SUNDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 12, Alabama A&M 0 (5)
Arkansas 5,
Southeast Missouri 2
Eastern Kentucky 12, Bradley 7
Belmont 8, Wright State 7
SIUE 6, Ohio State 0
Bradley 2,
Belmont 1
Murray State 3, Wright State 0
Eastern Kentucky 8, Alabama A&M 0
Tennessee Tech 9, Northern Kentucky 0 (5)
Tennessee Tech 10, Northern Kentucky 3
@#27 Southe Carolina 8,
Tennessee State 0 (5)
ARKANSAS 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
HAMMOND, La. - Southeast Missouri (3-6) pulled ahead early, but fell victim to a late rally in a 5-2 loss to Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas (12-7) during the final day of the Lion Classic Scramble Sunday.
Southeast took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Chelsea Smith singled to left and scored on an ensuing triple by Leah Duffe. Duffe later touched home on a Claire Wernig groundout to second base.
The Redhawks had a chance to add to their lead with two runners on in the third, but came up empty.
After that, Southeast did not get a hit for the final four innings of the game.
Arkansas took the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Haley Meinen led things off with a solo home run to left center. Devon Wallace reached on an infield single, went to second on a throwing error and scored when Kasey Fagan grounded out to third. An RBI-single by Stephanie Canfield capped the inning, giving the Razorbacks a 3-2 edge.
Wallace and Fagan delivered run-scoring singles in the top of the sixth to put the finishing touches on Arkansas' 5-2 victory.
Meinen (1-1) picked up the win in relief, tossing four no-hit scoreless innings. She also struck out one and walked none.
Aubrey Denno (0-2) took the loss. Denno gave up five hits and three runs in 1.2 relief innings.
Arkansas outhit Southeast, 12-5, with Wallace going 4-for-4 with a run scored and RBI to lead the way. Meinen and Autumn Russell each went 2-for-3 with with two runs scored at the bottom of the Razorbacks lineup.
Alexis Anderson, Kayla Fortner, Lindsey Patterson, Smith and Duffe had one hit apiece for the Redhawks.
The Redhawks return to action when they host the Southeast Games Mar. 6-8.
SIUE 6, OHIO STATE 0
AUBURN, Ala. – Haley Chambers threw a two-hit shutout Sunday as SIUE softball defeated Ohio State 6-0 on the final day of the Wilson/DeMarini Classic.
Alex McDavid and Jordan LaFave homered for the Cougars, who improved to 10-4 and finished the Auburn-hosted tournament with a 3-2 record.
Chambers, who led off the game with a single, would eventually score on a stolen base in the first inning. McDavid tagged her first home run of the season later in the inning, putting the Cougars ahead 3-0 before the Buckeyes had their first opportunity to hit.
Once Ohio State, 11-5, got to the plate, Chambers didn't yield anything. She finished with 13 strikeouts, which matched her season and career high. The junior left-hander has now struck out 13 batters in a single game five times. It was her second shutout of the season as her record improved to 6-2.
SIUE's lead extended to 6-0 in the fourth inning. Brittany Toney opened the inning with a single. After Samantha Jones pinch-ran for Toney, Rebecca Gray reached on a fielder's choice. LaFave then hit her first home run of the season and boosted her season RBI total to 11.
Through 14 games last season, SIUE had just one home run. This season, the Cougars have seven different players who have homered for a total of 13 times.
The Cougars next head to Florida for their spring break trip March 6-10. SIUE's first stop is the South Florida Tournament where the team faces Villanova, Georgetown, Seton Hall, North Florida, and Bowling Green. SIUE also has games in Ft. Myers, Fla., against Pittsburgh and Florida Gulf Coast.
BELMONT 8, WRIGHT STATE 7; BRADLEY 2, BELMONT 1
GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Belmont softball edged Wright State, 8-7, in the first game of the Bruins' Sunday doubleheader as BU earned the split decision on the weekend, finishing with a 2-2 record in the 2015 Sand Dollar Snow Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
GAME 1: Belmont 8, Wright State 7
Wright State (0-9) drew first blood in the Bruins' opening contest off a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning.
Belmont answered in the bottom of the first as Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) notched her first home run of the season as the junior hit a two-run blast to left field.
The Bruins added to their advantage in the second as an RBI single from senior Amanda Criscione (Upland, Calif.) scored Jordan Daly (Humble, Tex.).
The Raiders used the long ball to answer in the third as WSU's Libby Pfeffer hit a three run blast to left field as Wright State jumped ahead, 5-3.
In the bottom of the third, the Bruins used a two-run home run from Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.), to fight back as Belmont retained the lead, 6-5, scoring three runs off a pair of hits. The homer was Deloney second career blast and her first of the season.
BU padded its lead in the sixth as Criscione once again used a single to left field to drive in a pair of runs as the Bruins went up 8-5.
Wright State rallied in the top of the seventh as the Raiders used a single to left field to drive in a pair of runs as WSU inched closer, 8-7.
Belmont's Katie Clancy (Pasadena, Calif.) ended the WSU rally attempt as the senior earned her first win of the year as the right hander recorded the final two outs of the game as the Bruins held on for the 8-7 victory.
Overall, Criscione finished 2-for-3 at the plate to go along with three RBI. Four other Bruins recorded a hit for Belmont.
GAME 2: Bradley 2, Belmont 1
It was a different story in Belmont's Sunday rematch with the Braves as the Bruins hung tough with a Bradley squad that captured the first meeting, 12-1, Saturday afternoon.
Bradley (4-14) used a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to dent the scoreboard first.
A single by Jessica Wilson (Humble, Tex.) to centerfield drove in Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) in the top of the fourth. Hollingsworth reached base off her second triple of the year.
The Bruins couldn't draw closer the rest of the way as Belmont only recorded one hit the folowing three innings.
Overall, BU could only register three hits on the contest against the Braves.
Belmont (5-7) returns to action next weekend as the Bruins travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina, for the 2015 Winthrop Tournament.
SAINT LOUIS 4, UT MARTIN 2
HAMMOND, La. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team threatened late in the final day of the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic Scramble on Sunday afternoon before falling to Saint Louis 4-2.
The Skyhawks (7-6) were held to just four hits in the contest from four different individuals. The senior trio of Kelsey Dixon, Kayla Blanco and Lindsey Feigl were joined by freshman Aeron Smith with base knocks in the contest. Dixon tallied the team’s lone RBI for the Skyhawks.
Three pitchers saw action for the Skyhawks as Elizabeth Wiegand (3-3) tallied the start despite earning the loss. Wiegand allowed five hits and three earned runs in 4.1 innings of work while striking out three. Brooke Kennedy and Hanna Jones appeared in relief, combining to allow just two hits and no runs in the final 2.2 innings.
UT Martin would strike first in the contest, scoring one run in the bottom of the second inning. Blanco would lace a two-out single through the right side before an Aeron Smith single would bring pinch runner Chelsey Smith around to score following a throwing error.
Saint Louis would look to answer in the top of the fourth inning. After a hit by pitch would place Lindsay Friedman on base with two outs, the senior would come around to score the game’s tying run following a stolen base and a fielding error.
With the game tied at one run apiece, the Billikens would look to break the game open in the top of the fifth. A combination of back-to-back base hits and a walk would load the bases with one out. The Billikens would then score three runs on three consecutive at bats off a passed ball, a single and wild pitch to take a 4-1 lead.
The Skyhawks would make a final push in the bottom of the seventh inning. Following a walk, Dixon would double to left center to bring Renate Meckl around to trim the game’s margin to the final score of 4-2.
UT Martin will return to action on Friday, March 6 when the Skyhawks spend their Spring Break with an appearance at the Texas Tech Invitational.
SOUTH CAROLINA 8, TENNESSEE STATE 0
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Tennessee State concluded play at the Carolina Classic on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers fell in five innings to the host Gamecocks, 8-0. TSU drops to 3-8, while South Carolina improves to 15-5.
The Tigers threatened in the first as Courtney Gearlds reached on an error and moved to second on a Kailey Richard sacrifice bunt. Lauren Dreitlein followed with a single to move Gearlds to third, but the two were stranded on base.
Richard would be the only Tiger to reach base the rest of the way with a single in the third. USC pitcher Julie Sarrett (7-3) earned the win on the two-hit shutout.
Savannah Womack (0-2) was tagged with the loss, surrendering five runs in three innings of work. Jasmine Matchen closed out the game tossisng the final 1.1 innings, allowing one hit, while striking out one.
Tennessee State will face Middle Tennessee on Wednesday evening in Murfreesboro. Game time is set for 6:00pm with full game coverage on tsutigers.com.
MURRAY STATE 12, ALABAMA A&M 0; MURRAY STATE 3, WRIGHT STATE 0
GULF SHORES, Ala. - Outscoring its opponents 34-4 on the weekend, the Murray State softball team completed a perfect 4-0 weekend Sunday with a pair of shutouts in the final day of the Sand Dollar Snow Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Racers opened the day with a 12-0, five-inning win over Alabama A&M, followed by a 3-0 victory over Wright State.
Game 1 – Murray St. 12, Alabama A&M 0 (5 Innings)
It took a while for Murray State to get going in game one, but once it did it could not be stopped. MSU (11-5) went on to tally five runs in the third inning and seven in the fourth to blank the Lady Bulldogs (7-6).
Taylor Odom was a triple shy of the cycle in the contest going 3-for 3 with a single, a double and a home run for two runs and three RBIs. Jessica Twaddle was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and three RBIs, while Maggie Glass was 1-for-2 with a run, two RBIs and a double.
CheyAnne Gaskey got the win in the contest and moved to 5-3 on the season by allowing just two hits with a walk and five strikeouts over four complete innings. Haven Campbell tossed the final inning and allowed one hit with two strikeouts to earn the pair the combined shutout.
Game 2 – Murray St. 3, Wright St. 0
In game two, MSU pitcher Mason Robinson and Wright State pitcher Ashley Sharp were locked in a pitcher’s duel for most of the game, with neither allowing a run in the first six innings. Heading into the final frame, Robinson had allowed three hits, while Sharp had surrendered just two.
The Racers broke the game open in the seventh with a leadoff single from Jessica Twaddle, who would later score on a RBI-single from Cayla Levins. Taylor Odom added two insurance runs further down in the inning on a single that scored Erika Downey and Shelbey Miller.
Robinson would go on to give up a hit in the last inning, but it never crossed the plate as MSU held on for the 3-0 victory. The win was the ninth in a row and seventh of the season for Robinson, as she allowed no runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in her sixth complete game of 2014.
Next weekend, the Racers will stay close to home for the Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Illinois. MSU will play two game on Saturday and two games on Sunday against Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and DePaul.
TENNESSEE TECH 9-10, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 10-3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The recipe was simple for the Tennessee Tech softball team Sunday afternoon. Behind stellar hitting and lights out pitching, the Golden Eagles (8-9) took care of business with a doubleheader sweep over Northern Kentucky, outscoring The Norse (0-6) 19-3 in the pair of contests with a 9-0 win in the opener and an 10-3 victory in the second game.
Tech flexed its offensive muscles to the tune of eight extra base hits, while the pitching held up its end of the bargain as the combination of sophomore Danielle Liberatore and junior Hannah Weaver teamed up to strikeout 20, allowing just five hits in the process.
Danielle Liberatore (4-5) shined in the opener, striking out 12 of a possible 15 in just five innings of work en route to the complete-game shutout victory. From the onset it was clear that the 5-foot-10 southpaw was in complete control, punching out the side in each of the first two innings.
The Norse had just three base runners in the contest, with Liberatore surrendering only one walk and yielding two singles. In fact, of the 15 outs that the Peotone, Ill. native registered, only one of them was on a fair ball thanks to the 12 strikeouts and a pair of foul pop ups as well.
Offensively, Tech gave Liberatore more than enough run support, scoring in three of the four innings at the dish with a run in the first, three in the third, and five more in the fourth. Sophomore Alyssa Richards gave the Golden Eagles the early advantage in the bottom of the first behind a two-out RBI single that brought around senior Hannah Eldridge in to put TTU ahead 1-0.
Richards reached base all three times in the contest thanks to a walk and two singles, while Eldridge paced Tech with five total runs scored in the double dip.
The Golden Eagles went on to put crooked numbers on the board in the third and fourth innings, sending all nine to the plate in each frame. RBI singles from junior Olivia Bennett and sophomore Kelly Kennedy, coupled with a bases loaded walk from sophomore Gabby Perez accounted for Tech's three in the third, before Tech exploded for five in the fourth to put the game on ice.
Walks to seniors Angi Sakamoto and Hannah Eldridge gave Tech momentum to begin the inning, before the pair advanced to second and third on a wild pitch to set the stage for Olivia Bennett. The Mentone, Calif. native delivered once again, driving in Sakamoto and Eldridge with a single to left to cap off a six RBI day for Bennett after the righty-swinging outfielder drilled a three-run home run in the second game, her team-leading sixth of the year.
Two batters later after a walk to Alyssa Richards put runners on first and second, freshman Callen Griffin blasted a three-run home run to give the Golden Eagles a 9-0 lead. The round tripper was the second of the year for the 5-foot-4 infielder and helped wrap up a perfect day at the plate after Griffin singled in the first and walked in the third.
Tech did the bulk of its damage off freshman Ashlynn Roberts (0-3), who was saddled with the loss after giving up four earned in two and two-thirds innings.
The Golden Eagles left the yard with regularity in the second game, smoking three home runs in the contest. Hannah Eldridge kicked off the long ball brigade with a solo shot in the first inning, before Olivia Bennett pounded a three-run round tripper as part of a six-run second inning that saw Tech send 10 to the plate.
Trailing 7-0, Northern Kentucky jumped back into the tilt with three runs in the top of the third thanks to an RBI double off the bat of freshman Sydney Ferrante and a two-run home run from sophomore Dani Devlin.
With the Golden Eagles on top 7-3, freshman Bayli Cruse crushed a home run over the left center field fence in the bottom of the third, capping off a 2-for-3 showing for the Cohutta, Ga. native that included a double, a home run, and three RBI. Cruse now has two round trippers on the year.
An inning later, TTU wrapped up its scoring on a two-run single by senior Christian Gibbs to put Tech ahead 10-3.
Hannah Weaver (4-3) collected the win behind a career-high eight strikeouts, giving up just three hits while retiring the final 10 NKU hitters. On the opposite side of the equation, sophomore Alyssa Enrique (0-1) suffered her first loss of the year after giving up seven earned runs in one and two-thirds innings in the circle.
Fresh off its first home stand of the season, Tech will travel to Lipscomb on Thursday, Mar. 5 to tangle with the Bisons at 3 p.m. CST.