SUNDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 13, @Morehead State 2
Tennessee Tech 15, @Morehead State 3
Austin Peay 9, @Eastern Illinois 0
@Eastern Illinois 4, Austin Peay 1
Jacksonville State 9, @Eastern Kentucky 2
@Eastern Kentucky 10, Jacksonville State 5
Southeast Missouri 3, @Belmont 2
@Belmont 7, Southeast Missouri 0
UT Martin 6, @Tennessee State 2
UT Martin 5, @Tennessee State 0
TENNESSEE TECH 13, MOREHEAD STATE 2; TENNESSEE TECH 15, MOREHEAD STATE 3
MOREHEAD, Ky. - After a tough day Friday at Eastern Kentucky, the Tennessee Tech softball team found an opportunity to put some runs and hits on the board as the Golden Eagles swept Morehead State on Sunday.
Tech (12-13, 2-2 Ohio Valley Conference) won the first game 13-2, then the second 15-3 in five innings.
But the numbers from just those two games are staggering – nine home runs for the Golden Eagles and 27 RBI, as well as a .400 batting average, collecting 26 hits in 65 at-bats on Sunday. Tech also scored 10 runs in one inning in the second contest.
The biggest production came from Gabby LaSala and Sydney Love-Baker as they each had six RBI as LaSala hit three home runs – two in game one and a third in the nightcap. Raleigh Lewis drove in five runs and had two homers. Hallie Davis, Beth McCulley, Love-Baker and Alexis Trimiar also had home runs in the doubleheader.
McCulley, who went 6-for-7 against Eastern Kentucky, continued her hot hitting as she went 5-for-8 to improve to 11-for-15 in Ohio Valley Conference play. McCulley and Love-Baker came home to score four times each in the twinbill.
Alyssa Arden earned the win in the first game, allowing two runs – one earned – on one hit as she walked two and struck out seven. Kayla Hughes threw the final frame in relief, walking two and striking out three.
Tech scored a single run in the top of the first as McCulley took a full count to hit a leadoff home run. The score stayed that way until the fifth inning as Tech put a five-spot on the board. Love-Baker took a walk on four pitches, then a throwing error allowed Lewis to reach and put runners on the corners. After pinch runner Chandler Caldwell stole second, LaSala blasted a three-run shot to center field.
Later on in the inning, after Ashley McGowan walked on four straight pitches, Trimiar hit a two-run homer to left.
Morehead State responded with its only hit of the contest – a two-run home run from Princess Valencia.
The Golden Eagles went on to score seven unanswered runs with three in the sixth and four in the seventh. Love-Baker walked, then scored on a Lewis single as a throwing error allowed the Tech sophomore to come home. LaSala then hit her second home run of the game, a two-run shot to right center.
In the seventh, Hannah Richter led off with a single, then stole second before McCulley drew a walk. Leigh Ellen Thomas loaded the bases with a pinch-hit single. Love-Baker drove in Richter with a sacrifice fly to center, then Lewis hit a three-run home run to right.
In game two, Haeli Bryson picked up the victory, allowing three runs – two earned – on four hits, while walking one and striking out two. Hughes threw the fifth inning, striking out two.
Tech wasted no time in the first as McCulley singled to start the contest, then Jessie Lowery reached on an error putting runners on second and third. Love-Baker drilled a home run to left field for a quick 3-0 lead on her team-leading eighth homer of the season.
Morehead countered with two runs in the bottom of the second, and the score stood at 3-2 until the fourth inning as Tech collected 10 runs on seven hits and one error, which included a two-run triple for Love-Baker, a two-run homer for Lewis and a grand slam for Davis.
The Golden Eagles added two more runs in the fifth as LaSala hit a solo home run to left center, then Emily Bartholomew drove in Amanda Phy with a grounder to short.
AUSTIN PEAY 9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0; EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, AUSTIN PEAY 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Jade Montgomery retired six batters at the plate leading Eastern Illinois softball to their first OVC win. EIU played a doubleheader with Austin Peay Sunday afternoon. APSU took a 9-0 win in five innings in game one, while EIU came back for a 4-1 win.
The Panthers improve to 10-22 overall and 1-3 in the OVC, while the Governors are now 16-14 overall and 1-1 in the OVC.
EIU goes on a three-game road swing starting with a mid-week match-up at Illinois on Tuesday March 26 at 5 pm.
Game 1
The Panthers tallied three hits to the Governors 11 hits in game one of today's slate. APSU took a 9-0 shutout win in five innings to get their first conference win.
Morgan Rackel scored the game winning run in the first inning off a double from Kelsey Gross. In the third, Rackel hit a double of her own to tally an RBI giving the Govs a 2-0 lead. Drew Dudley hit APSU's third double of the game recording two RBI in the fourth, and the Govs would add another three runs in the top of the fifth to go up 9-0 and win.
Mia Davis, Morgan LaMore, and Taylor Jones each had one of EIU's three hits. Jones also tallied a stolen base.
McKenna Coffman and Sydney Cammon split time on the mound. Coffman made the start and falls to 2-8 overall. Rackel pitched a complete game for the Govs improving to 12-5 with nine strikeouts.
Game 2
EIU capitalized on their six hits and five walks in the final game of today winning 4-1 over APSU. McKeough finished 2-of-3 at the plate, while four other players each had a hit in the win.
Megan Burton scored the Panthers first run of the game on a sac fly from Davis in the first inning. LaMore and McKeough each singled in the third inning to tally RBI. Jones scored on a wild pitch as EIU went up 4-0 on the Govs.
The Panthers won 4-1 as APSU's only run in the game was on a solo homer from Carly Mattson to open the fourth inning. Lexi Owsoski finished 3-of-3 at the plate for the Govs.
Jade Montgomery pitched a complete game for EIU improving to 4-11 with six strikeouts. Kelly Mardones falls to 3-8 for APSU.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, BELMONT 2; BELMONT 7, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri (25-8, 3-1) split a doubleheader with Belmont (19-10, 2-2) Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. The Redhawks took game one, 3-2, and dropped the nightcap, 7-0.
SEMO's season-long 13-game winning streak came to an end after the Redhawks edged the Bruins in game one.
Claudia Gallo went 2-for-3 and hit the game-winning home run with one out in the top of the seventh inning to send SEMO to victory.
Ahead, 2-0, BU tied the game on back-to-back home runs by Audrey Lyle and Elison Ollinger.
Following a Parker Bandy strikeout, Gallo launched her third home run of the season to straightaway center to regain the lead for SEMO in the seventh.
BU loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Alexis Estes forced Cheyenne Cavanaugh to ground out on a 3-2 count to end the contest. Estes claimed her second save of the season.
The Redhawks took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Sarah Messex scored with the help of an error.
SEMO tacked on another run courtesy of a solo home run by Rachel Anderson in the top of the third. For Anderson, it was her seventh round-tripper of the season.
Rachel Rook (7-2) picked up the win in relief. Rook struck out one and walked two in 1.2 scoreless no-hit innings.
Rook took over for Haley Thogmartin who gave SEMO a strong start. Thogmartin pitched a perfect game through 5.1 innings and retired the first 13 hitters she faced. She struck out two and allowed two runs on three hits.
Brooklin Lee (9-4) took the loss. Lee went the distance striking out 10, walking one and giving up three runs on six hits.
Messex and Gallo led the Redhawks with two hits apiece.
Alicia Veltri tossed a complete game four-hit shutout with eight strikeouts to lead BU to its win in the nightcap.
The Bruins staked Veltri to a 5-0 lead after scoring once in the first and four times in the second. Lyle hit a two-run home run and Hayley Baker delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to key BU's big second inning.
A two-RBI single by Chelsea Thomas finished off the scoring in the bottom of the fifth.
Estes (7-2) gave up five runs, four hits, struck out one and walked two in 1.2 innings.
Addison Barnouski had two of SEMO's four hits.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 9, EASTERN KENTUCKY 2; EASTERN KENTUCKY 10, JACKSONVILLE STATE 5
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team split a pair of contests against Jacksonville State University on Sunday afternoon.
EKU (16-11, 3-1 OVC) lost to the Gamecocks 9-2, in game one. In game two, the Colonels used a big third inning to win 10-5.
In game two, the Colonels used a seven-run third inning to take an 8-3 lead and not look back.
Hannah Clark and Carly Robinson started the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no one out. That is when Emily Corbitt sent the 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to give EKU the 4-3 lead. With two outs, Matti Morales sent a single up the middle to extend the inning. Samantha Reynoso joined in on the fun, doubling into the left center gap to bring home one and take a 5-3 lead.
Brooke Harrison came on the pinch hit for Eastern and she delivered an RBI single to bring home Reynoso. Destinee Lizzmore took a 3-2 pitch the other way down the right field line to bring home another run and push the EKU lead to 7-3. Sammi Miller sent a fly ball down the left field line that was misplayed by the outfielder to push the Colonel lead to 8-3 and cap off the seven run third inning.
Jacksonville State (19-7, 3-1 OVC) scored first after Karsen Mosley reached on an error and scored after a couple of wild pitches.
Eastern answered back in the bottom half of the first inning after Lizzmore walked to start the inning. Robinson singled to left field to bring home Lizzmore and tie the game at 1-1.
JSU answered right back in the top of the second. Amber Jones reached on a fielding error to put a runner on first with no one out. Hayley Sims took the 1-0 pitch the other way to give the Gamecocks the 3-1 lead.
Jacksonville State scored one run in the fourth and sixth innings as well.
Bethany Todd started in the circle for the Colonels going five and one-third innings and striking out a career-best seven batters. She allowed three earned runs on the day. Mollie Paulick picked up her fourth save on the year, tossing one and two-third innings while striking out three.
Robinson went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks. Corbitt was 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBIs. Clark chipped in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
Anna Chisolm went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBIs for JSU. Faith Sims was 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBIs.
_
In game one, Jacksonville State scored four runs in the first and never looked back.
Eastern got on the board in the sixth, after Clark sent her team-best ninth home run over the right center field fence to cut the JSU lead to 9-2.
JSU scored one run in the second and four more in the sixth.
Lizzmore was 2-for-3 on the game. Clark went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBIs.
Alexus Jimmerson went 2-for-4 with four RBIs for JSU.
Sims started and went the distance for the Gamecocks. She tossed seven innings, striking out six and allowing two runs.
Reynoso pitched five and one-third innings in relief while striking out three.
Eastern was out-hit 11-3.
UT MARTIN 6, TENNESSEE STATE 2; UT MARTIN 5, TENNESSEE STATE 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team wrapped up its four-game road swing through Music City over the weekend with a series sweep of Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee State on Sunday afternoon, picking up victories of 6-2 and 5-0.
The Skyhawks (21-11, 3-1 OVC) capped off a promising start to the OVC slate by winning three of four contests on the opening weekend – including a clean sweep of Sunday’s action despite less than ideal playing conditions. With the game originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, first pitch was delayed by 56 minutes as a weather system moved through Nashville.
Game 31: UT Martin 6, Tennessee State 2
The delay would not cause problems for the Skyhawks as the visitors struck swiftly for three runs in the top of the first inning. The top of the order each reached before a single to left field by Gracyn McBride scored the game’s first run. With the early run on the board, the junior duo of Aalia Bivens and Haylee Short added to the margin with RBI singles of their own to give the Skyhawks a three-run advantage.
The score would remain the same until the top of the third inning when McBride tallied her second hit of the game with a solo home run to center field. The home run ranks as the fifth of the season for the senior and 21st of her career to move into a tie for eighth place in program history – joining former Skyhawks Hall of Famer Nicole Davis and Kristin Runyan.
Both teams would score a run in the fourth inning. UT Martin brought home its fifth run to score in the top half of the inning on a RBI single by Paige Clark. Meanwhile, Tennessee State finally got on the board when Savanah Wallace was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to snap the shutout.
The Lady Tigers (5-14, 0-4 OVC) later added another run on a steal of home by Bri Vire to make it 5-2. The three-run margin would be as close as the home squad could cut the margin down the stretch as freshman Chelsey Gore punctuated the contest with a RBI single in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Freshman Lexi Ray got the start, allowing one earned run in three innings of work before being relieved. Junior Hannah Ridolfi (5-4) would be credited with the win, allowing one earned run over the final four innings of work.
Game 32: UT Martin 5, Tennessee State 0
Much like in the first game of the day, UT Martin jumped out in front in the top of the first inning. Clark would do much of the work in the inning by drawing a walk to leadoff the game before swiping second base to move into scoring position. After being moved to third on a single by Chayse Skinner, Clark later scored on a sacrifice fly by Alli Fulcher to take an early advantage.
The Skyhawks added their second run of the contest in the third inning on a RBI single through the left side by Fulcher for her second RBI of the contest. UT Martin continued to look for more in the fourth inning to stretch out the margin. A RBI single to left center by Georgia Land scored the Skyhawks third run before a sacrifice fly by Clark scored the freshman to close out the fourth.
While the game was well within control, UT Martin added a final run to its offensive output in the top of the fifth inning. Fulcher led off the inning with a single to center to start the rally before later circling the bases and scoring on a double to left center by Short to make it a 5-0 ballgame.
Sophomore Caitlin Karo (5-2) picked up one of her more dominating performances in her young career, tossing her fourth career shutout. Karo would be efficient, allowing four hits and zero earned runs in seven innings of work.