SATURDAY'S SCORES
Morehead State 1, Cleveland State 0
Morehead State 5, Campbell 0
Belmont 5, Alabama State 4 (8)
Belmont 2, Alabama State 0
North Florida 4,
Eastern Illinois 2
Southern Illinois 7,
Eastern Illinois 5
SIUE 8, UMass 2
SIUE 4, St. Francis 2
UT Martin 6, Fairleigh Dickinson 1
@Chattanooga 6,
UT Martin 3
Murray State 3, Samford 2 (8)
@UAB 4,
Murray State 0
Tennessee Tech 4, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3
Tennessee Tech 3, Stephen F. Austin 2
Southeast Missouri 8, Alcorn State 0 (5)
Southeast Missouri 7, Alcorn State 5
Eastern Kentucky 6, Mount St. Mary's 3
Bucknell 2,
Eastern Kentucky 1
Southern Miss 3,
@Jacksonville State 1
Southern Miss 4,
@Jacksonville State 3
Evansville 8,
@Tennessee State 1
Evansville 9, @
Tennessee State 4
Indiana State 17,
Austin Peay 0
MOREHEAD STATE 1, CLEVELAND STATE 0; MOREHEAD STATE 5, CAMPBELL 0
CONWAY, S.C. - Sophomore Allison Rager delivered a two-out walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Morehead State softball a 1-0 win over Cleveland State on Saturday morning.
Junior Chelsea McManaway recorded her fourth shutout of the season in the win. She kept the Vikings hitters at bay, allowing just three hits and three walks, while striking out 11 in seven innings of work.
The Eagles managed six hits and had two runners reach in the first, third, and sixth innings, but failed to scratch across a run until Rager homered in the seventh.
Rager finished the game 2-for-4.
In the second game, Campbell scored five runs in the third inning and the Eagles managed just three hits as they fell, 5-0.
Senior Megan Tymorek picked up the loss, allowing five hits and five earned runs in five innings of work. She struck out two and walked two.
Rager continued to shine at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.
With the split today, the Eagles move to 6-6 on the season.
The Eagles conclude play in South Carolina tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. ET against Penn State.
BELMONT 5, ALABAMA STATE 4; BELMONT 2, ALABAMA STATE 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Defense was the name of the game for Belmont Softball as it rolled to a pair of victories on Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins (11-1) swept visiting Alabama State (3-9), winning 5-4 in game one and notching a no-hit 2-0 victory in the nightcap.
Game one saw Alabama State put up runs first, taking the lead behind a three-run home run. The Hornets expanded their lead to four runs by the top of the third. Finally, the Bruins were able to get an offensive rhythm together in their half of the same inning. Belmont was able to load the bases and saw senior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) steal home. A hard hit ball by junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) sent freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) over the plate before sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) drilled a triple to right to add two more runs to the BU tally, knotting the score, 4-4.
The duel remained stalemated for the next four innings, forcing the contest into an eighth and deciding frame. The Bruins quickly retired Alabama State with three consecutive groundouts. Belmont capitalized on a Hornet error that opened the door for a single to left by Sims that sent senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) over the plate for the game winner.
The nightcap was all Belmont from start to finish. After a silent first stanza, the Bruins went to work immediately. Senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) smashed a solo home run over the left fence and BU was able to add another run to its tally following a Stanton single to left that sent Long over home plate.
The two run tally would be enough to secure the victory down the stretch as junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) continued to shine inside the circle en route to her first no hitter as a Bruin. Belmont's defense remained stingy, including a stunning third inning output by Long, who grabbed all three outs, highlighted by a backhanded over the shoulder grab while she was running backwards. Alabama State stranded three runners in the top of the sixth in its last ditch effort to make an inroad on the scoreboard. However, Rouse hung on for the career milestone, ending the contest with a strikeout, the lone one of her afternoon in the circle.
At the plate, BU was led by Deloney, who batted .500, including her solo home run. Long recorded a pair of RBI to lead in the category.
Inside the circle, Rouse used her no-hitter to push her to a 4-0 record and a paltry 0.40 season ERA. Sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) rolled to her third win and second complete game of the season. Each recorded four strikeouts on the day.
Belmont returns to action at the Blues City Classic, hosted by Memphis, March 3-5.
NORTH FLORIDA 4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2; SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Eastern Illinois softball team could not pull out a victory in day two of the February Freezer falling to North Florida 4-2 followed by a 7-5 loss to Southern Illinois in the nightcap.
The Panthers finished the day hitting five doubles, two of which came from freshman Mia Davis who finished the day an astounding 6-for-7 at the plate.
The two losses drops EIU to 7-6 on the season as they now head to the consolation game against North Florida Sunday to close out tournament play.
EIU's opening game against North Florida was seemingly decided after the first inning with five of the six runs scored in the first inning.
After putting runners on second and third base, Haley Mitchell smashed a bases-clearing double to right center field to put EIU in front 2-0 at the end of the top of the first.
The Ospreys tallied two doubles and two sacrifice flies in the bottom of the first to take the lead 3-2 at the end of the first inning.
UNF added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning off an RBI double from Dominica Cocuzza to earn the final score of 4-2.
Both teams combined for seven doubles throughout the game.
Davis led the team finishing the game 3-for-4 at the plate. Michelle Rogers fell to 5-2 this year after going three innings and allowing two earned runs.
Following the loss EIU faced off once again against in-state rivals Southern Illinois for a shot at the championship game Sunday.
The Salukis got on the board in the top of the first inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from Sydney Jones. Maddy Vermejan scored on a passed ball during the following at-bat to give SIU a 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
EIU eventually tied he game up in the third inning after back-to-back infield singles and stolen bases from Kayla Bear and Taylor Monahan put runners on second and third base with one out. Davis stepped up to the plate hitting a bases clearing double to left center field to knot the game up at 2-2.
After two hitless innings from both teams, Southern Illinois regained the lead in the sixth inning. The Salukis managed to load the bases with only one out as Jessica Wireman hit Haley Andrus to advance all runners and give SIU a 3-2 lead.
Allison Golic was then brought in to replace Wireman on the mound. Wireman finished the game with 5.1 innings pitched and six strikeouts falling to 1-4 on the year.
After striking out the first batter, Eyrika Brandenburg extended the Salukis lead with a triple to right center field scoring all three runners and putting SIU ahead 6-2. Southern Illinois added one more run before the inning came to an end as Brandenburg scored off a fielding error on the next at-bat.
The Panthers got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth after Davis hit a lead-off double, her second of the game, followed by a two-run home run by Mitchell to make it 7-4 heading into the seventh inning.
EIU tried to complete the comeback in the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second and only one out, but could only manage to get one run across thanks to an RBI single from Davis to make it 7-5.
Davis finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two doubles.
The Panthers close out the Mississippi State February Freezer against North Florida Sunday.
UT MARTIN 6, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 1; CHATTANOOGA 6, UT MARTIN 3
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team tied the best start in school history before splitting Day Two of the Chattanooga Frost Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Skyhawks picked up a 6-1 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the first contest before falling short to host Chattanooga 6-3 in the afternoon affair.
The Skyhawks (10-2) tied the best start in school history with the 2010 squad against Fairleigh Dickson. Overall the Skyhawks posted a .333 batting average for the day while tallying 17 hits and 10 stolen bases. Sophomore Lauren Myers led the team with four base hits on the day along with three RBIs and three stolen bases.
Game 1: UT Martin 6, Fairleigh Dickinson 1
UT Martin wasted little time getting on the board in the team’s first game of day, starting a trend of runs in every offensive inning in the game. With two outs in the inning, Rachel Williams would be hit by a pitch to extend the frame before moving into scoring position following a single through the left side by Renate Meckl. With two runners on Jodie Duncan would lace a double into left to bring home Williams and take an early advantage.
The Skyhawks would continue their strong play in the second inning as sophomore Alli Fulcher launched a solo home run to lead off the inning. The squad would add another run in the third inning as Myers singled to center before coming around to score later on a double-steal with Williams. UT Martin would then push the margin out to four runs in the bottom of the fourth as Savannah Dodson dumped a RBI single into center which scored Fulcher on the play. The Skyhawks would manufacture another run in the fifth as Gonzales led off the inning with a walk before coming all the way around on a RBI single by Myers down the right field line.
Fairleigh Dickinson would score its lone run of the contest in the top of the sixth inning. The Knight’s would string together three consecutive singles, capped off by a RBI by Reanna Cervantes to cut into the margin.
UT Martin would put the game away in the sixth inning with yet another run. Jessie Douglas would lead off the inning with a single before eventually coming home off Myers’ second RBI of the contest to put the score at its final mark of 6-1.
The Skyhawks would receive a strong pitching performance from freshman Samantha Scott who improved to 2-0 on the season after allowing just one earned run in 5.1 innings of work. Sophomore Sara Hooten entered the game in relief, striking out five batters in 1.2 innings of work.
Game 2: Chattanooga 6, UT Martin 3
Serving as tournament host, Chattanooga would take advantage of its home field by jumping out to an early advantage in the first inning. Hayleigh Weissenbach would lead off the inning with a single through the left side before coming home to score on a RBI by Aly Walker. The Mocs would score another run later in the inning off an RBI by Brook Womack to take a 2-0 lead.
The Mocs would add to their advantage in the bottom of the second inning. A pair of RBI singles by Ashley Conner and Jesslyn Stockard would put Chattanooga up by four runs.
UT Martin would get on the board in the third inning as Dodson led off the inning with a walk before swiping second to move into scoring position. Already in good position, Myers would drive a single up the middle to score Dodson and trim the deficit down to three. The Skyhawks would continue to work on the margin in the fourth inning as Duncan singled up the middle before being relieved for pinch runner Alicia Hansen who moved into scoring position by swiping second. With a runner in scoring position, the Skyhawks would turn to Aeron Smith would drove a double to right to cut the deficit down to two.
Chattanooga would recover its four-run advantage with a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Another RBI single by Conner came in the fourth before Weissenbach brought home a run in the fifth.
UT Martin would make a final comeback attempt in the top of the seventh inning. The Skyhawks would quickly score as three consecutive batters reached base to start the inning before a RBI single by Meckl scored Myers. With two runners still on base, the Skyhawks would struggle to continue the threat, ultimately dropping the contest 6-3.
Senior Brooke Kennedy (5-1) suffered her first loss of the season, allowing five earned runs over 4.1 innings of work. Freshman Seeley Layne would appear in relief for her Skyhawk debut, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings.
UT Martin will look to close out the Frost Classic on a high note against Northwestern State on Sunday, Feb. 26. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 8, ALCORN STATE 5; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7, ALCORN STATE 5
LORMAN, Miss. - Southeast Missouri (8-2) swept Southwestern Athletic Conference foe Alcorn State (3-7) in a doubleheader, 8-0, 7-5, Saturday.
SEMO's first three hitters in the lineup consisting of Brooke Rheinecker (2-for-3, 2 runs), Mykaela Arellanes (2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBIs) and Addison Barnouski (3-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs) combined to hit .777 in game one.
The Redhawks pounded out 12 hits and scored three runs in both the first and fourth innings en route to their second shutout of the season. SEMO also beat an opponent in five innings for the fourth time this year.
Barnouski launched a two-run home run and Ashley Ellis drove in Parker Bandy to give SEMO a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
Arellanes led off the third with a home run to left center and Barnouski scored an unearned run on a sacrifice fly by Bandy to push the Redhawks lead to 5-0.
SEMO got another home run, this time by Riley Hayes, to ignite its three-run rally in the fifth inning. Arellanes also had an RBI-double as the Redhawks buried the Braves in five innings.
Madeline Krumrey (4-1) picked up the win. Krumrey went the distance, allowing four hits and striking out four. She pitched her second shutout this season.
Madi Creed (1-2) took the loss. Creed scattered eight hits and gave up seven runs in 3.1 innings.
In game two, SEMO put together two more three-run innings to key a 7-5 victory.
After falling behind, 2-0, in the bottom of the first, the Redhawks took the lead when Darby Pruett hit an RBI-double down the left field line and Claire Wernig delivered a two-RBI single.
Alcorn State regained a 4-3 edge in the bottom of the third, but SEMO countered with four unanswered runs to put the win on ice.
Rachel Anderson smacked a two-RBI triple and scored on an error in the fourth inning and scored once more on a sacrifice fly by Claudia Gallo in the fifth.
Alexis Estes (3-0) nailed down the win, tossing six innings with three strikeouts. Mackenzie Hoelting picked up the save, her first of the season.
Jazmin Castillo (1-2) suffered the loss. Castillo walked five, struck out two, gave up seven hits and seven runs in five innings.
Anderson went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs, and Ellis finished at 2-for-4 to lead SEMO in the nightcap.
The Redhawks, who are on a five-game winning streak, return to action at the All-Missouri Cancer Classic in Kansas City Mar. 4-5.
SOUTHERN MISS 2, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1; SOUTHERN MISS 4, JACKSONVILE STATE 3
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State's home opener didn't go as planned on Saturday, when the Gamecocks dropped a pair of one-run games to Southern Miss at University Field.
The Gamecocks (9-3) brought their best start since 2004 and a six-game win streak into the three-game series with the Golden Eagles (8-6), but the visitors came out on the winning side of two close games in front of 1,298 fans. They won the opener 2-1 and then held on for a 4-3 win in the nightcap.
The opener saw two runs, one unearned, score in the first inning against JSU and then USM starter Jillian Johnson hold off the Gamecock bats. JSU managed five hits to the Golden Eagles' seven in the game, despite hitting the ball much more sharply throughout the contest.
Johnson (3-0) held JSU to a run on five hits through seven innings, striking out two and walking three to win a pitcher's duel with Whitney Gillespie. The JSU ace allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits in 7.0 innings that also saw her strike out eight in falling to 3-2 on the season.
Anna Chisolm drove in the Gamecocks' lone run in the sixth on an opposite field homer that cut USM's lead in half. JSU put runners at first and second in the home half of the seventh but couldn't push the tying run across.
In the second game, JSU scored a run in the first on a Stephanie Lewis RBI ground out and then pushed one more home in the third on a throwing error by USM third baseman Lauren Holifield.
The Golden Eagles answered in the sixth with four runs, mostly on a bases-clearing double from Bailey Stokes.
JSU got one back in the sixth on back-to-back doubles from Anna Snider and Hayley Sims and then put runners at first and second again in the seventh, but it couldn't tie the game.
Taylor West (4-1) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs, three earned, on six hits in seven frames. She struck out eight and walked four. Kim Crowson (4-2) got the win in her complete game, holding JSU to three runs, two earned, on nine hits.
JSU and USM will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
INDIANA STATE 17, AUSTIN PEAY 5
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team couldn’t slow down the Indiana State offense, Saturday afternoon at the WKU Softball Complex, as the Govs gave up a season-high in runs allowed in a 17-5 loss at the Hilltopper Spring Fling Tournament.
The Govs (4-3) got off to a promising start by scoring the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly by Carly Mattson, in the top of the first inning, but Indiana State (5-4) would score 10 unanswered in their first two at bats, to go up 10-1.
Austin Peay would get back-to-back home runs – on the first two pitches of the third inning – from Kacy Acree and Danielle Liermann to cut the Sycamores lead to 10-3, but that would be as close as the Govs would get, with Indiana State answering back in the bottom of the inning with four runs of their own to push the margin back to 11 runs, 14-3.
Acree would lead the Govs with two hits, while Liermann, Kendall Vedder and Erica Inagaki had the other APSU hits.
The Govs would score it’s two final runs of the game in the top of the fourth, with Vedder scoring on a wild pitch and Victoria Eccleston scoring on a Sycamore error, before Indiana State closed out the game with three runs in the bottom of the inning for the 17-5 final.
The Govs will continue play in the Hilltopper Spring Fling on Sunday, when the face IUPUI at 12:30 p.m., before squaring for with tournament host Western Kentucky at 3 p.m., at the WKU Softball Complex.
MURRAY STATE 3, SAMFORD 2; UAB 4, MURRAY STATE 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Murray State softball team found itself down in both of its games Saturday at the 2017 Samford/UAB Classic at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham, Alabama, though the two games ended with very different results. The Racers were able to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the opener against Samford to beat the Bulldogs, 3-2 in eight innings, however, in game two the offense never got going and MSU fell, 4-0, to UAB,
Game 1 – Murray St. 3, Samford 2 (8 Inn.)
Samford wasted little time getting on the board in the first inning, as Madison Couch and Shelby Maze led off the frame with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt from Abby Sweeney moved the pair over, Abbie Miranda brought the duo home on a single to centerfield to make it 2-0, Samford.
In the top of the second, Madison Culver cut the lead in half on the first pitch of the stanza with a home run that went over the wall in left center to pull the Racers within one at 2-1. Despite nine baserunners over the next five innings, the Racers were unable to push any across the plate and still trailed the Bulldogs 2-1, headed to the seventh.
With one out in the seventh, Jocelynn Rodgers gave MSU another chance at extending the game with a double that was hit well to centerfield. Maggie Glass would walk in the following at bat before Rodgers' pinch runner Kristen Bialek was moved to third after tagging up on a fly ball by Culver. With Bialek at third, Cayla Levins tied the game at two with an RBI-single just when the Racers needed it the most. After MSU was unable to add any other runs in the top of the seventh, they retired Samford in order in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings.
With the international tie-breaker in effect, Leah Kesel was placed at second base to begin the eighth. Kesel was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Erika Downey and eventually scored on a RBI-single from Kaylee Ranburger. In the bottom of the eighth, Samford once again went down in order, giving Murray State the 3-2 extra-inning win.
Haven Campbell got the complete game win for Murray State to move to 3-1 on the year by allowing just two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks over eight innings of work. Jessica Twaddle was 2-for-5 in the game, while Levins was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a walk.
Game 2 – UAB 4, Murray St. 0
The game was scoreless for the first three innings until Molli Garcia singled in the fourth. Garcia would advance on the base paths thanks to an error and would eventually score on a passed ball to make it 1-0, Blazers. The Blazers added three more runs in the fifth on a pair of errors and a two-RBI double from Joanna Fallen that capped the scoring at 4-0.
The Racers threatened in both the sixth and the seventh but in both cases left two runners stranded, for a total of seven in the game, and fell, 4-0. The game marked the first time this season the Racers were shutout, as the ended the day at 10-3 on the year.
Ranburger and Levins led MSU in game two by each going 2-for-3, while Robinson took the loss in the circle for Murray State and fell to 7-2 on the year. She allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
On Sunday, the Racers will close out play in the 2017 Samford/UAB Classic with Iowa State at 9 a.m. and Indiana at 11 a.m. Play Sunday will move back across town with both games taking place at Samford's Bulldog Softball Field.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 6, MOUNT ST. MARY'S 3; BUCKNELL 2, EASTERN KENTUKCY 1
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team won its second straight with a 6-3 victory over Mount Saint Mary’s University, before falling to Bucknell University in Saturday’s second game at the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational.
The Colonels (2-7) were coming off Friday’s 12-2 win over North Carolina Central University. Eastern trailed 3-0 through two and a half innings before a five-run third.
Senior Amber Murray knocked a leadoff double to the gap in right center and moved to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Mia Sanchez got a base on balls and the Colonels successfully executed a double steal, as Sanchez took second and Murray swiped home for EKU’s first run of the day.
Sophomore Hannah Clark walked, putting one on for junior Johnkyria Alston who belted her second homer in as many days to even give EKU a 4-3 advantage. Senior Krislyn Campos legged out a double to center before a RBI single from Brittany Oldaker scored Campos, putting Eastern up two, 5-3.
In the fourth, a sacrifice fly from sophomore Rachel Minogue gave the Colonels an insurance run for the 6-3 win.
Bucknell’s lone run in the third was the only score of the game, before the Bison added a run in the top of the sixth to go up 2-0.
Eastern answered in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI ground from Campos drove in Minogue to cut the Bucknell lead to one, but the Colonels could not generate any more runs.
Alston’s three RBIs on the day led EKU, as five Colonels recorded multiple hits on the day.
Freshman Mollie Paulick notched her first career win for the Colonels. Paulick tossed seven innings, allowing a single run with nine strikeouts on the day.
EKU is back in action Sunday as it takes on Youngstown State University. Sunday’s game is scheduled for a 10 a.m. first pitch.
SIUE 8, UMASS 2; SIUE 4, ST. FRANCIS 2
WACO, Texas - SIUE softball advanced to Sunday's championship game of the Baylor Invitational and will play host Baylor at noon.
SIUE won twice Saturday with an 8-2 win over UMass and a 4-2 triumph over St. Francis.
The Cougars, now 11-3, moved on to the title game after rallying for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against St. Francis, now 9-5.
Down 2-1 in the sixth inning, Alyssa Heren started the rally with a single. After St. Francis went to its bullpen for reliever Keterah DeVries, St. Francis was unable to get an out on an infield ball by Haley Chambers-Book. Heren and Chambers-Book then moved up on a stolen base, putting both runners in scoring position for Zoe Schafer.
Schafer singled to center field to drive home Heren and tie the score. Allison Smiley added to her team-leading 15th RBI with a single to left field that drove home Chambers-Book and game SIUE its first lead of the game at 3-2. Sarah Lopesilvero added an RBI that gave SIUE extra cushion.
Chambers-Book went the distance for the Cougars, allowing five hits and striking out five. She is now 6-2 this season.
Earlier in the day, Ashley Koziol gave up two hits in the first five innings to improve her season record to 3-0. Emily Ingles threw the last two innings and shut down UMass, 2-6.
Heren provided the big hit of the game, a three-run homer in the five-run fifth inning. Schafer added her second home run of the season in the seventh.