SATURDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 4, East Tennessee State 1
Tennessee Tech 10, Michigan State 8
Eastern Kentucky 8, Jackson State 0 (5)
Bowling Green 8,
Eastern Kentucky 7
Eastern Illinois 7, Alabama A&M 2
Loyola 1,
Eastern Illinois 0
Tennessee State 3, Loyola 1 (12)
Valparaiso 4,
Tennessee State 2
SIUE 8, Fort Wayne 0 (6)
SIUE 11, St. Joseph's 2 (5)
UT Martin 14, Iona 10
Weber State 7,
UT Martin 5
Jacksonville State 8, Samford 0 (6)
Belmont 12, Alabama State 4 (5)
Southeast Missouri 7, Alabama A&M 2
JACKSONVILLE STATE 8, SAMFORD 0
OXFORD, Ala. - Jacksonville State got timely hitting and dominant pitching in Saturday and used it in an 8-0 rout of in-state rival Samford at Choccolocco Park.
The Gamecocks (13-7) got just four hits, but three of those were home runs, giving Whitney Gillespie more than she needed to dispose of the Bulldogs (6-15) in five innings on Day Two of the Leon Smith Classic.
Gillespie (5-4) allowed one hit, an infield single, and struck out three in her shutout of Samford. The Pelham, Ala., native needed just 60 pitches in the five-inning complete game win.
Sophomore Anna Chisolm got two of the Gamecocks' four hits, including a grand slam that put the game away in the fourth inning. Seniors Jamie McGuire and Taylor West got the other two, both homers earlier in the game.
The Gamecocks wasted no time jumping on their in-state rival. A leadoff single from Chisolm and a one-out walk to Sloan set up a three-run homer from McGuire. The senior turned on Taylor DeCelles' 1-1 pitch and drove her fourth homer of the year over the wall in left center to give JSU an early 3-0 lead.
In the third, fellow Sloan flashed a little power of her own. Her first homer of the year was a solo shot and came on DeCelles' 1-2 pitch. The Warrior, Ala., native turned on it and drove it over the wall in right to make it a 4-0 JSU advantage.
Samford opened the door for the Gamecocks in the fourth and JSU capitalized. A pair of two-out errors by the Bulldogs put Anna Snider and Taylor Rogers on base and then a DeCelles pitch got away and hit Emily Woodruff to load the bases. Chisolm, made her pay, going the other way on the first pitch she saw and driving a grand slam over the wall in left.
Chisolm's fifth homer of the season set the stage for a perfect top of the fifth for Gillespie that closed the mercy-rule win.
The Gamecocks will wrap up play in the Leon Smith Classic on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., when they take on Alabama A&M on the back fields of Choccolocco Park.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 7, ALABAMA A&M 2; LOYOLA 1, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
OXFORD, Ala. - The Eastern Illinois softball team opened the 2017 Leon Smith Classic Saturday earning a split with a 7-2 win over Alabama A&M to open tourney play before falling to Loyola-Chicago 1-0.
The Panthers finished Saturday's doubleheader with solid hitting performances recording at least 10 hits in both games.
Freshman Mia Davis earned two hits in each game finishing the day going 4-for-5 from the plate over the two-game span.
The Panthers took the lead in their first game of the day in the bottom of the second thanks to back-to-back doubles from Tori Johnson and Amber Toenyes to open the inning. Toenyes' RBI double put EIU up 1-0 as Toenyes would come around to score herself following yet another double this time from Kaitlyn Crossen to make it 2-0.
The Panthers added two more runs in the second inning thanks to an RBI groundout from Taylor Monahan scoring Crossen from third. An RBI single up the middle from Davis gave EIU a 4-0 lead at the end of the inning.
Toenyes and Crossen both logged their second doubles of the day in the following inning extending EIU's lead to 6-0 at the end of the third.
Michelle Rogers finished her game in the top of the fourth inning eventually going on to earn the victory to improve to 7-3 this season. Rogers threw five strikeouts giving up only one hit in her 3.1 innings on the mound. Johnson took the mound to close out the game for the Panthers.
Alabama A&M avoided the shutout in the top of the fifth inning scoring two unearned runs. A two-out RBI single from the Lady Bulldog's Kia Lang followed by a triple from Tiana Sanders put AAMU on the board 6-2 at the end of the fifth inning.
EIU tacked on one more run in the sixth inning thanks to a lead-off solo home run from Toenyes over the center field wall to put the Panthers up 7-2.
Toenyes finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and three RBIs. Both Crossen and Davis recorded two hits each in the game.
The Panthers' second game of the day was a frustrating affair as EIU out-hit Loyola-Chicago 11-3 in the game, but couldn't manage to get a run in to score.
The Ramblers scored the deciding run in the bottom of the third inning getting runners on with back-to-back singles recording two of their three hits in the game. Loyola loaded the bases with two outs following an error from Mady Poulter at short stop.
Jessica Wireman walked in a run on the following at-bat to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead off the unearned run. That would be all Loyola needed as the Ramblers managed to hold EIU scoreless the rest of the game.
Wireman finished the game throwing six innings and throwing five strikeouts. Taylor Monahan logged all of her hits on the day against the Ramblers finishing the game 3-for-4 with two stolen bases.
Maria DeVito was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate while Davis logged her second two-hit game of the day.
The Panthers continue tournament play Sunday with a doubleheader against Valparaiso and Samford starting at 10:30 a.m.
UT MARTIN 14, IONA 10; WEBER STATE 7, UT MARTIN 5
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team earned a split on its final day of the Highlander Classic, earning a 14-10 win over Iona before falling 7-5 to Weber State.
The Skyhawks (17-6) finished the tournament with a 2-3 mark despite winning two of their final three contests after dropping a pair of games to host UC Riverside on Thursday. UT Martin would actually outscore its opponents 19-17 on the day but it would only be good enough for a split.
Senior Renate Meckl would pace the team with five hits on the day – including two for extra bases with a triple and a double on the afternoon. Five other players would tally multi-hit afternoons while Jodie Duncan tallied four of her own and Gracyn McBride notched three – including a home run and four RBIs.
With just three pitchers available for the weekend, the lack of arms would catch up to the Skyhawks against formidable opponents. Sara Hooten (4-2, 3.45 ERA) would pick up a victory after allowing four earned runs in six innings of work against Iona. Samantha Scott (3-2, 3.50 ERA) suffered a loss against Weber State, allowing six earned runs over six innings of work. Seeley Layne also appeared in relief, allowing three earned runs in one inning of work.
Game 1: UT Martin 14, Iona 10
After facing a brief delay to start the game, Iona would come out of the gates with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The Skyhawks would pay for a walk later in the inning as Kristen Turner drove a two-run home run down the left field line.
UT Martin would rally in the bottom half of the inning to take its first lead of the day. Carly Gonzales drew a four-pitch walk to start the inning before coming home to score on a triple to center by Meckl. Another walk would result in runs later in the frame as Lauren Myers laced a two-run single into centerfield to score Meckl and pinch runner Gabby Zizzi to take a 3-2 lead.
The Skyhawks would add to their margin in the bottom of the third inning. Back-to-back singles by Williams and Meckl would put the Skyhawks in action before a wild pitch brought in the inning’s first run. With Meckl still on the bags, McBride would single into right center to give UT Martin a 5-2 advantage.
Iona would not go down quietly however, scoring seven runs in the top of the fourth to not only eliminate the deficit but take a four-run lead of its own. The inning would get started with a solo home run before ultimately seven hits and two errors would result in the big inning.
UT Martin would look to begin chipping away in the bottom of the fifth inning. Meckl would lead off the inning with a single to right field before moving herself into scoring position by swiping second base. With a runner just itching to score, McBride would lace a two-run home run to right center to trim the team’s deficit down to two runs.
Iona would look for a little insurance after the big fly by McBride in the top of the sixth. The Gaels would find a home run to Tori Danner to push the team’s lead back out to three heading into the bottom half of the inning.
The Skyhawks would fight back in the bottom of the sixth. After the first two runners of the frame reached base, Williams would pull a double into left center to score the pair, making it a one-run game. Williams then came around to score herself on a RBI single by Meckl to tie the contest. A triple by Alli Fulcher, single by Duncan and a double by Gonzales each drove in runs to cap of the explosive inning and seal the team’s 14-10 victory.
Game 2: Weber State 7, UT Martin 5
UT Martin would jump out to an early lead in the second game, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. After reaching on a catcher’s interference, Gonzales ultimately came all the way around to score later in the inning on a passed ball while Meckl scored before a run-down recorded the third out of the inning.
Weber State looked to quickly made up the team’s deficit in the bottom half of the inning. The Wildcats would get on the board with a two-run double by Molly Horne to tie the game. The squad later to its first lead of the contest off a two-run home run to left center by Sara Hingsberger to take a 4-2 lead.
The Skyhawks struck back in the third inning as Savannah Dodson reached on an infield hit before advancing all the way to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch. With the run just 60 feet away, McBride would single through the left side to score Dodson on the play and trim the margin to one run.
Weber State added on its lead in the fifth inning. Hingsberger would get the inning started with an infield single before coming home to score on a bunt single by McKinley Brinkerhoff. Then Sadie Blacker would tally the team’s second RBI of the inning to make it a 6-3 contest.
UT Martin looked to rally in the sixth inning as Meckl started the frame with a double to left before coming home to score on a single by Duncan. The squad would add another run later in the frame as Aeron Smith singled home Alexa Combs.
Despite the team’s valiant comeback attempt late in the game, Weber State would score another run in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach by a final score of 7-5.
UT Martin will return to action with a home matchup against Freed-Hardeman on Wednesday, March 15. First pitch from Bettye Giles Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.
BELMONT 12, ALABAMA STATE 2
OXFORD, Ala. - After a tremendous first inning output, Belmont Softball went on to dominate Alabama State on day two of the Leon Smith Classic. The Bruins (17-4) used a solo home run by senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) to blow by the Hornets (5-15), 12-4, in the bottom of the fifth inning.
After quieting the ASU bats in the top of the first inning, BU exploded in the bottom of the same frame, netting a whopping eight runs. It marked the most runs to date scored in the first inning for the Bruins. Of the eight runs scored, three were walked over the plate, thanks to senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.), sophomore Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas), and sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.). Four more were courtesy of bases loaded hits by junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.), Zeronian and sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.). Senior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) added the eighth run with her double to left.
The Hornets continued to battle uphill over the next two innings, adding four runs, thanks to home runs. However, the Bruin bats remained hot. BU added two more runs in the bottom of the third with Cook and Wells picking up RBIs, increasing the lead to 10-4. ASU had no answers for Belmont offense and could not find a way to generate momentum.
BU added an 11th run in the bottom of the fourth and again kept Alabama State silent offensively in the top of the next frame. On just the first pitch thrown her way, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Zeronian smacked the ball over the center fence for the game winner. It marked her second career homerun.
Several Bruins had an outstanding day at the plate. Wells went 3-for-3 with two RBI and Cook went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and three RBI. Rouse went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Zeronian netted a pair of RBI, including her game winner.
Inside the circle, Rouse and sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) split time.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday, March 12 for the final day of the Leon Smith Classic. The Bruins take on Missouri State at 10:30 a.m. and Alabama A&M at 1 p.m.
TENNESSEE TECH 4, EAST TENNESSEE STATE 1; TENNESSEE TECH 10, MICHIGAN STATE 8
KENNESAW, Ga. - The power continued to come through for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Saturday as the Golden Eagles struck for five home runs as Tech defeated East Tennessee State 4-1, then stunned Michigan State with a 10-8 victory following a walk-off grand slam from Callen Griffin.
Tech hit four round-trippers alone in the Michigan State contest, coming through in every clutch situation.
It is Tech's first win against a Big Ten opponent since 2007, but the first win against a power-five conference opponent since 2011.
The Golden Eagles (7-15) was able to collect nine hits on the Spartans, but the biggest ones came in the bottom of the seventh as Tech scored five runs to overcome an 8-5 deficit.
Sarah Freels drove in Demi Coleman with a groundout back to the circle, but with Bayli Cruse, Hallie Davis and Alyssa Richards on base and Callie Griffin facing a full count, the slugger blasted a shot over left field to give Tech the victory.
Danielle Liberatore, in the start, allowed three earned runs on three hits as she walked four and struck out five in three frames of work. Taylor Waldrop came on in relief, throwing the next 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Kayla Hughes was the final Tech pitcher and was the pitcher of record when the Golden Eagles went ahead, earning the victory as she allowed one hit in 1 1/3 innings in the circle.
In the contest, Aalia Bivens, Richards, Cruse and Griffin each hit home runs. Griffin led Tech with four RBI, while Richards had three. Richards also went 3-for-4, while Bivens was 2-for-3.
In the day's opener against East Tennessee, the Golden Eagles collected four runs on nine hits as Freels and Cruse each went 2-for-3. Bivens also hit a home run in that contest. Bivens, Kennedy and Freels each drove in runs.
Leigh Ellen Thomas (3-7) picked up the win, going the distance as she allowed one run on six hits, walking three and striking out three.
All of the scoring was in the first inning as ETSU (8-13) scored a single run in the first, then the Golden Eagles struck for four in the bottom of the inning. Bivens hit a homer to left center, then Gabby Perez scored on a throwing error. Kennedy drilled an RBI double down the left field line to score Gabby LaSala, then a Freels single to right brought in Davis.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Sunday morning to close out action in the Owl Challenge with a rematch against Michigan State at 9 a.m., then a contest afterward against host Kennesaw State at 11:30 a.m.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8, JACKSON STATE 0; BOWLING GREEN 8, EASTERN KENTUCKY 7
OXFORD, Miss. - After picking up an 8-0 win against Jackson State, Eastern Kentucky staged a late comeback attempt that came up short in an 8-7 lost to Bowling Green on the second day of the Ole Miss Classic.
The Colonels made quick work of Jackson State in the first game. Four different players drove in one run each in a 4-run first inning. Mia Sanchez got it started with a RBI single up the middle. Amber Murray capped it with a sacrifice fly.
After sitting JSU down in order in the top of the second, EKU added four more in the bottom half of the inning. Three different players had one RBI each in that inning and Eastern pushed across a run on a passed ball.
Facing defeat by run-rule in the fifth, Jackson State got the leadoff batter on via a single to center. However, that runner was thrown out attempting to steal. With two outs and no one on, Queen Briggs doubled to right field but Peyton Hutchens got the final batter to strike out to end the game.
Krislyn Campus went 3-for-3 and scored two runs. Rachel Minogue finished 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
Alex Sallberg and Hutchens combined for the shutout. Hutchens (2-0) pitched the final three innings and allowed three hits.
The Colonels (7-13) trailed 6-1 with two innings left in game two against Bowling Green. Hannah Clark’s three-run home run in the top of the sixth, made it a 6-4 game. The Falcons added two in the bottom half of the inning, but Eastern made another comeback attempt in the top of the seventh.
This time, after a double by Murray and a walk by Ashton Martin, Paige Murphy sent the ball over the fence in right field for a three-run home run. The Colonels got the tying run on base with a single by Sanchez, but they couldn’t bring her home.
Murphy was the only Eastern Kentucky player with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs. Her home run was her second of the season. Clark hit her third dinger of the season.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7, ALABAMA A&M 2
OXFORD, Ala. - Southeast Missouri (12-5) notched a season-high seven stolen bases and pounded out 10 hits in a commanding 7-2 victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference foe Alabama A&M (5-15) Saturday at the Leon Smith Classic.
Newcomer Mykaela Arellanes broke a single-game school record with four stolen bases and added two hits at the top of the lineup to lead SEMO's active offense.
The Redhawks held a 3-0 lead through four innings before blowing the game open with a four-run fifth.
Rachel Anderson drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Addison Barnouski followed with a double down the left field line and Anderson scored. Riley Hayes extended the rally with a two-out walk and Sarah Messex ripped a double to score both Barnouski and Nicole Deering, who pinch ran for Hayes. Brooke Rheinecker's single up the middle scored Messex to widen the Redhawks lead to 7-0.
AAMU avoided the shutout when it scored once in the sixth and seventh innings. One of those runs was unearned.
Madeline Krumrey (7-2) pitched a two-hit shutout through five innings before the Bulldogs scored late in the game. Krumrey recorded a season-high five strikeouts and tossed her team-high fourth complete game.
Imani Largin suffered the loss. Largin, too, went the distance, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. She also struck out three and walked three.
SEMO registered double-digit hits for the sixth time this year.
Rheinecker went 3-for-3 with a run scored, RBI and two stolen bases out of the nine-hole, while Messex and Arellanes added multiple hits, as well. Messex was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs, and Arellanes went 2-for-3 with two runs.
Eriel Lawson and Madi Pozzi accounted for four of the five Bulldog hits.
The Redhawks wrap up the Leon Smith Classic against Alabama State at 3:30 p.m., CT, Sunday.
TENNESSEE STATE 3, LOYOLA 1; VALPARAISO 4, TENNESSEE STATE 2
OXFORD, Ala. - The Tennessee State softball team outlasted Loyola for a 12-inning victory to earn a split for the second consecutive day at the Leon Smith Classic. The Tigers scored two runs in the top of the 12th inning to gain a 3-1 win over the Ramblers, before falling to Valparaiso 4-2 in the nightcap. The split moved the Tigers to 6-15 on the season.
A Rambler miscue in the final inning of game one led to Abi Stephens crossing home plate to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. On the play, Selena Crafton advanced to second base, giving TSU another runner in scoring position with no outs. An infield single by Courtney Gearlds, along with her 11th stolen base of the season, gave the Big Blue runners at second and third with no outs. After a walk to Lauren Woodard to load the bases, Danica Gleason came through with a ground ball to plate Crafton for the 3-1 advantage.
The Ramblers threatened in bottom half of the inning as a Tiger error aided to put runners on second and third with no outs, bring up the top of the batting order. Tiger reliever Lauren Powell forced an infield pop up to the Rambler’s leadoff hitter and a ground ball back to the circle, retiring the first two batters without advancement.
Before the Tigers could claim the victory, Powell would have to face off against Loyola’s 6-foot catcher, Katie Kasubke, who came into the weekend with five doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI, while batting .348. The sophomore pitcher would get Kasubke to lift a ball into right field, allowing Patton Akers to track down the fly ball to secure the win.
Powell (3-5) earned the win after pitching seven complete innings allowing a run on three hits, while hitting three batters. The lone run came in the seventh inning as Loyola used a leadoff single, a stolen base and a one out RBI single to even the game at 1-1 and send the game into extra innings.
Powell had relieved Amanda Cabrera who delivered a masterful performance in her first career start. The freshman worked the first 3.2 innings allowing a walk before surrendering the Rambler’s first hit of the game. Cabrera faced her only threat in the fifth inning as Loyola put two runners on base with a hit by pitch and a single. The Wildwood, Mo. product answered the call retiring the next two batters before leaving with a five-inning, two-hit scoreless outing.
On the day the Tiger pitching staff forced the Ramblers to leave 17 runners on base, opposed to the seven the Tigers would strand in their offensive opportunities.
TSU scored the first run of the game in the second inning as Sarah Snell reached on a bunt single and moved to third on a throwing error after a stolen base. Kim Trice followed with a single to left to chase home Snell for the early 1-0 lead.
In game two, the Tigers jumped on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the second inning. Snell opened the inning with her sixth double of the season and advanced 60 feet on an Erica O’Kane single. After Kasey Cox walked to load the bases, Crafton drove a ball into centerfield, driving in Snell and O’Kane for a 2-0 lead.
Valparaiso would answer with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame off O’Kane to even the score at 2-2. The Crusaders took the lead with a run in the third off the Tiger starter before scoring an insurance run in the fourth off reliever Lauren Woodard.
TSU, who collected four hits in the first two innings, was held to two hits and two walks over the final five innings. Valapraiso reliever, Mackenzie Grossman closed out the game tossing the final 3.2 innings and retiring the final 11 batters.
O’Kane fell to 0-2 after suffering the loss, while Woodard worked the final three innings allowing an unearned run on three hits.
On the day, Courtney Gearlds picked up three hits moving her into fourth on TSU’s career hit list with 143. The senior outfielder surpassed Shannon Hicks (2001-04) and is five hits behind Brittany Webb’s (2008-11) 148 hits.
TSU will close out tournament play on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. with a matchup versus Samford.
SIUE 8, FORT WAYNE 0; SIUE 11, ST. JOSEPH'S 2
CLEARWATER, Fla. - SIUE softball picked up two more wins Saturday at the Under Armour Showcase with a pair of games shortened by the run rule.
SIUE, 18-4 and winners of seven consecutive games, blanked Fort Wayne 8-0 in six innings and routed Saint Joseph's 11-2 in five innings.
The Cougars close out the tournament Sunday with an 8 a.m. CT game against South Dakota State.
SIUE's offense scored 19 runs off 20 hits Saturday.
Ingles improved her record to 5-1 with a four-hit shutout over Fort Wayne. The Cougar freshman struck out 11 batters. Koziol backed that performance up by scattering seven hits and striking out five against Saint Joseph's while boosting her season record to 4-0.
The Cougar offense got started against Fort Wayne on somewhat of a rarity in college softball, an inside-the-park home run by Alyssa Heren.
Heren and Allison Smiley each collected two RBIs against Fort Wayne, which dropped to 3-19. Smiley had three of SIUE's nine hits.
In the Saint Joseph's game, Zoe Schafer tied the game 2-2 with her third home run of the season, a blast to left field in the third inning.
The Cougars followed that up with a seven-run fourth inning against Saint Joseph's, 3-10. Smiley started the rally and had two hits during the inning. She now leads the team with a .367 batting average and 23 RBIs.
Sarah Lopesilvero also turned in a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate against the Hawks. She scored the 10th run of the game off a double by Tess Eby in the top of the fifth inning.