SATURDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 11, @Morehead State 7
UT Martin 9, @Morehead State 4
@Eastern Kentucky 5, Southeast Missouri 1
Southeast Missouri 5, @Eastern Kentucky 3
Eastern Illinois 3, @Jacksonville State 2
@Jacksonville State 6, Eastern Illinois 5
SIUE 8, @Tennessee Tech 1
SIUE 1, @Tennessee Tech 1
Murray State 3, @Tennessee State 0
Murray State 8, @Tennessee State 1
@Austin Peay 8, Belmont 4
@Austin Peay 2, Belmont 1
UT MARITN 11, MOREHEAD STATE 7; UT MARTIN 8, MOREHEAD STATE 4
MOREHEAD, Ky. - UT Martin hit five home runs to sweep an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader from the Morehead State softball team on Saturday at University Field. The Skyhawks belted four home runs in an 11-7 game-one victory and scored nine times over the final two innings for a 9-4 win in game two.
It was the home opener for the Eagles (4-15, 1-3), who, in game one, scored their most runs since a 9-8 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Feb. 8. UT Martin (13-13-1, 4-0) has won eight of its last 10 games.
Senior second baseman Stephanie Etter, sophomore first baseman Dana Hutchins and freshman center fielder Kayla McGuffey finished the opener with two hits each. Sophomore outfielder Tressa Watson was the only MSU player with two hits in the second contest.
Freshman designated player Karly Thompson helped give the Eagles a three-run fifth inning in game one, when she blasted her first career home run.
The Skyhawks scored two runs in each of the first two innings, before taking an 8-2 lead with four in the top of the fourth.
MSU plated two in the bottom of the seventh, but Skyhawk pitcher Elizabeth Wiegand escaped the jam.
Freshman pitcher Megan Tymorek (3-8) took the game-one loss, as she allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits in 3.1 innings. Senior pitcher Kelsey McMurray allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits in 3.2 innings of relief.
Wiegand (8-2) allowed seven runs, five earned, on nine hits in the victory. Gabby Glenn finished 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI to lead UT Martin in the opener, while Kenzi Tate led the way with a three-run homer in game two.
MSU junior pitcher Tanna Seuferer (1-6) faced the minimum amount of UT Martin hitters through three innings in game two. Seuferer allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits. Casey Vincent (2-3) allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits, to earn the win for UTM.
In the nightcap, MSU took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth on junior third baseman Katie Raile's first home run of the season. The Skyhawks answered with nine runs on seven hits in the next two innings.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 5, SOUTHEAST MIISSOURI 1; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team was victorious in its home opener against Southeast Missouri (5-1) Saturday afternoon at Gertrude Hood Field, but fell in game two of the doubleheader (5-3).
EKU now sits at 12-12 overall and 2-2 in Ohio Valley Conference action.
Junior pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger (9-6) tossed her 10th complete game of the season in the opener. The righty struck out 13 SEMO hitters, one shy of her career high, and allowed a single run in the top of the seventh.
Sophomore Sarah Fobbs was the offensive star as the left fielder hit a home run in both the second and third innings. Fobbs’ long ball to left to lead off the second made the score 1-0. Freshman Krislyn Campos came through with a two-out RBI later in the inning to extend the lead to 3-0.
After Fobbs hit another blast to right center to stretch the cushion to 4-0, senior Christina Ciolek capped the EKU scoring with an RBI single in the fourth.
In game two, Eastern grabbed a 2-0 lead only to see Southeast Missouri rally with five runs in the fourth. All five of Redhawk runs came with two outs. Haylee Krack and Leah Duffe each tallied two-run singles in the frame.
Sophomore Kayla Joyce hit her third home run of the season in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3, but that would be the only run EKU would manage the rest of the game.
SEMO’s (6-14, 1-1) win snapped a seven-game losing streak. Keaira Schilling (2-5) pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs to notch the win.
Campos, Ciolek and Fobbs each had multiple hits in both games. Ciolek is now riding a seven-game hitting streak.
Sophomore pitcher Hayley Flynn came on in relief in game two and allowed just one hit to go along with five strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 2; JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State softball team dropped the first game before slugging its way to a doubleheader split with Eastern Illinois on Saturday at University Field.
After failing to capitalize on opportunities in a 3-2 loss in the opener, the Gamecocks (18-7, 4-1 Ohio Valley Conference) belted three home runs and rode a complete game by freshman Logan Green to down the defending OVC champion Panthers (19-8, 1-1 OVC) 6-5 in the nightcap.
Sophomore Ella Denes went 4-for-7 with a homer, a double and three RBI in the doubleheader, while Sara Borders homered and Kalee Tabor hit a grand slam in the second game.
The Gamecocks got on the board in the second, thanks to a little two-out rally. Stephanie Lewis started it with a two-out single and then scored on an Ella Denes double into the right centerfield gap to give JSU a 1-0 lead.
Harbin faced the minimum through three innings before the Panthers got something going in the fourth. Jannette Isaac led the inning off with a single up the middle and was bunted over to second. On a steal of third, Savannah Sloan's throw went into left field and allowed her to score and tie the game. Hannah Cole then homered to deep left to give the Panthers their first lead of the day.
Denes came through again in the sixth, sending a two-out single up the middle that scored Amanda Maldonado from second and tied it again at 2-2. The lead was short-lived, after April Markowski's solo blast to center put EIU in front for good.
Harbin (6-4) suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing three runs on five hits in a complete seven innings. She struck out six and walked a pair in the loss to reigning OVC Pitcher of the Year Hanna Mennenga (11-2), who held JSU to two runs on eight hits in seven frames in the circle. She struck out two and walked four but stranded 11 Gamecock runners, holding JSU to a 1-for-11 game with runners in scoring position.
Denes went 2-for-3 with a double and JSU's two RBI, while the other six hits were scattered through the lineup. EIU scattered its five hits.
In the nightcap, The Panthers struck in the first with a one-out single from Carly Willert, who scored on a two-out bloop single from Cole. Denes didn't let the lead stand long, belting Stephanie Maday's 1-2 pitch over the wall in right center to lead off the bottom of the JSU first.
Tabor delivered the big blow in the second, when she stepped in with the bases loaded and hit Maday's first pitch over the scoreboard in left field. The grand slam was the seventh homer of the year for the Lake Mary, Fla., native and gave the Gamecocks an early 5-1 lead.
The Panthers got one back in the fourth on a leadoff homer from Reynae Hutchinson but Sara Borders grabbed it right back with her OVC leading ninth round tripper of the year in the bottom of the fourth. The solo shot put JSU up 6-2 after four.
That score stood until the seventh, when a throwing error allowed Bailey O'Dell to reach and advance to third to start the top of the inning for EIU. She scored on a double from Ashlynne Paul, who came in to score on an Isaac single.
Green got Willert to fly out to center but an illegal pitch was called to keep the at bat alive. Willert answered with an RBI double on the next pitch to cut the JSU lead to 6-5. Green got Brooke Owens to fly out to right and Cole to ground out to third to escape the jam.
Green (4-1) earned the win in her second career complete game. She allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits, while striking out two and walking one. Maday (7-4) suffered the loss after giving up five runs on five hits in 1.2 innings. Hannah Rachor made her debut for EIU, tossing the final 4.1 innings and limiting JSU to a run on two hits.
SIUE 8, TENNESSEE TECH 1; SIUE 1, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Haley Chambers tossed her second career no-hitter and the SIUE softball team remained perfect in Ohio Valley Conference play with a doubleheader sweep over Tennessee Tech Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars (10-15, 4-0 OVC) defeated the Golden Eagles 8-2 in the first game before Chambers led the visitors to a 1-0 victory in the second game.
Chambers handcuffed TTU (8-23, 0-5 OVC) for seven innings, allowing no hits while recording 10 strikeouts. The no-hitter is the 30th in school history.
Not only did Chambers lead the Cougars from the circle, she also knocked in the game's only run. The sophomore laid down a bunt single in the fourth inning to score Jordan LaFave.
In the first game, SIUE scored seven runs over the first three innings to jump out to an early 7-1 lead. Alex McDavid led the charge offensively for the Cougars, going 2-4 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. She capped the game off with her first home run of the season, a solo blast in the seventh inning.
In the circle, Erin Greenwalt allowed one run on two hits while striking out five over five innings of work. Alexis Robison-Kohrs shut the door on the Golden Eagles, allowing one run over the final two innings of play.
MURRAY STATE 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0; MURRAY STATE 8, TENNESSEE STATE 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Murray State softball team put a six-game skid to bed in a big way on Saturday by sweeping an OVC doubleheader at Tennessee State. The Racers took game one by blanking the Tigers, 3-0, then used a big sixth inning to post a 8-1 win in the finale.
The first four innings of the opener between the Tigers and the Racers saw both teams clamp down defensively. Neither team was able to score in the first four frames due in large part to the play of both defenses, as the teams combined for seven hits but stranded a total of 11 runners.
In the fifth, however, the Racers finally broke the scoreless draw when Cayla Levins sent one through the right side to score Shelbey Miller. Miller reached earlier in the stanza on a single of her own to center field, then stole second during Mo Ramsey’s at bat.
Murray State added two more in the seventh inning, beginning when Maggie Glass scored on a muffed thrown by the TSU catcher after Levins reached on a fielder’s choice. Two batters later, Jessica Twaddle brought Levins home on a fielder’s choice of her own to the short stop to cap the game’s scoring at 3-0.
CheyAnne Gaskey went the full seven innings in the circle for Murray State to move to 6-7 on the year with her second shutout of the season. She finished the game allowing no runs on five hits with only two walks and two strikeouts.
Levins led MSU in the first game by going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Maggie Glass was also 2-for-3 with a run. Miller, Ramsey, Alexa Becker and Leslie Bridges also tallied hits in the game to give the Racers eight in the contest.
In game two, Murray State was first on the board when Tennessee State committed two errors on the same play to allow Cayla Levins to reach first and Alexa Becker to score. However in the second, Tayler Shimizu tied the game with a RBI-single to second that scored Jayna Hanawahine.
In the third, the Racers took back the lead after Maggie Glass, Shelbey Miller and Mo Ramsey started off the frame with three straight singles. Two batters later, Alexa Becker drew her second of a career-high three walks in the game to score Glass and put MSU back on top, 2-1.
The score remained at 2-1 until the sixth inning when Murray State blew the game wide open with five runs on six hits. Miller and Ramsey both notched doubles in the frame that scored two runs each, while Becker singled late in the inning to score Ramsey.
Murray State tacked on another run in the seventh and it got started when Morgan Harrell began the inning with MSU’s ninth triple of the year. Just 26 games into the season, the Racers have already eclipsed the previous program single-season record for triples of eight. Two batters later, Miller pushed the lead to 8-1 when she scored Harrell on a single up the middle to seal the doubleheader sweep for MSU.
Miller finished the game with a career-high three hits, two runs, two RBIs and a walk, while Ramsey went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run. Mallory Young entered the game as a pinch hitter and went 2-for-2, while Becker finished at 1-for-2 with three walks.
Mason Robinson pitched six innings for the Racers to move to 5-4 on the year after she gave up just one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts and only one walk. J.J. Francis finished the game for MSU and allowed no runs on no hits with no walks, while striking out two of the three batters in the final frame.
AUSTIN PEAY 8, BELMONT 4; AUSTIN PEAY 2, BELMONT 2
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 2, Saturday at Cheryl Holt Field, to earn a sweep of its Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader with Belmont University by scores of 8-4 and 2-1.
Game 2 of the doubleheader was a pitcher’s duel between the Lady Govs (13-14, 2-2 OVC) Sidney Hooper and the Bruins Brittanie Albright, as both carried shutouts into the sixth inning.
But Belmont (7-16, 1-3 OVC) would break the scoreless deadlock, with Jessica Wilson reaching on a one-out single to right-center field and score all the way around from first base on a double to right-center by Kat Hollingsworth, to make it 1-0.
But Austin Peay would answer right back with Lauren de Castro getting on base via a one-out walk and score the tying run on a double to center field by Vinchenza DiBenedetto – who advanced to third base on the throw home to try to cut down de Castro.
Three pitches later, DiBenedetto would score what turned out to be the winning run, when she came home following a low, outside pitch from Albright pitch couldn’t be stopped by Bruins catcher Kim Johnson for a wild pitch.
Belmont would get a runner on in the top of the seventh inning, but Hooper was able to get out of the inning without any damage being down for the 2-1 victory.
Hooper (3-2) got the win giving up six hits and one earned run, while striking out five and walking one.
Albright (2-7) took the loss, giving up six hits and two earned runs. She also walked two and struck out four.
Laurel Burroughs would lead Austin Peay with two hits, while Jordan Daly had two hits for Belmont.
In the opener, the Lady Govs would use two big innings to post the come-from-behind victory.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning, Austin Peay loaded the bases – with one out – on an infield single by Marissa Lake, a double by Kayla Davidson and a walk to de Castro.
After the Bruins recorded the second out of the inning, Burroughs drew a walk – forcing in Lake with the first run – followed by a single by Kristin Whitmire that scored Davidson and de Castro.
But a bad throw to third by Belmont’s catcher allowed Burroughs to score to make it 5-2 Austin Peay.
The score would remain that way until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Austin Peay would add three more runs – two coming on RBI singles by Lake and Davidson – and a third coming in off a Belmont error.
Lake, Davidson and Burroughs all had two hits in the opener.
The Bruins would score twice in the top of the seventh inning – on a RBI single by Wilson and a sacrifice fly by Hollingsworth – but that would be as close as they would get with de Castro getting Mia Vierra to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Wilson would lead Belmont with three hits, while Ashley Hammer recorded two hits.
Belmont had opened the game by jumping out 1-0 on a home run by Wilson, in the top of the first inning, with de Castro matching the homer with an opposite-field blast in the bottom of the second inning.
The Bruins took their final lead in the top of the third inning on a double steal, with Kirbie Ferrell scoring on the back-side of the double steal.
Picking up the win was de Castro, who improves to 8-5 on the season, while Taylor Moon (3-5) took the loss.