SUNDAY'S SCORES
SIUE 4, South Dakota State 3
Belmont 3, Missouri State 2
Valparaiso 3,
Eastern Illinois 1
Oklahoma State 21,
Eastern Kentucky 8
Samford 1,
Eastern Illinois 0
Northern Illinois 5,
Austin Peay 3
Alabama A&M 15,
Belmont 3
Jacksonville State 11, Alabama A&M 0 (5)
Murray State 9, Northern Illinois 0
Southeast Missouri 8, Alabama State 1
Tennessee State 10, Samford 9 (9)
SIUE 4, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 3
CLEARWATER, Fla. - SIUE softball closed out the Under Armour Showcase Sunday morning with a 4-3 victory over South Dakota State, closing out the tournament with its eighth consecutive victory.
The Cougars, 19-4, now return home for its season opener and the SIUE Tournament beginning Friday. SIUE faces Toledo, Ball State and Northern Kentucky on consecutive days of the tournament at Cougar Field.
Emily Ingles, a freshman, went the distance to improve her record to 5-1, including 4-0 on this road trip. She struck out five and allowed five hits to South Dakota State, 12-14.
The Cougars opened the scoring with two runs only to have South Dakota State take the lead with two runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth.
SIUE regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth on an infield out by Sarah Lopesilvero and a single by Tess Eby.
South Dakota State threatened in the top of the seventh. Lyndsey Crist drew a walk and moved to third on a double by Ali Herdliska.
With no outs, Ingles got designated player Brittney Morse to fly out on the infield. Mallory McQuistan then hit a short fly ball to left field that was caught by Paige Clinton. Crist tried to tag up from third and score, but Clinton connected with catcher Amy Hunt for the final out.
OKLAHOMA STATE 21, EASTERN KENTUCKY 8
OXFORD, Miss. - EKU finished off the Ole Miss Classic on Sunday with a 21-8 loss to Oklahoma State.
OSU took a 5-0 lead after two innings and then put the game away by scoring 10 runs in the third inning. Mackenzie Thomas had a bases clearing double in the big inning.
The Colonels (7-14) got on the board in the bottom of the third. Rachel Minogue had an RBI double and Hannah Clark drove in a run with a single to left, cutting the deficit to 15-2.
The EKU offense didn’t give up. In the bottom of the fourth, Mia Sanchez drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Clark sent the ball over the fence in center field for a grand slam, making it a 16-8 game.
OSU added five more in the fifth to set the final score.
Clark finished 2-for-3 with a run, five RBIs and her fourth home run of the season. Minogue went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
VALPARAISO 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1; SAMFORD 1, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
OXFORD, Ala. - The Panther bats were kept in check Sunday as the Eastern Illinois softball team scored only one run during the two-game span. EIU fell to Valparaiso 3-1 in their first game of the day before being shutout 1-0 by Samford.
Following the two losses EIU falls to .500 on the season with an 11-11 record.
After two scoreless innings Valparaiso opened the third inning with back-to-back singles putting runners on second and third base following an error. The Crusaders capitalized with back-to-back sacrifice flies to right field to take a 2-0 lead at the end of the third inning.
The Panthers answered in the bottom of the fifth inning as Maria DeVito smacked a single to right center field scoring. DeVito was thrown out trying to reach second base, but allowed a pinch running Amber Matchett to score from second base to make it 2-1.
Valpo added one more run off a solo home run from Lanie Callaghan in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 3-1.
EIU nearly pulled off the come from behind win in the bottom of the seventh inning loading the bases, but the Panthers hit into a double play to close out the game.
Michelle Rogers fell to 6-4 on the year recording the loss going six innings and tying her single-game high with seven strikeouts. Ashlynne Paul finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with one double against the Crusaders.
The low scoring continued in game two Sunday against Samford as both pitchers kept it scoreless until the sixth inning.
Samford's Abby Sweeney finally put the Bulldogs on the board with a lead-off solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
That would be all Samford needed as the Bulldog's Grey Adams earned the complete game shut out win throwing eight strikeouts. Jessica Wireman threw eight strikeouts as well pitching all six innings and falling to 3-6 this season.
EIU now heads to Kennesaw State for a midweek doubleheader Tuesday starting at 3 p.m.
BELMONT 3, MISSOURI STATE 2; ALABAMA A&M 15, BELMONT 3
OXFORD, Ala. - A three run bomb unleashed by sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) secured a victory for Belmont Softball over Missouri State on the final day of the Leon Smith Classic. The Bruins (18-4) outlasted the Bears (10-9), 3-2.
The Bears were the first to make a mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Missouri State used a pair of singles and a scoring error to plate a run. Belmont was kept off the board until the top of the fifth. Back-to-back singles by freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) opened the door for sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) to unleash her second home run of the season over the center field fence, netting three runs.
Missouri State answered back in their half of the same inning, using an illegal pitch to push a runner over the plate in a bases loaded situation. However, BU looked to sophomore Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas), who made a pair of great catches in right field to end the inning and preserve the 3-2 Belmont advantage.
The Bruin defense turned it up a notch over the next two innings to hold off the constantly threatening Bears. In the bottom of the seventh, Long and Sims both threw lasers across the infield to make plays at first base slow Missouri State. Finally, sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) fielded a pop up for third out in left field to secure Belmont's 3-2 win.
Five different Bruins logged a hit in the win while freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) went the distance in the circle, logging three strikeouts.
Belmont Softball's hot bats were finally cooled on the final day of the Leon Smith Classic. The Bruins (18-5) fell to Alabama A&M (6-12), 15-3, and saw their four game win streak snapped. It also marked the first time since 2005 Belmont fell to Alabama A&M.
Alabama A&M struck first in the top of the first, taking advantage of a Bruin fielding error to send a runner over the plate. In the top of the second, the Bulldogs added three runs to take a 4-0 lead. However, BU was able to fire back in the bottom of the second frame. Senior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) doubled to left to send two home, trimming the AAMU lead to two runs, 4-2.
The teams remained locked in a two run differential for the next two innings. The Bulldogs broke the game open once again in the top of both the fifth and sixth frames, adding three runs in each to jump out to a 10-2 advantage. Belmont was able to post a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, using back-to-back singles by sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) and senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) to spark the team. Sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) used a sacrifice fly to send a runner home but it would be the last time BU would plate a runner.
AAMU struck again in the top of the seventh inning, scoring a whopping five runs fueled by back-to-back homeruns. Belmont attempted to cut into the eight run deficit in their half of the same frame but was retired in order with the help of a double play.
At the plate, freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) led the Bruins, going 2-for-3. Long netted a pair of runs while Wells recorded two RBI.
For the day, three Bruins saw action inside the circle. Sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas), freshman Morgan Marshall and junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) split time, combining for nine strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action next weekend at the Bear Classic, hosted by Mercer, March 17-19.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 11, ALABAMA A&M 0
OXFORD, Ala. - The Jacksonville State softball team wrapped up the Leon Smith Classic with a convincing 11-0 shutout of Alabama A&M Sunday afternoon at Choccolocco Park.
The Gamecocks (14-7) controlled the game from the start as Taylor West collected her seventh win of the season in the circle pitching four innings of two-hit ball. She struck out six and allowed just one free pass. Kirsten Titus entered in the final frame and needed just 11 pitches to retire the side.
JSU posted a 3-1 mark overall for the weekend with wins over Missouri State, Samford and A&M. The Gamecocks will be back in action on Tuesday with a doubleheader against Winthrop beginning at 3 pm at University Field.
Anna Chisolm and Cadi Olover reached base as the first two batters of the day, eventually scoring on Stephanie Lewis' error to the shortstop giving Jax State an early 2-0 advantage. The first pitch of the second hit Taylor Rogers who later came around to score on Chisolm's infield single off the pitcher to sparl a 3-run inning.
JSU added another pair in the third and, and reached the run-rule in the fifth with a five spot. Alexus Jimmerson's single to begin the fifth gave way to Emily Woodruff's double later in the frame. Amber Jones had a pinch-hit single to drive in Chisolm and Woodruff as JSU began to substitute through the final outs.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 5, AUSTIN PEAY 3
MURRAY, Ky. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team cruised through the first three innings versus Northern Illinois, Sunday at Racer Field, but saw the Huskies explode for five fourth-inning runs in handing the Govs a 5-3 loss to close out play at the Murray State Racer Classic.
The Govs (8-11) were leading 1-0 heading into the top of the fourth inning, with APSU starter Autumn Hanners limiting the Huskies to one base runner – coming on a second-inning walk.
But after getting the first Northern Illinois (9-8) hitter out on a called third strike to begin the fourth, Hanners (2-6) proceeded to give up five straight singles to the Huskies – plating four runs.
Hanners would induce a ground ball for the second out of the inning, but that was followed by another run-scoring single that chased the Govs starter.
Overall, six of the Huskies eight hits recorded in the contest -- and all five of their runs -- happened during that stretch in the fourth inning.
The score would remain 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Govs cut the deficit in half on a two-run homer to straight away center field by Kendall Vedder – her third of the season – making the score 5-3.
But that would be as close as the Govs would get, despite getting the tying runs on base – with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but a strike out and a pop up to the infield ended the final rally and sealed the two-run loss.
The Govs had taken an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second -- on an RBI single by Hanners, on her first at bat of the season -- and had chances to extend that lead, but left two runners on base to end the inning followed by leaving the bases loaded in the third without pushing any more runs across.
Overall, five of the eight runners the Govs left on base versus the Huskies were stranded in scoring position.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 8, ALABAMA STATE 1
OXFORD, Ala. - Southeast Missouri (13-5) received a strong start from pitcher Alexis Estes and used another offensive surge to beat Alabama State (5-16), 8-1, Sunday in the final day of the Leon Smith Classic.
SEMO, which served as the host of the 11-team event at Choccolocco Park, finished 3-1 over the four-day tournament that included 25 games.
Estes set the tone, allowing just two hits in 4.1 scoreless innings. She also struck out three before the Redhawks bullpen closed things out.
Offensively, SEMO gave its starting pitcher plenty of run support. The Redhawks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when three of their first four hitters singled to jumpstart the early rally.
Parker Bandy led off with a base hit to right. Sarah Messex reached on a one-out single up the middle and Abby Tillotson followed with a hit to score Bandy. Messex later touched home on Brooke Rheinecker's bunt single.
The Redhawks erupted for five runs in the fourth inning and knocked ASU starter Vanessa Bradford out of the game.
All nine hitters came to the plate as Messex and Tillotson drew back-to-back walks. Messex stole third and scored when Darby Pruett singled to left. Tillotson came home on Mykaela Arellanes' grounder to the pitcher. Bradford continued to have problems locating the strike zone and walked Rachel Anderson and Madison Harris. Bandy then cleared the bases with a two-out, three-RBI double, extending the Redhawks lead to 7-0.
Harris drove in Arellanes on a single to right center for the Redhawks final tally.
Estes improved her record to 5-0 this season. Aubrey Denno and Mackenzie Hoelting worked the last 2.2 innings in relief.
SEMO pounded out 10 hits with eight different starters contributing at least one. Anderson went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Bandy finished at 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs to pave the way.
Bradford took the loss after scattering eight hits and allowing seven runs in 3.2 innings. She also walked four (all in the fourth inning) and struck out one.
The Hornets had just three hits.
SEMO remains on the road for its spring break this week. The Redhawks head to Georgia Tech Tuesday and Kennesaw State Wednesday.
TENNESSEE STATE 10, SAMFORD 9
OXFORD, Ala. - Tennessee State defeated Samford, 10-9 in nine innings, to close out the Leon Smith Classic in Oxford, Ala. on Sunday.
Selena Crafton led the Tigers with four hits while Kim Trice had a pair of hits an team-best three RBI. Whitney Ennis went 2-for-2 in the win while Abi Stephens also had two hits.
Lauren Powell picked up with win as she pitched three scoreless innings.
Tennesee State is back in action on Wednesday when it travels to Northern Kentucky for a doubleheader.
MURRAY STATE 9, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 0
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State defeated Northern Illinois, 9-0, in six innings to close out the 2017 Racer Classic on Sunday.
The Racers scored in every inning except the second.
Jessica Twaddle went 2-for-2 with two runs scores and two RBI while also walking twice in teh game. Maggie Glass drove in a pair of runs while Cayla Levins had a pair of hits in the win.
Mason Robinson earned her 13th win in the circle as she did not give up a run and struck out four. She allowed just three hits over the six innings.
Murray State returns to action on Wednesday as it hosts Western Illinois for a doubleheader.