WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 4, Pikeville 2
@Morehead State 8, Pikeville 0 (5)
Indiana State 9,
@Southeast Missouri 4
Indiana State 9,
@Soutehast Missouri 5 (8)
Tennessee Tech 8, @Samford 5
Tennessee Tech 10, @Samford 5
@UT Martin 14, Evansville 11
@UT Martin 5, Evansville 1
@Dayton 2,
Eastern Kentucky 1
@Dayton 10,
Eastern Kentucky 9 (12)
@Austin Peay 8, Eastern Illinois 7
Eastern Illinois 12, @Austin Peay 0 (5)
Lipscomb 13,
@Tennessee State 1 (5)
Lipscomb 10,
@Tennessee State 1 (5)
MOREHEAD STATE 4, PIKEVILLE 2; MOREHEAD STATE 8, PIKEVILLE 0
MROEHEAD, Ky. - Right-handers Mackenzie Grossmann and Tanna Seuferer combined to allow just one earned run and three hits in 12 innings to propel the Morehead State softball team to a doubleheader sweep of NAIA opponent Pikeville (Ky.) on Wednesday afternoon at University Field.
Grossmann, a freshman, allowed no walks, one earned run and just two hits in a complete-game performance as the Eagles posted a 4-2 victory in the opener. Seuferer, a senior, yielded just one hit and three walks in a complete-game effort as MSU cruised to a five-inning 8-0 win in game two.
Grossmann, who improved to 4-3 on the season and lowered her ERA to 3.31, faced 28 batters and induced 15 groundball outs. She threw 99 pitches and struck out two. Seuferer, who improved to 4-2 and trimmed her ERA to 5.56, fired 87 pitches and fanned seven of the 19 batters she faced.
Morehead State, which has won five of its past six affairs, improves to 8-10 overall and 2-0 at home. Pikeville, which sees its six-game winning streak come to an end, slips to 6-4 overall and 2-4 on the road. The twinbill started six contests in five days and opened MSU's eight-game homestand.
Junior right fielder Tressa Watson and freshman catcher Laine Simmons broke a tie in the fifth inning of game one by launching back-to-back solo home runs. Both players now have three roundtrippers on the campaign. Simmons was one of three Eagles to collect two hits that contest.
MSU jumped out to a 6-0 advantage after two innings of game two and never looked back. Watson was one of two Eagles to register multi-hit performances. She whacked a two-run double in the opening frame and produced an RBI single when MSU batted around in the second.
Morehead State tallied a 7-2 hits edge in the opener when both clubs committed three errors. The Eagles posted a 10-1 base knocks advantage in the nightcap when Pikeville was charged with both of the game's miscues. MSU notched six stolen bases in the twinbill, including five in game two.
Pikeville did not have anyone with more than one hit, run or RBI in either contest. Junior right-hander Sydney Morris suffered the loss in game one, while junior right-hander Hawley Ill was pinned with the defeat in game two. The duo gave up six walks, nine earned runs and 17 hits in 9.2 innings.
The Eagles roll into Ohio Valley Conference action on Saturday against Eastern Illinois and Sunday versus SIU Edwardsville. Both doubleheaders at University Field are slated for Noon ET
INDIANA STATE 9, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4; INDIANA STATE 9, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - - Southeast Missouri (4-11) dropped a doubleheader to Indiana State (8-14), losing by scores of 9-4 and 9-5 in eight innings Wednesday afternoon at the Southeast Softball Complex.
Southeast held leads after four innings in each of those games before falling victim to late rallies by the Sycamores.
Indiana State 9, Southeast Missouri 4
Southeast scored in each of the first three innings to build a 4-1 lead in game one.
Alexis Anderson hit a leadoff double and scored on a single by Lindsey Patterson in the bottom of the first. Taylor McDannold later singled home Kayla Fortner to give the Redhawks a 2-1 advantage.
Southeast pushed its lead to 4-1 when Fortner grounded out to score Anderson in the second and McDannold touched home on a fielder's choice in the third.
That, however, would be the end of the Redhawks scoring.
ISU pulled to within a run with some small ball in the fourth.
Alexa Cavin singled to third base and came around to score with the help of two sacrifice-bunts and a groundout to the pitcher. Rylee Holland's single through the right side accounted for the other tally as the Sycamores narrowed the gap to 4-3.
ISU added three more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings to pull away for good.
In the fifth, Cavin doubled home Turitto and scored with the help of an error. Mallory Schneid touched home on Aubre Carpenter's single to third base, giving the Sycamores their first lead at 6-4.
ISU posted its third-straight multi-run inning scoring more balls that didn't leave the infield.
Kassie Brown and Megan Stone each reached on infield singles to start the sixth. Brown then scored when Turitto grounded out to short. Schneid's single to shortstop plated the final two runs, polishing off ISU's 9-4 win.
Abby Klopp (1-0) picked up her first victory of the season in relief. Klopp allowed one hit and walked two in 1.2 scoreless innings.
Taylor Lockwood was credited with the save, striking out two and walking none in 2.1 innings. Lockwood did not allow a hit and retired the last six Redhawk hitters.
Aubrey Denno (0-3) took the loss, giving up 12 hits and six runs in 4.2 innings. Denno also struck out one.
Anderson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk, and McDannold finished at 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI to lead Southeast.
Carpenter went 4-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to pave the way for ISU. The Sycamores outhit the Redhawks, 18-7.
Additionally, Southeast left 11 runners on base.
Indiana State 9, Southeast Missouri 5 (8 innings)
Indiana State pushed across four runs in the top of the eighth inning to get by Southeast Missouri, 9-5, in the nightcap.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Holland was placed on second base and went to third on an ensuing single by Kelsey Montgomery. After Erika Crissman struck out, Montgomery stole second. Carpenter followed with a single and Holland scored. Stone reached on an ensuing bunt single and Carpenter and Montgomery were able to score. Turitto's double to left center capped the inning, as ISU went ahead, 9-5.
The Sycamores trailed 5-3 heading into the top of the seventh and were down to their last out when pinch-hitter Brooke Riemenschneider dropped in a single just inside the first base line. Anderson bobbled the ball on the play, and as a result, Cavin and Klopp scored to tie the game.
Southeast scored twice in both the first and fourth innings and once in the second en route to its 5-3 advantage.
Madeiline Krumrey (2-3) went the distance, striking out four and walking two. Krumrey also allowed 13 hits and nine runs.
Lockwood (6-7) earned the win, giving up just two hits in 4.2 scoreless innings. She struck out three and walked one, as well.
ISU registered 13 hits, including six in its final two innings.
Defensively, Southeast committed a season-high five errors.
Anderson, Savannah Carpenter and Meaghan Touchette led the Redhawks with two hits each in game two.
Southeast returns to Ohio Valley Conference action with a doubleheader at Tennessee Tech Saturday.
DAYTON 2, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1; DAYTON 10, EASTERN KENTUCKY 9
DAYTON, Ohio - Host Dayton took both games of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon over the Eastern Kentucky University softball team, including a marathon 12-inning affair in the second game. The Flyers won by scores of 2-1 and 10-9.
Eastern Kentucky (11-14) grabbed the early lead in both games, but could not hold on in either contest.
In game one, the Colonels struck first in the opening inning thanks to junior Sarah Fobbs’ RBI double. EKU had a chance to put up more runs in the first only to see Dayton (15-9) pitcher Kayla English escape a bases-loaded jam.
Dayton evened the score in the third inning behind Natalie Mariano’s solo home run. The Flyers proceeded to score the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the ensuing inning.
The Colonels stranded seven runners on base including two more in the fifth inning and one in the final frame.
The second game was the longest game played by a Colonel team in almost four years (May 8, 2011 – 12 innings). EKU never trailed until Dayton scored the game-winner in the bottom of the 12th inning.
Fobbs went 4-for-6 at the plate in game two with a home run and four RBIs. The left fielder put Eastern ahead in the first inning with her fourth homer of the season, a two-run blast to left center.
The Colonels scored four more runs in the second and two in the fourth to extend their cushion to 8-4.
However, the Flyers slowly fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. EKU was one out away from the win when Kayla Haberstich came up with an RBI single to send the game to extra innings.
Both teams scored a run in the eighth to make the score, 9-9. Dayton finally ended the three-hour game when Mariano notched a bases-loaded RBI single in the 12th inning.
Five other Colonels besides Fobbs had multiple hits, highlighted by freshman Sarah Jackson, who had two hits and three RBIs.
Eastern Kentucky will play its first home game of the spring this coming Saturday, March 21 against preseason OVC favorite SIUE. Game one of the doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
AUSTIN PEAY 8, EASTERN ILLINOIS 7; EASTERN ILLINOIS 12, AUSTIN PEAY 0 (5)
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University and Eastern Illinois University split their Ohio Valley Conference opening doubleheader, Wednesday afternoon at Cheryl Holt Field, with the Lady Govs taking the opener 8-7, while the Panthers came out on top in the nightcap, 12-0 in five innings.
In Game 1, after Eastern Illinois (6-12, 1-1 OVC) had taken a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Bailey O’Dell in the top of the first inning, Austin Peay (2-13, 1-1 OVC) took advantage of some early wildness by EIU starter Michelle Rogers --who didn’t record an out -- in giving up two hits, two walks and hit batter in giving up four runs.
Vinchenza DiBenedetto and Allie Blackwood picked up RBIs in the inning after being hit with the bases loaded, while Mel Pavel picked up the other RBI in the inning with a single.
The Lady Govs would add three more runs in the bottom of the second inning, all coming on a home run by Niya Sparks – her third of the season – to go up 7-1.
The score would remain that way until the top of the fifth inning, when O’Dell blasted a three run homer to cut APSU’s lead to 7-4.
Katie Watson and Taylor Miokovic picked up RBIs in the top of the sixth for EIU to make it 7-6, but Austin Peay would answer back in the bottom of the inning with a run on a sacrifice fly by Pavel to make it a two-run game, 8-6.
The Panthers would threaten in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on a passed ball, and have the tying run of third, but Heather Norris got Tori Johnson on strikes to end the game.
Blackwood (1-2) picked up the win, while Norris earned her first save of the season.
In Game 2, Eastern Illinois used three four-run innings to put the game away in five innings, 12-0.
The Panthers would get RBI hits from O’Dell, Hannah Cole, Hannah Rachor and Ashlynne Paul in the first inning, to go up 4-0, with O’Dell picking up four more RBIs in the top of fourth on a grand slam homer.
Miokovic and Paul had two RBIs each for EIU in the fifth inning to close out the scoring.
The two teams will close out their series on Thursday with a single game, starting at noon.
TENNESSEE TECH 8, SAMFORD 7; TENNESSEE TECH 10, SAMFORD 5
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Unbelievable doesn't even come close to describing it. For all intents and purposes the game was over. The Tennessee Tech softball team trailed 7-0 going into the top of the seventh inning in Wednesday's opener of a non-conference doubleheader at Samford.
Conventional thinking for the team cast in purple in gold would have been to chalk it up as a loss, and look to salvage a split at the hands of a Samford club that entered the twin bill an impressive 8-1 at home. Then again let's be real…there was nothing conventional about this.
A comeback for the ages doesn't even do it justice, but when the dust finally settled in the top of the seventh inning, eight Golden Eagles had dented home plate and Tennessee Tech had pulled off one its greatest comebacks in school history. Tech somehow, someway, captured the day's opening contest 8-7.
And for good measure…they won the second game as well.
Trailing by a touchdown entering the final frame, the Golden Eagles (15-11, 2-1) went to work. Sophomore Alyssa Richards began the seventh with a walk, which was promptly followed by a Cortney Fry single that ended up advancing pinch-runner Christian Gibbs to third, while Fry took second on the throw.
Now with a little bit of momentum in the holster, sophomore Kelly Kennedy kept the line moving thanks to an RBI single to center, scoring Gibbs and moving Fry to third to make it a 7-1 affair. Freshman Rachel Karlan followed the Kennedy knock with one of her own, doubling down the left field line to bring home Fry with the second run of the inning, and keep the rally going with runners on second and third with still no one out.
Samford (18-10) sophomore Rebecca Leonard would induce sophomore Gabby Perez on a pop up for the first out of the inning, but that didn't deter the Golden Eagles as junior Madison Taylor coaxed a walk to load up the bases for senior Angi Sakamoto.
The Waipahu, Hawaii native did not disappoint, roping a single to right center that allowed Kennedy to score to cut the count to 7-3, and bring the tying run to the plate in the form of senior Hannah Eldridge.
Karlan stood firmly on third. Taylor sat atop the bag at second. Sakamoto was stationed at first. Bases chalk full of Golden Eagles for the dangerous Eldridge, who came into the tilt second on the club with a .357 batting average.
After a strike from Leonard made the count 0-1, Eldridge came through.
In grand fashion.
The senior second baseman soared one over the center field wall, tying the game with the sport's most exciting play, a grand slam. The dramatic round tripper gives Eldridge four home runs on the season, already doubling up the Fayetteville, Tenn. native's two from a year ago.
With the score now deadlocked at 7-7, junior Olivia Bennett helped ensure that the heroic comeback wouldn't be all for not, as the 5-foot-4 outfielder smacked a single to center off of new Samford arm Mollie Hanson (9-5) to put the go-ahead and potential winning run at first. Alyssa Richards, who had already reached on a walk to begin the inning, followed Bennett's single with a double down the right field line that was able to bring Bennett all the way around from first to push Tech to an 8-7 lead.
When it was all said and done, the Golden Eagles sent 12 to the plate in the top of the seventh, scoring eight runs on seven hits.
There was still work to be done though, and it would be senior Erica Tuck's job to do it. The 5-foot-9 hurler entered the contest back in the bottom of the fifth, and after giving up a two-run home run to the first batter she faced, Tuck (1-1) had settled down rather nicely.
The Maryville, Tenn. native struck out junior Caroline Wilder to end the fifth, and then navigated through a scoreless sixth.
Trouble brewed to begin the seventh though after Tuck walked sophomore Abby Sweeney, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch with no one down in the inning. A precarious spot with the tying run in scoring position, but Tuck was up to the tumultuous task after she was able to set down the next three Bulldogs in order to preserve a win that will stand firmly in Golden Eagle lore.
The victory was the first of the season for Tuck, while Mollie Hanson was hit with the loss despite tossing five shutout innings as a starter, before coming back into the game with one out in the seventh and surrendering the go-ahead run.
The Houdini-esque comeback victory has been a trend for this year's Tech bunch, with Wednesday's game one thriller marking the third time already this season that the Golden Eagles have won a game in which they were trailing after six innings. Down 3-0 heading into the top of the seventh on Feb. 21 against North Carolina A&T, Tech plated six in the frame to take a 6-3 win, and on Mar. 7 the Golden Eagles scored three times in the seventh to seize a 3-2 victory at ETSU.
The momentum from Wednesday's first game carried right into the day's second tilt, and Angi Sakamoto wasted no time in proving that. The lefty-swinging outfielder led off the contest with a solo home run, one of three clubbed in the ball game for the Golden Eagles as part of a Tech hit brigade that produced a season-high tying 14 hits, seven of which were of the extra base variety.
One of the three TTU bombs came courtesy from Kelly Kennedy, a two-run shot that broke a 2-2 third inning tie after Samford plated two in the bottom of the first on a two-run Shelby Maze single, before Tech came back to knot things up on a bases loaded walk by Cortney Fry in the top of the second. The Kennedy round tripper was the first in the Golden Eagle career for the Plainfield, Ill. native.
TTU would go on to pad its lead with a three-spot in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Madison Taylor, and a two-run two-bagger from freshman Callen Griffin to extend the Tech margin to 7-2.
The Bulldogs came right back in the bottom of the frame with a three-spot of their own, using an Abby Sweeney RBI single and a Callie Brister two-run knock to cut the deficit to 7-5.
The Golden Eagles weren't fazed by Samford's comeback bid, with Tech essentially putting the game on ice with three more runs in the top of the seventh. Madison Taylor capped off a stellar game with a two-run dinger to center field for the Mt. Juliet, Tenn. native's second extra-base hit of the contest, before Hannah Eldridge officially wrapped up the day's scoring with an RBI double to left center.
Eldridge, Taylor, Richards, Kennedy, and freshman Bayli Cruse all had multi-hit affairs in the second game, with Cruse setting the bar with a 3-for-4 showing.
Junior Hannah Weaver (6-4) collected the win, allowing five runs (two earned) in four and two-thirds innings, while freshman Taylor Waldrop looked sharp in her relief outing with two and a thirds scoreless. Bulldog sophomore Grey Adams (6-2) was tagged with her second loss of the season after giving up four runs in three innings of work.
The Golden Eagles will get back to their Ohio Valley Conference schedule over the weekend, returning home for a pair of doubleheaders. On Saturday Tech will clash with Southeast Missouri for a twin bill beginning at 12 p.m. CT, before locking up with UT Martin for a Sunday double dip starting at 12 p.m.
UT MARTIN 14, EVANSVILLE 11; UT MARTIN 5, EVANSVILLE 1
MARTIN, Tenn. - While not being known for her power, sophomore Carly Gonzales flexed her muscles while breaking a pair of University of Tennessee at Martin softball records with three home runs and seven RBIs in a 14-11 victory over Evansville. In part two of the home opening series, the Skyhawks posted a 5-1 victory to earn a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (12-10, 1-1 OVC) slugged 23 hits while scoring 19 runs and bashing four home runs to protect Bettye Giles Field. Gonzales and Kenzi Tate led all players with four hits on the day while seniors Kelsey Dixon and Lauren Smith each tallied three hits. Gonzales tallied three home runs on the day along with notching seven RBIs while Tate hit one home run and drove in four.
While the bats were certainly alive, the Skyhawk pitching core left something to be imagined in Game One, allowing 10 earned runs. Tate (2-2) earned the start and the victory in Game One after allowing six earned runs in four innings of work while striking out four. Elizabeth Wiegand picked up her first career save with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, preserving the 14-11 victory.
While Game One was an offensive juggernaut, Game Two saw an impressive pitching performance from Casey Vincent. Vincent (2-3) tossed seven innings while striking out six and allowing just one earned run on the evening.
It was good to finally play at home. We’ve had games rained out, snowed out, even had our home tournament cancelled so the girls were excited to finally play at home,” said UT Martin head coach Donley Canary. “Today was definitely an offensive explosive with both teams combining to hit eight home runs. I haven’t seen that many homers in one game in a long time, but we needed every run we could get.
Game One: UT Martin 14, Evansville 11
UT Martin would waste little time making its presence known in the team’s 2015 home opener. Gonzales would lead off the inning with a single to right field before Samantha McClure reached base on a bunt single, advancing Gonzales to third. After McClure would reach scoring position following a stolen base, Tate would launch a three-run home run to left field, giving the Skyhawks an early advantage.
Lauren Smith would notch a single to center before being pulled for pinch runner Chelsey Smith with one out. A pair of stolen bases, sandwiched between a walk to Dixon, would put the duo on second and third before bring around the pair on separate passed balls.
Gonzales would begin her record-setting contest with her first home run of the game in the second inning, pulling a home run to right center, giving the Skyhawks a 6-0 advantage.
The Skyhawks would keep their foot on the gas pedal in the bottom of the third, scoring another five runs to hold an 11-0 lead. Dixon would draw her second walk of the contest before swiping her second base and scoring following a double to right center from Kayla Blanco and a bunt single from Aeron Smith. Later in the inning with the bases load, Gonzales would strike for her second home run of the game, this one a grand slam – the first of her career.
Evansville would begin its comeback in the top of the fourth inning despite trailing by 11 runs. Danielle Freeman would notch her first home run of the day with a solo blast to centerfield, putting the Purple Aces on the board. The Aces would strike again a couple batters later as Abbi Fahse hit a three-run home run to cut into the lead at 11-4.
The Purple Aces would post another big inning in the top of the fifth as back-to-back hits would bring a run across to score off an RBI single from Freeman. The visitors’ third home run of the contests would come off the bat of Mariah Ferguson to left, plating two runs.
UT Martin would answer with the margin cut to four by putting three runs on the board themselves. Pinch hitter Jodie Duncan would lead off the fifth with a double to left field before seeing Aeron Smith re-enter to run the bases.
After advancing to third following a sacrifice bunt, Aeron Smith could walk the final steps to home as Gonzales launched her record-breaking third home run of the contest over the centerfield wall. The home run moved Gonzales into sole possession of the single-game home run mark with three, passing the program’s 11 previous record holders with two. Along with the home runs, Gonzales drove in a single-game record seven runs, breaking the previous record held by the trio of Ashley Benbow, Justine Pineda and Emily Webb.
Evansville would make a last ditch effort in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs – including a home run from Morgan Lambert. From there Wiegand would enter the contest and extinguish the threat, earning her first career save, 14-11.
Game Two: UT Martin 5, Evansville 1
Evansville would look to do something they never accomplished in Game One, which was hold a lead. After seeing their first two hitters be retired in order, the Purple Aces saw Freeman bash her fifth home run of the year and second of the day with a blast to right field, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Skyhawks would answer in the bottom of the fourth, seeing McClure lead off the inning by being struck by a pitch. Tate would bring McClure around to score on the ensuing at bat, stroking a hopper into the right field gap for an RBI triple before scoring herself on a single up the middle from Alicia Hansen. The third run of the inning would eventually score following a double steal of second and home.
With a two run lead, the Skyhawks would add their final insurance in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Tate would stroke a leadoff single through the left side before advancing to second on an infield single. Dixon would bring her classmate around to score on a single up the middle to take a four run lead. The final blow would come off a pinch hit single up the middle from Blanco to push the lead to its final resting place of 5-1.
UT Martin will return to action this weekend with a pair of Ohio Valley Conference road trips to Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech.
LIPSCOMB 13, TENNESSEE STATE 1; LIPSCOMB 10, TENNESSEE STATE 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee State dropped a pair of games to Lipscomb on Wednesday. Recap coming soon.