SATURDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 12, Wright State 3
Bradley 11,
Belmont 1
#24 South Alabama 6,
Tennessee State 3
Charleston Southern 7,
Tennessee State 0
Murray State 7, Bradley 1
#10 Kentucky 5,
@Tennessee Tech 1
#10 Kentucky 10,
@Tennessee Tech 0
SIUE 7, Samford 2
@Auburn 8,
SIUE 5
UT Martin 2, Southeast Missouri 1 (8)
Eastern Kentucky 2, Alabama A&M 1
Appalachian State 13,
Austin Peay 7
@Winthrop 11,
Austin Peay 3
Maryland Baltimore County 12,
Morehead State 5 (5)
East Tennessee State 10,
Morehead State 1 (5)
Belmont 13, Alabama A&M 11
Eastern Kentucky 12, Wright State 3
BRADLEY 11, BELMONT 1; BELMONT 13, ALABAMA A&M 11
GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Belmont softball scored a season-best 13 runs as the Bruins came back after a 12-1 defeat to Bradley to capture their second game of the day with a 13-11 victory over Alabama A&M.
Game 1: Bradley 12 Belmont 1 (5 inn.)
The Bradley Braves (3-12) tallied 12 runs off 12 hits as the Braves made easy work of the Bruins in Belmont's opening contest of the day.
In the circle, Bradley's Jaelen Hull (1-5) limited Belmont offensively as the Bruins only had four hits on the contest.
Belmont's Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) drove in BU's only run off an RBI double to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Game 2: Belmont 13, Alabama A&M 11
Belmont came out red-hot offensively as the Bruins tallied seven runs off five in the first inning against the Lady Bulldogs.
Leading 10-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, BU had a chance to use the eight-run rule to end the game early Alabama A&M tallied three runs in the home half of the inning to extend the game.
The Bruins used a two RBI, ground rule double from Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) to notch three runs in the top of the sixth inning but AAMU answered three a pair of runs in the following inning as Belmont continued to lead, 13-7, heading into the seventh inning.
After the Bruins failed to add any runs to their total in top half of the seventh, AAMU used a three-run homerun to draw within two, with a pair of outs.
BU's Katie Clancy (Pasadena, Calif.) saved the day for the Bruins as AAMU flied out to right field as BU held on for the 13-11 victory.
Five different Bruins had a pair of hits for Belmont while Deloney finished with a team-high four RBI.
Newcomer Kate Black (Knoxville, Tenn.) had an impressive outing for the Bruins as the outfielder finished the contest going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
In the circle, BU's Shelby Willard (1-1) picked up her first career victory for the Bruins as the junior threw for 4.1 innings and finished with four strikeouts for Belmont.
Belmont (4-6) returns to action tomorrow as the Bruins finish out the 2015 Sand Dollar Snow Classic with a pair of games. BU opens the day with a 10 a.m. contest with Wright State followed by a 12:30 p.m. rematch with Bradley.
#10 KENTUCKY 5-10, TENNESSEE TECH 1-0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - An early setback in the first game coupled with a Kentucky power outage in the second tilt proved to be the difference in Saturday's Wildcat sweep over the Tennessee Tech softball team in the 2015 home opener.
No. 10 Kentucky (13-3) plated five-first inning runs en route to a 5-1 win in the day's opening affair, before smacking four home runs in the second game to cap off the twin bill sweep with a 10-0 victory.
Tech junior Hannah Weaver (3-3) fell victim to a shaky start and some bad luck in the first inning of the opener, yielding five hits that resulted in a Wildcat five-spot in the frame. A bunt single, a pair of seeing eye knocks, and a couple of bloop hits led to the big inning, as Weaver wasn't hit all that hard to start off the contest.
In fact, the Corona, Calif. native would settle down after the ominous start, blanking the Wildcats over the next six innings while surrendering just three hits in the process as part of a complete-game performance.
UK got on the board thanks to a two-run Griffin Joiner single up the middle with none out in the opening frame. Four batters later after the Wildcats added a run on a Breanne Ray RBI knock to center, senior Kara Howard bumped the lead to 5-0 with a two-out, two-run single that plated both Ray and Joiner.
Joiner would go on to have a big doubleheader after a home run and three RBI in the second game to end the day with three hits, two runs scored, and five RBI.
Offensively, Tech (6-9) managed five hits in the first game, two of which came off the bat of senior Hannah Eldridge, who would end the double-dip with three total knocks after a 1-for-2 second-game showing. The 5-foot-5 infielder scored the lone Golden Eagle run as well, coming across on a two-out third inning RBI single by Sakamoto after Eldridge reached on a Wildcat error to begin the frame.
Eldridge would also play the role of catalyst in the bottom of the fifth, helping give TTU a look at the game late. The Fayetteville, Tenn. native began the inning with a single to left, which was followed by a Bayli Cruse base hit to left to put runners on first and second. Kentucky's Kelsey Nunley (5-1) would wiggle out of the jam though, retiring the next three Golden Eagles to escape further trouble. The junior right-hander got the call on a 3-2 pitch to strikeout junior Sabrie Neeb looking, changing the complexion of the inning.
Instead of bases loaded and no one out, UK quelled the Tech rally after senior Angi Sakamoto lined out hard to right field and junior Madison Taylor skied to left to end the TTU threat.
Nunley would wind up going the distance to notch her fifth win of the season, allowing only one unearned run while scattering five hits and punching out five as well.
Golden Eagle sophomore Danielle Liberatore (3-5) kept Kentucky off the board in the first inning of the second game, making it seven consecutive frames in which the Wildcats failed to score. The streak snapped in the top of the second though on the first of four UK long balls as freshman Rachael Metzger touched them all with a solo shot to left center to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
An inning later the aforementioned Griffin Joiner stroked a two-run shot to dead center, helping Kentucky take a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third after Metzger notched her second RBI of the tilt with a run-scoring single down the left field line that brought home junior Darington Richardson with two down.
UK padded its advantage with two more in the fourth on a Sylver Samuel RBI triple and a Joiner run-scoring knock, before the Wildcats capped off their scoring with a four-run fifth inning that saw a pair of Kentucky round trippers. A pinch-hit two-run home run by freshman Haley Andrus bumped the lead to 8-0, while a two-run Christian Stokes long ball gave UK a 10-0 lead.
TTU had its opportunities to try and get back into the contest, but the Golden Eagles had a runner gunned down at the plate to end both the third and fourth innings. In the last of the third it was Sakamoto who came up empty trying to score on a Madison Taylor two-bagger, before pinch-runner Gabby Perez was thrown out in the fourth on a single up the middle by Hannah Eldridge.
Liberatore was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs in three and two-thirds innings, while UK sophomore Meagan Prince (7-2) recorded the victory with a five-hit shutout.
The Golden Eagles will be right back at it Sunday, welcoming in Northern Kentucky for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. CST. Tech got the better of The Norse in the season-opener with a 10-0 victory back on Feb. 7 as part of the Kennesaw State University Kickoff Classic.
APPALACHIAN STATE 13, AUSTIN PEAY 7; WINTHROP 11, AUSTIN PEAY 3
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team couldn’t shake off the rust of a 15-day weather induced layoff Saturday, Feb. 28th in the opening day of the Winthrop Adidas Tournament, with the Lady Govs falling to Appalachian State 13-7 and to Winthrop 11-3.
It was the Lady Govs (1-8) pitching and defense that seemed to show the most tarnish from the inactivity, giving up 35 hits in the two games – including 12 for extra bases – while defensively committing four errors.
In the opener versus Appalachian State, the Lady Govs hit five home runs in the loss, with Niya Sparks, Laurel Burroughs, Christiana Gable and Sidney Hooper all hitting solo shot, while Savannah Oliver hit a two-run shot.
The Lady Govs other run came on a sacrifice fly by Mel Pavel.
In the nightcap versus Winthrop, Austin Peay was trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the third inning, when Sparks tied the game with an RBI single.
But the Eagles (8-9) took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning with three runs, going up 4-1.
Austin Peay would try to rally back by scoring two times in the top of the fourth inning, on a two-run single by Gable, to make it a one-run game, 4-3.
But that would be as close as the Lady Govs would get, with the Eagles closing out the game by scoring the final seven runs for the 11-3 final.
The Lady Govs will conclude their stay at the Winthrop Adidas Tournament on Sunday, March 1st, with a 9 a.m., game versus Coppin State followed by a contest against Wagner at 11 a.m.
#24 SOUTH ALABAMA 6, TENNESSEE STATE 3; CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 7, TENNESSEE STATE 0
COLUMBIA , S.C. - – The second day of the Carolina Classic proved to be an uphill climb for Tennessee State. The Tigers dropped both games on the day after falling behind early in each contest. TSU lost the morning tilt 6-3 to No. 24 South Alabama and lost the evening battle 7-0 to Charleston Southern. The Tigers are now 3-7, while South Alabama improved to 13-3 and Charleston Southern moved to 10-7.
Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers mounted a comeback with three runs to cut the lead in half. With the bases loaded, Chelsea Buchanan collected her first career RBI with a sacrifice fly to center, plating Joselynn Yates. Sophomore-transfer Danica Gleason followed with a triple to right center chasing home Lindsey Burgess and Tayler Shimizu.
TSU tried to cut into the Jaguars lead, but could not take advantage of a bases loaded opportunity in the fifth inning. The Tigers would get a runner on base in each of the final two innings, but could not push another run across against USA hurler Devin Brown who improved to 6-2.
Amber Galyon (0-4) took the loss, working 1.2 innings and surrendering four runs, three earned. Savannah Womack tossed the final 5.1 innings allowing two runs on one hit and two walks.
Gleason led the way at the plate going 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs batted in. Courtney Gearlds picked up a pair of hits in four at bats and stole her sixth base of the season.
Kate Morris, Yates and Buchanan each collected a hit during the morning contest.
The nightcap started the same as the opener with Charleston Southern jumping out to a 7-0 after four innings of play. The Tigers were not able to mount a comeback against starting pitcher Cheyenne Gandara. TSU could only manage hits from Kailey Richard and Cariona Hassell. Burgess and Kate Morris each reached on walks to provide the only baserunners the Tigers could work off of Gandara (6-4).
Taylor Green pitched the first 3.2 innings against CSU and fell to 3-2 on the season. Junior Jasmine Matchen allowed two hits and struck out two over the final 2.1 innings.
The Tigers will face #27 South Carolina in the final game of the classic on Sunday at 3:00 ET. The game can be seen on the SEC Network Plus.
SIUE 7, SAMFORD 2; AUBURN 8, SIUE 5
AUBURN, Ala. - SIUE softball gained a split Saturday at the Wilson/DeMarini Classic. The Cougars snapped Samford's nine-game winning streak with a 7-2 triumph. SIUE gave No. 16 Auburn a scare before yielding 8-5 at Jane B. Moore Field.
The Cougars are now 9-4 with one more game left in the tournament. SIUE faces Ohio State in an 11:30 a.m. game Sunday.
Allison Smiley ran her team-leading RBI total to 15 with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth in the win over Samford. It was Smiley's third home run of the year and first career grand slam.
Baylee Douglass earned the win over Samford, her third of the season. Haley Chambers hurled the final two innings for her second career save.
SIUE grabbed the early 1-0 lead against Samford when Amy Hunt connected on a sacrifice fly in the second inning, scoring Rachel Keller.
Samford, now 13-3, had previously lost only to Butler and No. 9 Alabama before facing SIUE. The Bulldogs grabbed its only lead of the game in the fourth inning when Abby Sweeney hit a two-run homer to put Samford up 2-1.
The Cougars regained the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth with RBI singles from Hunt and Jordan LaFave.
In the sixth, LaFave and Rebecca Gray each singled with one out. After a sacrifice bunt by Chambers moved the runners over, Haley Adrian was hit by a pitch. That set up Smiley, who put the game out of reach.
In the Auburn game, SIUE collected six hits and scored the second-most number of runs Auburn has allowed this season. The Tigers improved to 20-1 and 16-0 at home but not before the Cougars provided some heartburn moments.
SIUE opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Adrian scored on a passed ball, and Smiley made it 2-0 when she scored on an infield out by Keller.
Auburn's Kasey Cooper put the Tigers in the scoreboard with a solo home run in the first inning.
The Cougars countered with a solo home run in the second inning. Brittany Toney hit her second of the year, a blast to left-center field.
Auburn grabbed its first lead of the game with three runs in the third and one more in the fourth.
SIUE would knock out Auburn's No. 1 starter Marcy Harper. Lexi Davis took over for Harper in the fifth inning, and the Cougars found a way to keep the offense going.
After Gray hit a leadoff double, Chambers hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season off Davis. The home run over the center field fence evened the score 5-5.
The Tigers, which managed just seven hits against the Cougars, bailed out Davis when they picked up a three-run homer by Emily Carosone in the sixth inning.
UT MARTIN 2, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
HAMMOND, La. - For the second consecutive day the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team needed extra innings to find out its final decision, but unlike yesterday, the Skyhawks came out on top with a 2-1 victory over Southeast Missouri in Day Two of the Lion Classic Scramble.
The Skyhawks (7-5) managed just four hits on the day, but made the most of them, while tallying two RBIs on the day. Senior Kelsey Dixon led the Skyhawks with two hits in three at bats while classmates Kenzi Tate and Lauren Smith each tallied base knocks.
Tate not only produced an RBI on the day, but tied a career high by tossing eight innings inside the circle. The senior made her return to the circle, getting the upper hand against a conference opponent while allowing just one earned run.
The game would remain scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the Skyhawks would take an initial lead. Senior Kayla Blanco would lead off the inning with a walk before seeing a pinch runner be caught stealing following a pitching change for the Redhawks. With one out, Carly Gonzales would draw a walk of her own before moving into scoring position off a SEMO error. With runners on first and second, Tate would get the Skyhawks on the board with a double to left field, bringing Gonzales around to score the game’s first run.
With just three outs left to use in the top of the seventh inning, Southeast Missouri would quickly erase its one run deficit with a solo shot to right field by Leah Duffe. The Redhawks would get the potential go ahead run to second but back-to-back lineouts would get the Skyhawks out of the inning.
Much like the game before, the eighth inning came down to the international tie-breaker scenario as Gonzales was placed on second to lead off the inning. A successful sacrifice bunt by Jodie Duncan would move the sophomore to third, sitting in prime position to score with just one out. Back-to-back walks would load the bases for the Skyhawks before the third walk of the inning to Alicia Hansen would bring the winning run across to score.
MURRAY STATE 12, WRIGHT STATE 3; MURRAY STATE 7, BRADLEY 1
GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Murray State softball team picked up two wins Saturday by cranking out 19 runs with a 12-3, five-inning win over Wright State, followed by a 7-1 win over Bradley on day one of the Sand Dollar Classic at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex in Gulf Shores, Ala. Murray State is now 10-5 on the season, marking the fastest the Racers have ever reached 10 wins in six seasons of existence.
Game 1 – Murray St. 12, Wright St. 3 (5 Innings)
The Racers came up with eight hits in the game, scoring two runs in the first and third and eight in the fifth. In the fifth, Murray State took advantage of six walks by Wright State (0-6), building a lead which the Raiders were not able to overcome.
Two Racers went yard in the game with Maddie Glass doing so in the third and Jessica Twaddle joining her in the fifth. Twaddle finished the game at 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs, while Glass was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs.
CheyAnne Gaskey went 4.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits and one strikeout to improve to 4-3 on the year. Haven Campbell pitched the final frame and struck out two while giving up two run on two hits.
Game 2 – Murray State 7, Bradley 1
In game two, Murray State (10-5) picked up where it left off in game one, churning out 11 hits with five of them going for extra bases. Bradley (3-13) was first on the board in the game with an unearned run in the first, but MSU would answer with seven straight runs of its own and never allowed the Braves back in the contest.
Maggie Glass began the scoring barrage in the fourth with her second home run of the day, a solo shot, and was followed later in the frame by a two-run double from Mallory Young. In the fifth, Shelbey Miller and Jocelynn Rodger each had an RBI-double, while Glass scored two in the seventh with her third long ball of the afternoon and second of the game. Glass was 2-for-4 in the game with two runs and three RBIs, as was Mo Ramsey who also had a run.
Mason Robinson pitched her fifth complete game of the season to stay unbeaten and move to 6-0 with the win. The sophomore gave up one unearned win on four hits with three strikeouts over the full seven frames.
Murray State will return to Gulf Shores Saturday for the final day of the Sand Dollar Snow Classic. The Racers will begin the day with Alabama A&M at 10:00 a.m., followed by Wright State at 12:30 p.m.
MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY 12, MOREHEAD STATE 5; EAST TENNESSEE STATE 10, MOREHEAD STATE1
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Morehead State softball team dropped both of its decisions on Saturday at the Paulson Complex. The Eagles suffered a 12-2 setback to Maryland-Baltimore County in the opener and 10-1 decision to East Tennessee State in game two. Both contests were five innings.
The Ohio Valley Conference Eagles slip to 3-9 overall and 2-6 at neutral sites. The America East Conference Retrievers, who won both games on Saturday, improve to 2-8 overall. The Southern Conference Buccaneers, who split a pair of contests, now sit at .500 through 12 tilts this year.
UMBC jumped out to an 8-0 lead after two innings and plated all of its runs in the first four frames. Senior second baseman Katlin Olesky launched a solo home run in the third, while freshman first baseman Carly Lesko brought home three more insurance scores on a roundtripper in the fourth.
Freshman designated player Lindsay Ward knocked in both of MSU's game-one runs on a third-inning single. Sophomore Kayla McGuffey finished 3-for-3 for the Eagles.
Sophomore left-hander Jessica Holte, who allowed just two runs in five innings, improved to 1-4 with the win. Freshman right-hander Mackenzie Grossmann, who yielded six scores in 1.2 frames, slipped to 1-3 with the loss. Sophomore right-hander Megan Tymorek tossed two scoreless innings for MSU.
Morehead State scored in the first inning against East Tennessee State, but the Buccaneers responded with 10 unanswered runs to win another five-inning affair. Ward, who played second base, brought home junior first baseman Dana Hutchins on a single. No Eagles produced multiple hits in game two.
ETSU freshman first baseman Kelsey Smith finished 3-for-3 with six RBI. She smashed a three-run homer in the first, single in the second and three-run double in the third.
Sophomore right-hander Taylor Carter, who allowed just one run, one walk and four hits in five innings, improved to 2-2 with the win. Sophomore right-hander Megan Tymorek, who was removed in the first inning after being touched for six runs and four hits, slipped to 0-4 with the loss.
Morehead State gets a re-match with UMBC on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET. The Eagles are currently scheduled to play their first 17 games this season away from University Field.