SATURDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 5, Dayton 0
Southeast Missouri 9, Tennessee State 1 (5)
Southeast Missouri 17, Jarvis Christian 2
@Belmont 7, UMKC 6
@Belmont 2, UMBC 1
UT Martin 8, Coppin State 0 (5)
UT Martin 5, Army 3
Jacksonville State 7, Central Arkansas 2
@South Alabama 1,
Jacksonville State 0
Austin Peay 12, South Carolina State 2
Austin Peay 9, @Kennesaw State 1
Middle Tennessee 5, Tennessee Tech 3
@Georgia Southern 8,
Tennessee Tech 7
SIUE 4, Prairie View 1
Tennessee State 8, @Jackson State 5
Morehaed State 6, @Kennesaw State 0
Miami (Ohio) 6,
Eastern Illinois 2
Eastern Illinois 10, IUPUI 0 (5)
SIUE 2, ULM 1 (10)
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, TENNESSEE STATE 1; SOUTEHAST MISSOURI 17, JARVIS CHRISTIAN 2
JACKSON, Miss. - Southeast Missouri (2-0) opened its season with a pair of victories at the Jackson State Tournament Saturday.
SEMO beat fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State, 9-1, and Jarvis Christian College, 17-2, each in five-inning contests.
The Redhawks chased TSU starter Erica O'Kane after two-thirds of an inning.
Mykaela Arellanes hit the game's first pitch for a double and scored on an ensuing two-run home run by freshman Rachel Anderson. Anderson's home run came on the first pitch of her at-bat, as well.
Darby Pruett kept the rally going with a two-out double to left center and Parker Bandy added a single to score pinch-runner Nicole Deering. Bandy later touched home on a single by Riley Hayes to put the Redhawks ahead, 4-0, in the top of the first inning.
SEMO tacked on another two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take down the Tigers.
Arellanes and Anderson both delivered two-out RBI-doubles in the fourth.
An inning later, Brooke Rheinecker scored when Pruett grounded out to first, and Abby Tillotson knocked in two runs on a single up the middle to close out the 9-1 victory.
Madeline Krumrey (1-0) picked up the win in her opening day start. Krumrey struck out two and gave up one run on three hits in three innings.
Newcomer Alexis Estes threw two scoreless innings behind Krumrey.
O'Kane (0-1) took the loss for TSU.
Offensively, SEMO registered 12 hits with Arellanes, Anderson, Pruett and Bandy getting two apiece. Arellanes and Anderson combined for four hits, three runs scored, three doubles, a home run and four RBIs at the top of the lineup.
TSU had only three hits and scored its only run in the bottom of the second inning.
AUSTIN PEAY 12, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 2; AUSTIN PEAY 9, KENNESAW STATE 1
KENNESAW, Ga. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team opened its 2017 regular season with two wins, Saturday at Bailey Park, in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament with the Govs defeating South Carolina State 12-2 – in five innings – before handling Kennesaw State, 9-1.
The two wins mark the first time since the start of the 2007 season the Govs had opened a campaign with back-to-back victories, while also extending its current streak of season-opening wins to six.
In Game 1, Austin Peay would get out early, 1-0, with Cassidy Hale driving in Kacy Acree with a two-out double in the bottom of the first inning, the first of four RBIs in the contest for the freshman.
South Carolina State (0-3) would tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, with an unearned run, but Austin Peay responded with four runs in the top of the third inning to retake the lead for good.
Highlighting the four-run third for the Govs was a long two-run homer to left field by Hale and an RBI single by Acree. The other APSU run came in via a Bulldogs error.
That would be all the runs that Austin Peay starter Autumn Hanners (1-0) would need, as she limited South Carolina State to two hits and two base on balls in four innings of work, while striking out two.
The Govs would extend their lead to 8-2 in the top of the fourth, with three more runs, two coming on back-to-back sacrifice flies by Danielle Liermann and Hale and the other on a double by Carley Mattson.
Austin Peay would close out the games scoring with four more runs in the top of the fifth inning, with Erica Inagaki picking up and RBI single and Acree blasting a three-run homer just inside the right field foul pole for the 12-2 final margin.
In Game 2, the Govs would get off to a slow start versus Kennesaw State (2-1) – only collecting one hit over the first four innings and trailing the Owls 1-0.
But Austin Peay would explode for five hits – including three home runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead for good.
Mattson would lead off the inning with a home run the center field to tie the game 1-1, followed two hitters later by another solo shot over the center field fence by Kendall Vedder.
Inagaki would then double to center and move to third on an infield single by Arkansas.
That brought up Acree, who hammered her second three-run homer of the day to make it 5-1.
Govs starter Kelsey Gross (1-0) would make the lead hold up, as the freshman only allowed two base hits over the final three innings to pick up her first collegiate win – scattering seven hits overall, while striking out two and walking two.
Austin Peay would add to its lead with two more runs in the sixth – in Mattson’s second home run of the game – while closing out the day with two runs in the seventh, including an RBI double by Allie Blackwood.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 7, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 2; SOUTH ALABAMA 1, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0
MOBILE, Ala. - Jacksonville State rolled to a 7-2 win over Central Arkansas and dropped a 1-0 pitchers' duel to South Alabama on the second day of the Sand Dollar Classic.
The Gamecocks (3-1) scored one run in every inning in their second win over the Bears (0-4) in two days, while the host Jaguars (4-0) edged JSU and ace Whitney Gillespie in the nightcap at Jaguar Field.
JSU jumped on UCA and opened up a 6-0 lead before the Bears could get on the board against senior Taylor West. West (2-0) limited UCA to two runs on two hits and struck out eight to earn her second win in as many starts in the young 2017 season.
Fellow senior Jamie McGuire sparked the JSU offensive fireworks in the win, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer and three RBI against the Bears staff. Her and sophomore Anna Chisolm each recorded three of the Gamecocks' 12 hits in the game, while senior Stephanie Lewis and junior Leila Chambers each had two. JSU had four doubles in the game, two by Chisolm.
Nicole Fullilove (0-1) suffered the loss for UCA after surrendering three runs on four hits in two innings of work. She struck out four and walked five JSU batters.
In the most anticipated game of the three-day tournament, the host Jaguars were able to get a run across on Gillespie (1-1) in the home half of the fourth and hold off the Gamecocks. Devin Brown (2-0) earned the win with her complete-game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out 12 in the seven innings of work.
Freshman Alexus Jimmerson had half of JSU's four hits in three at bats, while senior Cadi Oliver and McGuire had the others.
Gillespie allowed just three hits in her six innings in the circle, but two of them came in that fourth inning. MC Nichols used an infield single to get on and scored on a single from Abby Krzywiecki to put the only run of the game on the board.
The Gamecocks wrap up the weekend on Sunday against Houston Baptist at 12:30 p.m.
UT MARTIN 8, COPPIN STATE 0; UT MARTIN 5, ARMY 3
HAMMOND, La. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team posted another impressive showing on Day Two of the Lion Classic hosted by Southeastern Louisiana, picking up a pair of victory against Coppin State (8-0) and Army (5-3) on Saturday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (3-0) remained undefeated on the season behind a balanced offensive attack and strong pitching performances. As a whole, the squad posted a .381 batting average over the two games, tallying 16 hits, four doubles, a home run and 10 RBIs. In the pitcher’s circle, the squad notched a 1.75 ERA, allowing just three earned runs over 12 innings of work while holding opponents to a .182 batting average.
Sophomore Lauren Myers paced the Skyhawks with four base hits on the day while classmate Alli Fulcher joined in the action with three base knocks. The trio of Rachel Williams, Aeron Smith and Renate Meckl each notched two hits each. Williams led all players with five RBIs while Myers, Smith, Meckl, Jodie Duncan and Gracyn McBride each drove in a run.
Game 1: UT Martin 8, Coppin State 0 (Five innings)
UT Martin would waste little time getting on the scoreboard in the team’s first game of the day. Carly Gonzales would get the squad going by drawing a four-pitch walk before Myers reached base on a bunt single. Looking to move the two players into scoring position, Williams would lay down a sacrifice bunt to get the pair on second and third. Meckl then put the Skyhawks on the scoreboard with a RBI double to right center to score Gonzales. The pair of Myers and Meckl would later come around to score via a sacrifice fly and a RBI single by Duncan to take a 3-0 advantage.
The Skyhawks added to their lead in the second inning as Dodson led off the frame with a double into the left center gap before coming around to score on the following at-bat off an error. With Gonzales reaching base once again on the error, the senior would eventually come around to score on a double to left by Williams after swiping both second and third.
Playing as the home squad in the contest, the Skyhawks would score in their third consecutive inning with a pair of runs in the third. Fulcher would get the inning started with an infield single before coming around to score on a double to left off the bat of Smith. The junior catcher would stay aggressive on the basepaths as Smith ultimately gave the squad a 7-0 advantage by stealing home.
UT Martin would look to put the contest away early in the fifth inning. Freshman Gabby Zizzi would single to second before swiping second to move into scoring position on the following play. Later in the inning a bunt single by Myers would result in Zizzi scoring on the play following a throwing error. With the score, UT Martin took an 8-0 lead resulting the mercy rule to end the contest.
A pair of newcomers posted strong pitching performances in the contest. Sophomore Sara Hooten (1-0) notched her first career start by allowing just two hits in four scoreless innings of work. Hooten also struck out three while allowing just one walk. Freshman Samantha Scott appeared in relief, posting a scoreless inning of work.
Game 2: UT Martin 5, Army 3
Army would open the game’s scoring in the top of the second inning. After a simple groundout to start the inning, Madison Cole homered to left center to put the Golden Knights on top.
Facing its first deficit of the game, UT Martin would quickly respond in the bottom half of the second. Fulcher would lead off the inning with a single to left field before moving into scoring position following a sacrifice bunt by Smith. The Skyhawks would then benefit from back-to-back walks by Jessie Douglas and Dodson to load the bases. Myers would keep the bases loaded after notching a single to left field to score a run. With the bases still full, Williams would notch the first home run of her Skyhawk career with a grand slam to left field. Following the big offensive inning, the Skyhawks would hold a 5-1 advantage.
The Black Knights would look to get back into the contest in the top of the fifth inning. Still trailing by four runs, a double by Emily Ballesteros would cut into the margin before a groundout off the bat of Emily Gray trimmed the deficit to 5-3.
Army would look to look to find the equalizer in both the sixth and seventh innings. Despite tallying a pair of base hits, the Black Knights would leave a pair of runners on base in both innings before ultimately falling short.
Senior Brooke Kennedy (2-0) picked up her second win of the season after scattering six base hits over seven innings of work. Kennedy struck out five while allowing three earned runs.
UT Martin will look to complete a perfect appearance in the Lion Classic on Sunday, Feb. 12 when taking on Mississippi Valley State. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
MOREHEAD STATE 6, KENNESAW STATE 0
KENNESAW, Ga. - Junior Chelsea McManaway struck out 12 and the Eagles exploded for six late runs as they shut out Kennesaw State on their home field, 6-0.
With the win, the Eagles move to 2-1 on the young season.
Junior Robyn Leighton got the Eagles on the board with a solo home run in the top of the six, which would be plenty of run support for McManaway.
But, they extended their lead with two more in the sixth and then RBI doubles by senior Karly Thompson and junior Lindsay Ward in the seventh provided the final margin.
McManaway threw a complete game shutout in her first win as an Eagle. She allowed six hits and walked two, while striking out 12 in seven innings of work.
Thompson and sophomore Allison Rager both had multi-hit games for Morehead State.
The Eagles return to action tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. ET and will once again play host Kennesaw State.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, TENNESSEE STATE 1; TENNESSES STATE 8, JACKSON STATE 5
JACKSON, Miss. - Tennessee State used the long ball to earn a split on the second day of the Jackson State Tournament. The Tigers used home runs from Megan Huppee and Whitney Ennis to defeat the host Tigers 8-5 after dropping a five-inning contest to Ohio Valley Conference foe, Southeast Missouri, 9-1 on Saturday morning. TSU is now 2-1 to open the 2017 season.
In the nightcap, Huppee capped off a five-run first inning with a towering blast over the fence in left that also brought home Danica Gleason. The inning began with Selena Crafton singling to center and stealing second two pitches later. On the steal, the Jackson State catcher errantly threw the ball into left center allowing Crafton to score.
Courtney Gearlds reached on the second error of the inning by JSU and then stole second for her third swipe of the young season. Sarah Snell and Danica Gleason followed with back-to-back doubles, giving TSU an early 3-0 lead before Huppee’s bomb.
The Tigers were held to two hits through the next five innings, while JSU mounted a comeback with four runs in the third and the equalizer in the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the seventh with the score knotted at 5-5, Gleason reached on a fielder’s choice and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Two batters later, Maggie Syversen drove a ball up the middle chasing home Gleason to take a 6-5 advantage. The hit was the first of the career for Syversen after being denied in the third inning when JSU leftfielder Sierra Smith made a spectacular diving catch just inside the foul line.
Pinch runner Kierra Ware would score three pitches later as Ennis lifted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left making the score 8-5. The dinger was the first in the collegiate career for the junior who is in her second season in a Tiger uniform.
Tori Hart (1-0) entered the circle in the third inning in relief of starter Lauren Woodard and held JSU at bay to earn her first career win. The freshman hurler tossed the final 4.1 innings, allowing two hits, five walks, no earned runs and struck out five.
Snell led the Tigers at the plate with a pair of doubles and finished 3-for-3 with a walk.
Southeast Missouri jumped out to a fast start in the first game of the day with a double and a home run on the first two pitches thrown by Tiger starter, Erica O’Kane (0-1). The Redhawks would add two more runs in the first inning, chasing O’Kane from the game.
TSU tried to get back into the contest in the second inning as Gleason opened the frame with a double to right center. Two batters later, Gleason moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Cabrera, who entered in place of O’Kane in the circle.
Emma Colegrove would make the sacrifice pay off with a single to center plating Gleason. TSU cut the lead to 5-1 and tried to add to the comeback by loading the bases in the third with one out. But SEMO would end the Tigers threat and went on to add two runs of their own in the fourth off Cabrera and three in the fifth off Lauren Powell for the 9-1 advantage.
TSU will close out the tournament with a rematch with the host, Jackson State, on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.
MIAMI (OHIO) 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2; EASTERN ILLINOIS 10, IUPUI 0
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois softball team finished day two of the Total Control Sports Invitational 1-1 falling to Miami (OH) 6-2 before run-ruling IUPUI 10-0 Saturday evening.
Kayla Bear had a phenomenal day going 5-for-7 with a double and three runs scored over the course of the two games. Bear finished the game against IUPUI a perfect 3-for-3.
The Panthers opened day two of the tournament against Miami (OH) falling behind quickly in the top of the first. After a lead-off walk from starting pitcher Jessica Wireman, the Redhawks would put runners on the corners following a throwing error allowing Jenna Jones to reach first safely.
A sacrifice fly followed by a double and a single would eventually bring around three unearned runs to give the Redhawks a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
Miami (OH) would add to their lead in the fourth inning in a similar fashion after a lead-off walk and a throwing error put runners on the corners after the first two at-bats. After the Redhawks' Kat Lee was caught stealing, Hannah Obrey would step to the plate and hit a two-run home run to give Miami (OH) a 5-0 lead forcing Wireman to be replaced by Katie Grunert.
Grunert walked the next batter only to have her come around and score as Megan Wurts hit a double down the right field line to give the Redhawks a 6-0 lead at the end of the fourth.
EIU finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning as Jennifer Ames scored from third base off a wild pitch to end the shutout and make the score 6-1. Maria DeVito added one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning off a Redhawk error scoring from third on a passed ball.
Wireman recorded the loss going 3.1 innings and recording only two earned runs.
Both Bear and Amber Toenyes recorded two hits throughout the first game with both players hitting one double.
The late game against IUPUI proved much more beneficial for the Panthers as Bear opened the game with a single up the middle eventually stealing second and third base. Bear scored off the next batter as Taylor Monahan singled up the middle to record the RBI and put the Panthers up 1-0. Monahan eventually came around to score as Andrea Roberts hit a bases loaded ground-out to the short-stop allowing Monahan to score from third base.
EIU added to their 2-0 lead the following inning as the Panthers managed to load the bases following the first four batters. Mia Davis would score both Bear and Mady Poulter off a single up the middle to make it 4-0 in favor of EIU. The Panthers added one more run in the inning as Monahan came around to score an unearned run on a wild pitch and throwing error.
The Panthers extended their lead even more in the top of the fourth recording three straight singles to open the inning. Haley Mitchell eventually stepped up to the plate blasting a single up the middle to record two RBI's and give the Panthers a 7-0 lead. Tori Johnson cleared the bases on the next at-bat hitting her third triple of the invitational to bring Mitchell and Davis in to score.
Taylor Miokovic added the final run for EIU in the top of the fifth inning reaching base on a lead-off double to left center field. Miokovic eventually came around to score an unearned run and earn the final score of 10-0.
Michelle Rogers was lights out on the mound for EIU going four innings and allowing only three hits while throwing four strikeouts. With the win Rogers improves to 2-0 on the year.
Both Bear and Davis finished the game against IUPUI a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
The Panthers close out tournament play Sunday morning against Fort Wayne at 11 a.m.
BELMONT 7, UMKC 6; BELMONT 2, UMBC 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont University Softball team embarked on a historic journey to close their Winter Fest Tournament this weekend. The Bruins (4-0) went undefeated over the two days, marking the first time since 1999 a BU team had amassed that many consecutive wins to open a season.
BU held on to edge both opponents on Saturday, knocking off UMKC (1-2), 7-6, and closing the day with a 2-1 win over UMBC (0-3).
For the day, sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) batted .667, going 4-for-6, including her first double of the season.
Inside the circle, BU saw work from Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) , who pitched her second complete game of the season, and freshmen Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) and Morgan Marshall (Church Hill, Tenn.). The trio combined for 10 strikeouts, led by six coming from Lee.
MURRAY STATE 5, DAYTON 2; KENT STATE 14, MURRAY STATE 5
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Murray State softball team used five hits from five different Racers to beat Dayton, 5-2, Saturday morning at Sikes Field in Macon, Georgia as part of the 2017 Mercer Invitational.
Senior Jocelynn Rodgers helped give Murray State an early 1-0 lead in the first when she doubled down the left field line to score senior Jessica Twaddle, who reached on a walk. MSU extended its lead in the third inning when Taylor Odom blasted a two-run shot over the fence in center field, marking the fifth home run in just three games for the Racers.
Murray State would go on to add two more runs in the fourth on a RBI fielder's choice from senior Jessica Twaddle that led to an error by Dayton and allowed the Racers to extend their lead to 5-0. The Flyers would finally cut into the lead in the fifth after starting the frame with three hits in the first four at bats. However, from that point on, the Racer defense clamped down and stranded four runners in the final three innings to pick up the 5-2 win.
Senior Maggie Glass continued to find ways to get on base in the contest going 1-for-2 with two walks, giving her five free passes in the last two games. Sophomore Brenna Finck and freshman Kaylee Ranburger rounded out the Racers with hits in the contest with each also a run. Senior Mason Robinson went the distance for the second straight game and earned the win by allowing two runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
SIUE 4, PRAIRIE VIEW 1; SIUE 2, ULM 1
MONROE, La. - On the day in which Haley Chambers-Book set the school record for career strikeouts, it was only fitting that SIUE softball play in an epic contest and the final out be a strikeout.
The Cougars ran their season-opening record to 4-0 with a 2-1 victory in 10 innings over host Louisiana-Monroe at the Mardi Gras Classic.
A perfect ending to the day for Chambers-Book was a strikeout of centerfielder Hunter Hogan to end the game. Chambers-Book finished the game with 14 strikeouts, pushing her career total to 748. She broke the record set by Erika Taylor with 737 (2008-11).
Chambers-Book allowed four hits and walked one for her second win of the season.
In a game that had the feel of a postseason game, SIUE didn't back down from the Warhawks.
Coyne allowed four hits and struck out four in 10 innings of work.
ULM, 3-1, couldn't break through against Chambers-Book until the 10th inning, scoring on an RBI double by Ana Hogan.
The Warhawks were thrown out trying to advance a runner on a fly ball in both the eighth and the ninth innings. In the eighth inning, left fielder Connor Cutright threw out a runner trying to advance to third. In the ninth inning, Reagan Curtis picked up an outfield assist on a perfect throw home to complete a double play.
The Cougars broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 10th inning. Using the international tiebreaker rule, Tess Eby started the inning on second base. Haley Adrian executed a bunt sacrifice that moved Eby over to third. Allison Smiley singled Eby home with a hit to left field. After a double by Kalei Kaneshiro that made it runners second and third, Sarah Lopesilvero provided the eventual game-winner with a single through the left side that drove home Smiley.
Earlier in the day, Emily Ingles recorded her first career victory with a 4-1 victory over Prairie View A&M. The Cougar freshman fanned nine and allowed just four hits.
The Cougars opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Reagan Curtis singled home Talisa Morton, who was pinch-running after a Zoe Schafer double.
Smiley made it 3-0 in the sixth with a two-RBI single that drove home Curtis and Jane Smith. Eby added extra cushion in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI single that scored Schafer.
SIUE closes out the Mardi Grass Classic Sunday with a 10 a.m. start against Sam Houston State.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 5, TENNESSEE TECH 3; GEORGIA SOUTHERN 8, TENNESSEE TECH 7
STATESBORO, Ga. - Hallie Davis didn't take long to make an impact with the Tennessee Tech softball team as the sophomore transfer struck for three home runs on Saturday to lead the Golden Eagles' efforts.
However, the runs just weren't enough as Tech saw Middle Tennessee hit an extra-inning walkoff in the eighth inning for a 5-3 win, then Georgia Southern edged the Golden Eagles 8-7 in the afternoon contest on Saturday.
Tech (0-4) concludes its run in the Eagle Round Robin with a second bout with Middle Tennessee at 9 a.m. Sunday.
All three of Tech's runs against the Blue Raiders came from home runs as the newcomer Davis homered twice, once in the fourth, then again in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at three runs each. Alyssa Richards also hit a solo shot in the fourth inning
But MTSU broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth as Lexi Cushing hit a walk-off two-run homer to close out the contest.
Taylor Waldrop took the loss for the Golden Eagles, allowing five runs – two earned – on seven hits, allowing two walks and striking out three.
Against the homestanding Eagles, Tech yielded eight runs on nine hits as Danielle Liberatore worked six complete innings, allowing six walks and striking out four.
Jessie Lowery and Davis each drove in two runs in the game, while Richards also had an RBI.
Tech struck first in the opening frame, scoring three runs. Lowery reached on a wild pitch on a third strike, then stole second and took third on a Gabby Perez bunt single. Perez then stole second with a throwing error allowing Lowery to score.
An error on a ball hit by Davis gave Perez room to score, then Richards hit an RBI double to center field to score David.
Georgia Southern took a 5-3 lead after three, then Tech added a single run in the fourth and fifth innings. A Lowery RBI grounder back to the circle allowed Sarah Freels to score in the fourth, then Davis hit her third home run of the day to lead off the fifth.
Tech took a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth as Lowery hit an RBI single to the circle, allowing Callen Griffin to score, then Demi Coleman came home on a wild pitch.
The Golden Eagles' lead was short-lived though as Georgia Southern's Emily Snider hit a two-run go-ahead homer in the bottom of the sixth, then was able to hold on in the seventh.