning behind a two-run home run by sophomore Madison Taylor to cut the deficit to 5-3, but that's all the Golden Eagles could muster after freshman Gabby Perez grounded out to end the game, representing the tying run.
The Taylor round tripper was the second of the game for TTU, after senior Chelsea Burgess kicked off the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the second inning.
Despite surrendering four runs in the bottom of the fifth (two earned) freshman starting pitcher Danielle Liberatore (0-3) impressed in tossing her second complete game of the season. The 5-10 southpaw from Peotone, Ill. allowed five runs, (three earned), while scattering seven hits, walking just one and striking out five Owls.
Across the diamond, Kennesaw State's Amanda Henderson (3-1) kept the Tech offense quiet in giving up just one run on one hit over six innings of work, while striking out eight to pick up the win.
Game two of the double dip saw the two teams each come back from one-run deficits over the first four innings, before KSU broke a 2-2 tie with another big fifth inning.
Down 1-0 in the top of the third, Tech knotted things up on a Kendall Hooper RBI single, scoring Gabby Perez who led off the inning with a single through the right side.
An inning later with the score deadlocked at 1-1, the Golden Eagles took their first lead of the contest thanks to a Hannah Eldridge run-scoring double to bring around Chelsea Burgess with the second Tech run.
The Owls knotted the game on a Golden Eagle error in the bottom of the fourth, and then took a two-run lead with a pair of RBI singles in the fifth. Kennesaw State's Natalie Rhodes did the honors first with a liner to left to plate sophomore Kara Chambers, who reached on an error to begin the inning, and then sophomore Courtney Sutter brought Rhodes around with a single to center, giving KSU a 4-2 advantage.
Another Hannah Eldridge RBI trimmed the Kennesaw State lead in half in the top of the sixth, as the Fayetteville, Tenn. singled to score sophomore Cortney Fry, who reached on a hit-by-pitch with one out in the frame. The knock moved Madison Taylor to third, who singled after Fry's HBP, giving Tech runners on the corners with one down, but Kennesaw State reliever Amanda Henderson, who had started and won the first game, wiggled out of the tough jam without allowing a run.
Eldridge and Taylor each went 2-for-3 in the game, while Kendall Hooper picked up two hits in four trips to the dish.
TTU showed signs of a potential comeback in the top half of the seventh inning after Kendall Hooper led off with a base hit and sophomore Olivia Bennett bunted her over to second, but consecutive Henderson punch outs halted the comeback bid short.
Henderson earned the win in relief to go a perfect 2-0 on the day, going 3.2 innings of work, allowing one run on four hits, striking out six Golden Eagles.
Tech sophomore Hannah Weaver (0-2) suffered the loss after entering the game with none down in the fourth inning. The 5-5 righty from Corona, Calif. went three innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Junior Erica Tuck in her first start of the season tossed three innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits.
The Golden Eagles will close out their three-game set with Kennesaw State Sunday with first pitch slated for 12 p.m. CT.
OKLAHOMA 7, SIUE 2
TEMPE, Ariz. - The SIUE softball team resumed play at the Arizona State Littlewood Classic Saturday afternoon, facing defending national champion Oklahoma at Farrington Stadium.
The Cougars fell 7-2 to the seventh-ranked Sooners, a day after suffering a 5-2 defeat at the hands of fifth-ranked Arizona State. SIUE is now 1-6 on the season but has already played four teams ranked in the top 25 nationally.
Rachel Keller delivered a two-RBI double in the seventh inning against Oklahoma, as the Cougars notched a season-high eight hits. Each of SIUE's eight hits came from a different player on the roster.
Against Arizona State on Friday night, the Cougars used RBI's from Alex McDavid and Allison Smiley to narrow the hosts' lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning. The undefeated Sun Devils responded when Bethany Kemp hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to seal the win for the hosts.
SIUE continues its five-game weekend when they take on third-ranked Washington Saturday night. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT.
AUSTIN PEAY 5, IUPUI 2; IUPUI 5, AUSTIN PEAY 1
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team opened the home part of its’ 2014 regular season schedule with a split of a doubleheader versus IUPUI, winning the opener 5-2 before falling in the nightcap, 5-1.
The Lady Govs (2-5) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, on a two-out single by sophomore Mel Pavel, driving in senior Kayla Davidson – who had drawn a walk to open the inning.
IUPUI (3-4) would tie the game in the top of the second inning, but Austin Peay answered right back in the bottom of the inning with two runs of its own.
Senior Amanda De Vries was hit by a pitch to open the inning, over to second on an illegal pitch and then over to third on an infield single by freshman Rikki Arkansas.
Davidson would follow with a double down the left-field line to score De Vries, while Arkansas – who had moved to third base – scored on an infield ground out by junior Laurel Burroughs to go up 3-1.
That would be all the runs that senior pitcher Lauren de Castro would need, as she held the Jaguars to just three hits and one run over the final five innings of play – while striking out three and walking none.
The Lady Govs would tack on insurance runs in the both the fifth and six innings, with de Castro leading off the fifth inning with her first home run of the season for a 4-2 lead, while fifth-year senior Kristin Whitmire drove in Davidson with the final run of the game with a double in the sixth.
Game 2 didn’t go as well for the Lady Govs, as IUPUI scored single runs in each of the first four innings to go up 4-1.
The lone Austin Peay run would come in the bottom of the second inning, when Jaguars’ starter Jocelyn Oppenhuis struggled with her control in the inning, walked four, with de Castro scoring the run off a wild pitch.
IUPUI would add a final run in the sixth inning for the 5-1 final.
Whitmire would record the lone hit in the second game for the Lady Govs, a third-inning double.
ULM 7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1; EASTERN ILLINOIS 20, GRAMBLING STATE 2
MONROE, La. - Eastern Illinois softball earned a Saturday split on day two of Mardi Gras Classic play, as the Panthers fell to host Louisiana-Monroe, 7-1, before beating Grambling State in a 20-2, five-inning rout. EIU improves to 5-4 on the early-season.
For the day, junior Bailey O’Dell tallied a perfect 4-for-4 plate performance, including a double and home run. Senior Reynae Hutchinson followed by hitting .667 (4-for-6), which included a team-best four RBI off her own double and homer.
Senior Brooke Owens added her own three-run bomb and double, with junior Hannah Cole adding another double and 4-for-7 day at the plate.
EIU nailed 17 hits in the five-inning win over Grambling State, as the Panthers registered 14 runs in the final frame for the blow out. Eastern also posted an errorless game defensively, while the Tigers committed five miscues.
Five different players finished with two or more hits in the win, with Hutchinson earning four RBIs, while O’Dell, Owens and Westover all added three RBIs of their own. Both Cole and Hutchinson came around to touch home four times each.
Senior thrower Hanna Mennenga improved her season mark to 2-1 with the complete game win. She registered seven strikeouts, three walks, while fanning four hits and a pair of earned runs.
In the first game loss, the host Louisiana-Monroe squad delivered a grand slam in the bottom of the second to help the Warhawks avenge Friday’s loss to the Panthers in early-tourney action.
Cole accounted for the lone RBI shot for EIU, as she delivered a hit to left in the top of the sixth to bring home Willert from second to account for the margin of victory. Janette Isaac earned a stolen base.
Owens and Hutchinson accounted for the other two hits for the Panthers, via a respective single and double as ULM out-hit the Panthers, 9-to-3, while both squads committed one error.
Senior pitcher Janele Robinson was tagged with the loss to drop to 1-2 on the season, as she finished with three strikeouts, two walks and allowed six earned runs off six hits. Classmate Stephanie Maday came in relief for four innings, adding four additional Ks, two bases-on-balls and just one earned run behind three hits.
Panthers will wrap up tourney action versus Houston Baptist at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.