THURSDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 2, Loyola-Chicago 0
@Murray State 3,
Austin Peay 1
@Murray State 2, Saint Louis 0
@UC Riverside 6,
UT Martin 4
@UC Riverside 8,
UT Martin 4
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2, LOYOLA-CHICAGO 0
OXFORD, Ala. - Southeast Missouri (11-4) used strong pitching and timely hitting to get by Loyola-Chicago (14-2), 2-0, Thursday afternoon in the opening day of the Leon Smith Classic.
Madeline Krumrey and Alexis Estes combined on a six-hit shutout, while Mykaela Arellanes and Rachel Anderson delivered RBI-hits in the heart of SEMO's order.
The Redhawks wasted little time getting on the scoreboard when Anderson hit her team-high fifth triple to knock in Arellanes with two outs in the bottom of the first inning.
After both teams left the bases loaded in the fourth, SEMO tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth when Arellanes doubled to center scoring Madison Harris all the way from first base.
Krumrey gave way Estes with two runners on and one out in the top of the fifth. Estes issued a walk to the first hitter she faced before striking out pinch-hitter Kristin Lea to escape the bases loaded jam.
The Ramblers again had runners on base during their final at-bat in the seventh, but Estes struck out Katie Kasubke and threw out Alyssa Mannucci at first to end the contest.
SEMO defeated a good Loyola-Chicago team which began the year with a 14-game winning streak. The Redhawks became the second team to shutout the Ramblers this season after Alabama did the same two days ago.
Krumrey improved to 6-2 this season, while Estes earned her team-high second save.
Keenan Dolezal (7-1) suffered her loss after giving up two runs on seven hits in five innings. She also struck three and walked two.
SEMO outhit Loyola-Chicago, 8-6, and went without an error for the second time in three games.
Harris went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Arellanes scored the Redhawks other run, and Anderson finished 2-for-3.
Addison Barnouski, Parker Bandy and Ashley Ellis each had one hit, as well.
Jordyn Cordell went 2-for-2 with a walk to lead the Ramblers.
SEMO, which has won eight of its last 10 games, returns to action when it faces Valparaiso Friday at 3:30 p.m., CT.
MURRAY STATE 3, AUSTIN PEAY 1; MURRAY STATE 2, SAINT LOUIS 0
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State softball team picked up a pair of wins to open the 2017 Racer Classic Thursday at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky. The Racers started the day with a 3-1 win over Austin Peay, before closing out Thursday with a 2-0 win over Saint Louis. With the wins, Murray State is now 17-4 on the year and has won each of last six games.
Game 1 – Murray St. 3, Austin Peay 1
Erika Downey went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, as the Racers topped Austin Peay, 3-1, in Friday's opener.
Murray State scored first in the contest on a double steal by Brenna Finck and Taylor Odom that allowed Finck to score for an early 1-0 lead in the first. Downey would do her damage in the second and fourth with a pair of RBI-singles that scored Kristen Bialek and Maggie Glass, respectively to push the lead to 3-0.
Kacy Acree added an RBI-single of her own in the fifth to cut the lead to 3-1 for Austin Peay, however that's as close as the Govs would get, as MSU held on for the 3-1 win. The Racers outhit Austin Peay, 8-5, in the game and committed three less errors at 4-1.
Downey was the only player in the game to record multiple hits or RBIs, ending the game with two each. Mason Robinson moved to 11-2 in the circle with the win by allowing just one run on five hits with five strikeouts and now walks over a full seven innings of work.
Game 2 – Murray St. 2, Saint Louis 0 (6 Inn.)
In game two, Murray State struck the first blow again, this time on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Taylor Odom that allowed Kaylee Ranburger to score from third for a 1-0 lead in the third. In the fourth, Downey drove in another run on a single, pushing the lead out 2-0 for Murray State.
The Billikens finally got their first hit off Murray State's Haven Campbell in the fifth and had runners at second and third in with two outs. With a perfect scoring opportunity, Alex Nickel blasted a ball seemingly over the head of Erika Downey, however Downey was able to make a leaping catch to tend the threat and the inning.
Saint Louis had two base runners again in the sixth, but again the MSU defense came up big and ended the threat. During Murray State's at bat in the bottom of the sixth, the game was called due to inclement weather, giving the Racers the 2-0 win.
Murray State will resume play in the Racer Classic Friday with games against Northern Illinois and Saint Louis at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.
UC RIVERSIDE 6, UT MARITN 4; UC RIVERSIDE 8, UT MARTIN 4
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team got off to a bumpy start in the Highlander Classic, dropping a doubleheader to tournament host UC Riverside on Thursday afternoon. The Skyhawks fell in the opener 6-4 before dropping the second contest 8-4.
The Skyhawks (15-5) are riding a three-game losing streak – their longest of the season – after dropping a pair of contests on the opening day of their final road tournament of the season. On the offensive side of the scoresheet, the Skyhawks would hold their own by scoring four runs in both contest while tallying 18 hits on the day.
Playing in front of family and friends, Anaheim, Calif. native Carly Gonzales made a big splash. Gonzales paced the team with five hits on the day in seven at bats while tallying a double and one RBI. Junior Savannah Dodson also stayed hot with the bat, picking up four hits while senior Renate Meckl tallied three hits – including a solo home run. Meanwhile it was Rachel Williams and Gracyn McBride who paced the squad with two RBIs each.
Despite the team’s offensive balance, the Skyhawks struggled in the pitching circle. Sophomore Sara
Hooten (2-2, 3.71 ERA) and Samantha Scott (3-1, 2.45 ERA) both suffered losses on the afternoon.
Hooten started in Game 1, striking out five while allowing 10 hits and six earned runs in four innings of work. Scott started in Game 2 before struggling, allowing four earned runs and eight hits over 2.2 innings of work. Freshman Seeley Layne would prove as the bright spot, allowing just four hits in 5.1 scoreless innings of relief on the day.
Game 1: UC Riverside 6, UT Martin 4
UC Riverside would use its home field to its advantage early in the bottom of the second inning. The Highlanders would score four runs in the second to take control of the game early. The squad received RBI knocks from Brittney Garcia, Madeline Richard and Haley Harris in the inning.
UT Martin would later break into the scoring column in the top of the fourth inning. After a lengthy at-bat resulted in a strikeout, Meckl launched a solo home run to trim the margin to 4-1 in the fourth.
After the Skyhawks trimmed the margin down to three, UC Riverside added to its margin in the bottom half of the inning. The Highlanders would plate two in the inning off a RBI single by Hannah Rodriguez before bringing the second run home off a sacrifice fly by Jenna Curtan.
Facing a 6-1 deficit, UT Martin would look to get back in the game in the top of the fifth inning. Dodson got the scoring inning started by reaching base via a single before advancing all the way to third on a fielding error. Gonzales would bring home her fellow speedster with a single of her own through the left side before moving into scoring position by swiping second. The following at-bat featured yet another single into left field, this time scoring two off the bat of Williams to trim the deficit to 6-4.
The Skyhawks looked push one final rally in the top of the seventh inning still trailing by two. The squad would draw a pair of walks to move into scoring position, but the final hit would never come as the Skyhawks fell 6-4.
Game 2: UC Riverside 8, UT Martin 4
UT Martin would look to get off on the right foot in the second game of the afternoon by scoring in the first inning. Gonzales would start the game with a leadoff single before eventually watching the bases become loaded later in the inning. With a prime scoring chance at hand, Jodie Duncan would draw a six-pitch walk to bring the first run into score.
UC Riverside would quickly bounce back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to take over the lead. The Highlanders would tie the game off a RBI single by Rodriguez, scoring two on the play before another run came home off a stolen base – taking a 3-1 advantage.
The Skyhawks returned the favor by cutting into the margin in the second. Dodson would reach base on a bunt single before advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Lauren Myers would reach base via a fielder’s choice moving Dodson to third where the duo pulled off a successful double-steal.
UT Martin responded by retaking the lead in the top of the third inning. Both Meckl and Alli Fulcher would reach base to start the inning before moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Duncan. The Skyhawks would ultimately cash in on a two-out opportunity later in the inning as McBride doubled to right center to score both Meckl and Fulcher on the play to take a 4-3 advantage.
Much like the team’s first deficit, UC Riverside would not trail for long after responding in the bottom of the third. The Highlanders would score five runs in the third to take an 8-4 lead – marking the game’s final margin.
The Skyhawks would look to cut into the deficit in the final four innings by tallying at least a hit in each frame, but would not get the runs on the board – dropping its first pair of games in the same day this season.
UT Martin will attempt to get back to its winning ways with a matchup against Big Ten foe Maryland on Friday, March 10. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST.