SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Kentucky 10, Morehead State 0 (5)
@Jacksonville State 6, Tennessee State 1
SIUE 8, @Southeast Missouri 4
Austin Peay 6, @UT Martin 3
@Tennessee Tech 9, Belmont 8
Belmont 9, @Tennessee Tech 5
@Eastern Illinois 3, Murray State 1
@Eastern Illinois 7, Murray State 6
EASTERN KENTUCKY 10, MOREHEAD STATE 0
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team wrapped up its three-game set against Morehead State with a resounding 10-0 win Sunday afternoon at Gertrude Hood Field.
The Colonels (14-18, 5-4 OVC) batted around in both the first and second innings to put the Eagles (11-14, 3-4) in a huge 8-0 hole.
Eastern lit up the scoreboard first behind sophomore Amber Murray’s two-run single up the middle in the bottom of the first inning. Two batters later, senior Shannon McQueen came through with an RBI single to make the score 3-0 after the first frame.
In the second inning, four Colonels notched RBIs to help the home squad stretch the lead to 8-0. Freshman Taylor Stewart capped the big inning with her first collegiate hit, a single to left center, which scored two EKU runners.
Senior pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger (6-7) improved to 2-1 against OVC opponents thanks to tossing her fourth shutout of the season. Pittsenbarger struck out seven and held the Eagles to just three singles in five innings of work.
McQueen equaled her personal best with three hits for the second time this year. The third baseman finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Murray and Stewart also recorded two RBIs while leadoff hitter Krislyn Campos scored two runs.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, TENNESSEE STATE 1
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Freshman Whitney Gillespie went the distance in the circle and went 2-for-3 at the plate to lift the Jacksonville State softball team to a 6-1 win and the series sweep over Tennessee State on Sunday.
The Gamecocks (23-8, 7-0 Ohio Valley Conference) used a four-run fourth that was sparked by a Gillespie homer to pull away from the Tigers (9-21, 2-8 OVC) for their third win of the weekend.
The Tigers were able to get on the board against the Gamecocks for the first time since 2013, snapping a string of six-straight shutouts by JSU in the series. Their run crossed with two outs in the third, snapping a streak of 43.1 consecutive scoreless innings by Gamecock pitchers against TSU.
Gillespie, a native of Pelham, Ala., homered to lead off the big fourth inning and singled in the sixth for her two hits at the plate. In the circle, she held TSU to a run on five hits, while striking out four in her seven inning outing that improved her to 8-3 on the year.
Junior Ella Denes also had a pair of hits, including a double and two runs scored, for the Gamecocks. Sophomore Taylor Sloan drove in two runs on a double in that fourth-inning rally.
Denes got JSU's first hit on a bloop single to right in the second and then scored the game's first run on a Cadi Oliver double to left center. She scored from first on the one-out line drive to the gap and gave the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers got on the board in the third, their first run against JSU in two years, after three singles set up a double steal that saw Courtney Gearlds take second and Tayler Shimizu come home on the throw. The run snapped a streak of 43.1 consecutive scoreless innings for JSU pitching against the Tigers and tied the game at 1-1.
The Gamecocks reclaimed the lead in the fourth, thanks to Gillespie's leadoff homer that drifted over the wall in right. Her opposite field solo shot was followed by a rope double to the left center gap by Denes that chased TSU starter Amber Galyon from the circle.
The Gamecocks welcomed reliever Jasmine Matchen to the circle by loading the bases to set up a two-run double from Taylor Sloan that made it a 4-1 JSU lead. Stephanie Lewis followed with a sac fly that plated Savannah Sloan and made it a 5-1 JSU advantage.
The Gamecocks scored their final run in the sixth on Gillespie's second hit of the game. The single up the middle was bobbled by Gearlds in center, allowing Jordan Bullock to score and put the deciding 6-1 score on the board.
Galyon (2-8) suffered the loss in the circle after surrendering three runs on four hits in three innings of work. Matchen allowed two runs on three hits in two innings, while Taylor Green gave up an unearned run on a pair of hits in the seventh inning.
Danica Gleason went 2-for-2 to pace the TSU offense, while Shimizu had a hit and scored the Tigers' lone run of the series.
SIUE 8, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Four home runs, including two from Alex McDavid, aided SIUE softball in its 8-4 win Sunday at Southeast Missouri.
The Cougars won their 10th game in a row and swept the three-game series with the Redhawks. SIUE improved to 27-6 overall and 9-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference while Southeast Missouri dropped to 5-17 overall and 2-7 in the OVC.
SIUE finished with 13 hits overall Sunday and hit .414 in the series against the Redhawks.
McDavid's first home run of the game, a second-inning solo shot, was the 200th hit of her collegiate career. The senior from Suwanee, Georgia, is now the ninth player in school history to pass 200 hits.
The home run was SIUE's first run of the game as the Cougars fell behind early, allowing three runs in the first inning against the Redhawks.
SIUE took the lead for good in the second inning with a four-run rally that included McDavid's home run, a two-run homer by Jordan LaFave, and Haley Chambers scoring off a Rebecca Gray bunt single.
Chambers would go the distance for her OVC-leading 16th win of the season. Chambers struck out four and allowed six hits. Madeline Krumrey, 3-6, took the loss for Southeast Missouri.
SIUE's offense would score in four different innings. Tess Eby recorded an RBI off a fielder's choice with the bases loaded in the third inning.
Chambers hit her sixth home run of the season in the fourth inning with a one-out blast to right field.
McDavid added insurance runs in the top of the seventh on her second home run of the day. Her third hit of the game was with Samantha Jones on base.
Her second home run of the day was the 20th in her collegiate career. She became the fifth player in school history to pass the 20 home run mark with Erin Newman (44 in 1999-02), Jenny Esker (29 in 2001-04), Sarah Sollberger (20 in 1998-99
TENNESSEE TECH 9, BELMONT 8; BELMONT 9, TENNESSEE TECH 5
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont softball used hot hitting to earn a split on the afternoon as the Bruins overcame a heart wrenching, 9-8, loss in the opening contest against Tennessee Tech (19-15, 6-4 OVC) to defeat the Golden Eagles, 9-4, Sunday afternoon at the final two contests of the three-game, divisional series at the Tech Softball Field.
GAME 1: TTU 9, Belmont 8
Belmont trailed Tennessee Tech, 3-0, through the first three innings of play in the day's opening contest of the doubleheader before the Bruins were able to light up the scoreboard for the first time on the weekend after an RBI double from freshman Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) allowed Amanda Crisicione (Upland, Calif.) to cross home plate.
TTU tallied a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings in order to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 7-1, heading into the top of seventh.
Belmont rallied in a big way in its final chance as the Bruins' bats helped the visitors tally seven runs off seven hits. The offensivey display was highlighted by a grand slam from sophomore Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.), as BU took a 8-7 advantage heading into the home half of the seventh. The slam was Deloney's third homer of the year.
TTU responded when a two-RBI double down the left field line plated the game-winning runs as the Golden Eagles prevailed, 9-8.
Deloney led a balanced offensive attack that recorded 12 runs on the outing as the catcher finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Two other Bruins recorded three hits as senior Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Tex.) finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and Andree finished 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.
GAME 2: Belmont 9, TTU 5
TTU used a single shot to centerfield in the first inning as the Golden Eagles took the early, 1-0, advantage over the Bruins.
The lethal freshman duo of Jess Andree and Ally Bessette (Bryan, Tex.) revved up the Bruins' offense in the top of the second as Andree tied the game off an RBI single and Bessette gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead with a two RBI double to centerfield.
Belmont's upperclassmen got into the mix shortly after as junior Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) drove in Bessette on a single to third base and senior outfielder Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) drove in a pair with a double to right center field as the Bruins upped their advantage, 6-1.
BU finished the second by plating three more runs as Deloney added another big swing when a two-RBI single drove in both Wilson and Hollingsworth and sophomore Kate Black (Knoxville, Tenn.) crossed home plate on a TTU passed ball as Belmont took a commanding, 9-1, advantage over the Golden Eagles.
Tennessee Tech used a pair of homers to inch closer as TTU's Sabrie Neeb hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the second and a solo home run to centerfield by Griffin in the fourth to draw to within five, 9-4.
Tech added another run in the bottom of the seventh but that Bruins were able to hold and earn the split on the afternoon, 9-5.
As a team, Belmont recorded 14 hits, led by Jordan Daly (Humble, Tex.) who finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Three other Bruins recorded a pair of hits as Amy Zeronian (Pasedena, Calif.) finished 2-for-3 while Kirbie Ferrell and Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) both finished 2-for-4.
After being shutout on a four-hit outing in yesterday's series-opening defeat to the Golden Eagles, the Bruins plated 17 runs over the two games Sunday on a combined 26 hits.
BU's Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) earned her team-leading fourth victory of the year as the right-hander threw five innings, allowing four runs with one strikeout.
AUSTIN PEAY 6, UT MARITN 3
MARTIN, Tenn. - – Just one day after recording a pair of program milestones, the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team could not overcome a balanced threat from Austin Peay in the series finale - dropping the 6-3 decision.
The Skyhawks (15-14, 4-5 OVC) posted a pair of milestones on Saturday, seeing the program notch its 700th career victory while head coach Donley Canary continued to blaze new trails atop the coaching leaderboard at UT Martin, picking up his 450th win.
With the glitz and glam of Saturday in the rear-view mirror, the Skyhawks would battle back to tie the game in the second inning before being held scoreless in the final five frames. Despite being outhit 9-8 on the day, Kacie Daugherty and Kelsey Dixon paced the home squad with two hits each. The senior duo of Dixon and Lauren Smith would each tally an RBI in the contest.
Three pitchers would see action in the circle for the Skyhawks while senior Casey Vincent (3-5) earned the hard fought loss in the contest. Vincent lasted three innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out a pair. Elizabeth Wiegand also tossed three innings of relief while allowing one earned run. Brooke Kennedy held the Lady Govs hitless in her one inning of work.
Austin Peay (6-19, 3-7 OVC) would pick up the victory due in large part to the play of Chandler Groves with two hits and a pair of RBIs. Erica Inagaki and Courtney Brower also tallied a pair of hits on the day. Natalie Ayala picked up her third win of the season after allowing three earned runs and eight base hits.
The Lady Govs would come out of the gates with a boom, as Groves got the game started with a leadoff home run which cleared the scoreboard in left field, giving the visiting squad an early 1-0 advantage.
The visiting squad would push its lead out to three runs in the top of the second inning. The first two batters of the inning would reach base following an error and a bunt single before moving into scoring position following a ground out. The Lady Govs would tally a pair of runs in the inning with a single to left from Brower before Groves brought the third run home off a sacrifice fly to right field.
UT Martin would look to storm back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring the contest’s equalizing runs. The first four Skyhawk hitters would reach base to start the inning, including a walk and a trio of singles from Alicia Hansen, Dixon and Jodie Duncan to plate a run. Smith would later bring the second run home following a pinch hit sacrifice fly, scoring Hansen on the play. Shifty baserunning, including a pickle and fleet feet by Dixon, would result in the third run crossing the plate prior to the final tag being placed.
The Lady Govs would respond in the following half inning by retaking their advantage of an RBI single to right center from Morgan Hoeg to score Christiana Gable on the play and taking a 4-3 lead.
Austin Peay would put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth inning, pushing its margin out to three runs. The Lady Govs would notch a single from Inagaki through the left side to notch the team’s fifth run before ending the days scoring following an errant throw compounded with a wild pitch.
UT Martin will return to action on Tuesday, March 31 with a trip to Southeastern Conference opponent Ole Miss. Action from Oxford, Miss. is scheduled to get underway at 5 p.m.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, MURRAY STATE 1; EASTERN ILLINOIS 7, MURRAY STATE 6
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Murray State softball team dropped a pair of tough losses at Eastern Illinois Sunday, 3-1 and 7-6, at Williams Field in Charleston.
In game one, Jeanette Isaac led off the third for Eastern Illinois (10-15, 5-4 OVC) with a seemingly innocent walk that later proved to be trouble for MSU (17-12, 4-5 OVC). After Bailey O’Dell pushed Isaac to third with a double, Andrea Roberts broke the 0-0 tie with a RBI single. Two batters later, Katie Watson drew a bases loaded walk from CheyAnne Gaskey to score O’Dell for a 2-0 Panthers lead.
In the fifth, Alexa Becker led off the inning with a walk and was advanced to second on a bunt single from Ramsey. Later in the inning, Jocelynn Rodgers came up with a RBI single to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. However, in the bottom of the fifth a lead-off walk once again came back to bite MSU, as Roberts was scored on a single from Haylee Beck to seal the 3-1 win.
Becker finished the game by going 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and a run, while Ramsey and Rodgers were each 2-for-3. Gaskey took the loss for the Racers to fall to 8-6 after giving up three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and five walks. Haven Campbell pitched 1.2 innings of relief and allowed no runs on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts.
In game two, the Racers came out of the gates on fire. Alexa Becker started off the first with a double and was then scored on a single from Jessica Twaddle for the early 1-0 lead. In the second, Mo Ramsey scored two on a single and was followed by an RBI double from twaddle to push the lead to 4-0. Murray State scored two more in the third on a two-error play by EIU to make it 6-0.
However, just when it looked the game was over, the Panthers came storming back with four runs in the fifth. Bailey O’Dell drove in two runs with a double and was followed by a two-RBI single from Hannah Cole to cut the deficit to 6-4.
In the sixth, Eastern Illinois started the frame with four straight hits to cut the lead to 6-5, followed by a bases loaded hit by pitch to the tie the game at six all. After Kylie Bennett was thrown out at home, Bailey O’Dell launched a sacrifice fly that scored Haylee Beck for the would-be winning run.
Despite a Ramsey single in the top of the seventh, the Racers could get nothing working and fell, 7-6. Rodgers led Murray State in the contest at 3-for-4 while Becker, Ramsey and Twaddle all followed at 2-for-4.
Haven Campbell took the loss for MSU by allowing three runs on four hits with three walks in 0.1 innings. Francis was solid in relief for the Racers giving up no hits and no runs over a complete inning.