FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Jacksonville State 4, SIUE 0
@Jacksonville State 11, SIUE 10 (10)
@Murray State 7, Tennessee State 1
Tennessee State 2, @Murray State 1
@Tennessee Tech 8, Eastern Illinois 0 (5)
@Tennessee Tech 5, Eastern Illinois 3
Eastern Kentucky 4, @UT Martin 3
Eastern Kentucky 9, @UT Martin 3
@Austin Peay 9, Belmont 1
@Austin Peay 6, Belmont 3
JACKSONVILLE STATE 4, SIUE 0; JACKSONVILLE STATE 11, SIUE 10
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Faith Sims' arm and Lex Hull's bat led the Jacksonville State softball team to a sweep of SIU-Edwardsville on Friday at University Field.
Sims earned the win in both games for the Gamecocks (21-8, 4-1 Ohio Valley Conference), tossing a three-hitter in a 4-0 first game and then tossing four innings of relief in an 11-10, 10 inning marathon in the finale against the Cougars (8-13, 0-2 OVC).
Hull put the exclamation point on a good day for the Gamecocks, belting a walk-off homer in the 11th of the nightcap. The homer capped a day that saw her go 4-for-7 with the homer, a double and three RBI over the two games. She was 4-for-5 in the second game.
Hull, Hannahstaysia Weaver and Anna Chisolm each recorded four hits on the day, leading a JSU offense that hit .294, scored 15 runs and notched 20 hits over the two games.
Sims (14-1) tossed 11 shutout innings over the two games. The native of Cordova, Ala., held SIUE to three hits over seven shutout frames in the opener, Sims' 12th complete game and fifth shutout of the season. In the nightcap, she allowed just two hits in four relief innings to grab that win and improve to 5-0 with a 0.54 ERA in JSU's six OVC games so far.
Sims and SIUE's Emily Ingles dueled for a while in the opener. Taylor Beshears put JSU on the board in the third with her 10th home run of the year, a solo blast to deep left center. Neither pitcher allowed anything else until the sixth, when JSU got three insurance runs on a two-run Amber Jones double and an RBI grounder from Jada Terry.
The Cougars loaded the bases on Sims with one out in the seventh, but the Gamecocks' ace got a strike out and a ground out to strand them and secure the win.
Ingles (5-7) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on four hits and six walks in six innings of work. Sims struck out six in her seven innings of three-hit softball.
The second game was a different story, with the two combining for 20 runs before Ingles and Sims came back into the circle to settle things down.
SIUE scored two in the first, only to watch the Gamecocks answer with three in the bottom of the inning. A two-run single from Chisolm tied it, while an RBI double from Hull put JSU on top.
After SIUE tied it in the top of the third, JSU seemed to break it open in the home half of that frame, plating three on a bases-clearing three-run double by Hayley Sims that missed clearing the center field wall by a few feet.
The Cougars came to life after that, scoring three in the fourth and four in the fifth to take what looked to be a commanding 10-6 lead.
JSU nipped away, scoring one on a fifth inning Hayley Sims double and then three in the sixth to tie the game. Anna Hood doubled in the first two of those and then Hull placed an infield single just out of the reach of shortstop Alana Cobb-Adams to drive in the other and tie the game at 10-10.
Ingles and Sims put zeroes on the board for the next three and a half innings, before Hull stepped in with two outs and the bases empty before delivering her game winner.
Ingles lost again, this time allowing three runs on seven hits in 4 and 2/3 innings in the circle. She was beaten by Sims' four innings of two-hit work that also saw her strike out four.
JSU will be at home on Sunday, when the Gamecocks host Eastern Illinois in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at University Field.
MURRAY STATE 7, TENNESSEE STATE 1; TENNESSEE STATE 2, MURRAY STATE 1
MURRAY, Ky. -Murray State softball continued their Ohio Valley Conference campaign on Friday, hosting Tennessee State in an afternoon doubleheader in Murray, Kentucky. The Racers split the two games with TSU, dropping the first game 2-1 in extra innings before getting revenge with a 7-1 victory in game two.
Game 1: Tennessee State 2, Murray State 1:
The Racers came out strong in the first competition of the afternoon, scoring the game's first run in the opening frame after a Jensen Striegel RBI-single drove in Brenna Finck to make the score 1-0 in favor of the Racers through one inning of action.
In what would become a grueling pitcher's duel, the game's next 12 batters would be retired before Tennessee State shifted the momentum to their side when Bri Vire scored on a Katie Schneider single to right field to even the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth.
The Racers would have a chance to break the tie in the bottom of the fifth inning, when they would put runners on first and second with just one away. While a base hit through the infield would likely score the go-ahead run, the inning would come to a screeching halt after TSU turned a double play to escape the frame.
With Hannah James working in the circle for the Racers, she would continue to baffle Tiger batters as she recorded 1-2-3 sixth and seventh frames to leave the game tied at 1-1 entering the home half of the seventh inning.
Needing just a single score to end the ballgame, the Racers had a golden opportunity with runners on second and third with just one down in the bottom of the seventh. Raven Loveless, who was working on a complete game in the circle for TSU, would work out of the jam to force extra innings in game one of the OVC doubleheader.
The Tigers would push across the go-ahead run in their half of the eighth when a two-out single from Sarah Snell scored Kierra Ware to give her side a 2-1 lead in extra innings.
With the Racers needing a run to extend the ballgame in the home half, they would have a runner on second with two outs, but were unable to push across the tying run – falling to TSU 2-1 in the first game of the afternoon.
Brenna Finck (3-4, 2B, SB) and Lillie Goetz (2-4, 2B) turned in impressive performances at the plate, accounting for both of Murray State's extra-base hits in the defeat.
Despite taking the loss in the circle, Hannah James tossed a spectacular outing for Murray State. Dealing eight innings and surrendering just one earned run, the freshman recorded 10 strikeouts in her 19th start of the season.
Game 2: Murray State 7, Tennessee State 1:
The Racers would once again put up a run in the opening frame when a Lille Goetz RBI-double scored Jensen Striegel to give her side a 1-0 lead through the first inning of play.
Taylor Makowsky would mystify Tiger hitters in her fifth start in the circle for the Racers, striking out six through her first three innings of work to begin the ballgame.
Game two of the afternoon would not see another score until the Racer half of the fifth, when Murray State would bat around as part of a four-run inning to take a 5-0 lead. Lillie Goetz would drive in the first two runs of the inning after she drove the first pitch to right field for her second double of the game.
Sierra Gilmore would follow by plating another pair of runs after she sent a 1-0 offering over fence in left. Her third home run of 2019 would give the Racers a 5-0 lead through the fifth inning of action.
After a solo home run from Katie Schneider would put TSU on the board in the top of the sixth, the Racers would pick up where they left off in the ensuing home half with a pair of insurance runs to hold a 7-1 advantage entering the final frame. Lillie Goetz would tie a Murray State single-game record with her third triple of the ballgame, driving in Striegel to score the first run of the inning. The other score in the sixth would come via a Lexi Jones sacrifice fly to center to give her side a six-run cushion to begin the seventh inning of play.
Taylor Makowsky would go the distance in the circle after she recorded the final three outs in the seventh to secure a 7-1 victory in game two for Murray State. She would improve to 3-1 on the season, striking out eight batters and surrendering just one earned run in the win.
Lillie Goetz turned in a monster performance to fuel a potent Racer offense, driving in four runs on three doubles while scoring a pair of runs in game two of the doubleheader.
The Racers (13-17, 3-1) will return to action on Sunday with another pair of OVC contests against Belmont. The first pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky.
TENNESSEE TECH 8, EASTERN ILLNOIS 0; TENNESSEE TECH 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -The way Alyssa Arden was pitching on Friday, the Tennessee Tech softball team only needed one run.
But as the freshman mowed down the Eastern Illinois offense in the first game, all the visiting Panthers could do was muster a walk on a hit batter.
The one miscue was it as Arden collected her second no-hitter of the campaign in a five-inning 8-0 affair in game one. Tech also won the second game In a come-from-behind fashion to take the sweep with a 5-3 win in the nightcap.
With the victory, Tech has won four straight OVC contests.
Arden became just the fourth Tennessee Tech pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season and the first since the former Bonnie Bynum did it as a freshman in 2004. Heather Peterson (two in 1995) and Katie Maroon (two in 1997) also accomplished the same feat.
It is also the first no-hitter for the Golden Eagles against OVC competition since Lori Bayless threw one against Eastern Kentucky in the 2003 OVC Tournament.
Arden (8-6) retired 13 straight batters before hitting Morgan Lamore in the top of the fifth, then retired the final two batters to complete the run-rule shortened no-hit bid.
But it became a lot easier for the freshman when the Golden Eagles put a five-spot on the board in the bottom of the first. Sydney Love-Baker singled to left, then Raleigh Lewis drove in Jessie Lowery with a single up the middle. Gabby LaSala walked on four straight pitches, loading the bases.
Up to the plate was Hallie Davis. The senior hit a pinch-hit grand slam on Sunday at Morehead State, then facing a 1-1 count, went yard again for her second grand slam in three games.
In Ohio Valley Conference play alone this season, Davis has two home runs and nine RBI, including the five she had in the first game against the Panthers. The only player to drive in more in league play is Lewis, who has 12 – including her five on Friday.
Davis also drove in another run in the fourth inning. She faced a similar situation with the bases loaded, but was hit by the pitch bringing in Love-Baker on the forced run.
Tech also scored two runs the frame before in the third as Love-Baker scored on Alexis Trimiar’s single back to the circle as the ball was forced out of bounds on the third base side. A fielding error on a ball hit by Ashley McGowan was enough for Lewis to come across.
Jade Montgomery (4-12) took the loss, allowing seven runs – six earned – on six hits in two innings and facing the first two batters of the third. McKenna Coffman came on in relief, allowing one run on two hits, while Jenna Robbins came in and coaxed the final Tech out of the contest.
EIU’s pitching fared better in the second game as Hannah Cravens made her first start in the circle and kept the Tech bats silent for most of the game – well, just not Lewis’.
The Tech freshman was 2-for-2, driving in all five of the Golden Eagles’ runs in the nightcap. In the first inning, she drove in Lowery on a single to right. In the third, Lowery came home to score on Lewis’ sacrifice fly to left.
The big blow came in the fifth. After Eastern Illinois (10-25, 1-5 OVC) struck for three runs on two home runs to center field to take a 3-2 lead, Lewis found a golden opportunity in the fifth inning. Lowery reached on a single to third, then stole second, while Love-Baker reached on a walk.
The first pitch went outside for a ball. The second one was no doubt. Lewis’ swing drove the ball towering over the outfield fence to put the Golden Eagles back up on top.
Cravens finished the contest allowing five runs – four earned – on six hits in six frames of work, walking two and striking out two.
Haeli Bryson gave up the three runs to the Panthers, yielding two earned runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. Kayla Hughes (3-3) came on in relief and pitched a gem as she worked the final 3 2/3 innings, giving up just one hit and a walk while striking out two.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 4, UT MARTIN 3; EASTERN KENTUCKY 9, UT MARTIN 3
MARTIN. Tenn. -– The Eastern Kentucky University softball team picked up a pair wins against the University of Tennessee at Martin on Friday night.
EKU (18-11, 5-1 OVC) won game one against the Skyhawks, 4-3. In game two, the Colonels got a good pitching effort to win 9-3.
In game one, EKU scored the first three runs of the game and held on late against UT Martin.
Emily Corbitt and Matti Morales got the inning started with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no one out. Zoe Mihalicz bunted them over to put runners on second and third. Melissa Jacobsen delivered an RBI single to give EKU the early 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, Sammi Miller singled and Hannah Clark walked to put runners on first and second with no one out. Corbitt sent a ball up the middle that was misplayed by the second baseman to bring home another run and take a 2-0 lead.
Following a Morales walk to load the bases, Mihalicz drove in a run with a ground out to take a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings.
UT Martin (21-14, 3-3 OVC) scored in the bottom of the third after a pair of singles and a sac bunt put runners on second and third with one out. Paige Clark brought home the first run with a RBI groundout.
In the top of the fifth inning, Corbitt drove in what would be the winning run with a sac fly to bring home Clark and take a 4-1 lead.
UTM was not done though after a seventh inning rally. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Kenna Garst reached on an error to bring home two, but the Skyhawks could not get any closer.
Mollie Paulick ended the rally with a strikeout to end the game.
Clark went 3-for-3 with one walk. Corbitt was 1-for-3 with one RBI and Mihalicz chipped in a 1-for-2 performance with a RBI of her own.
Samantha Reynoso picked up the win tossing three and two-third innings of scoreless softball. Paulick picked up her team-best fifth save on the year.
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In game two, Eastern scored two in the first, one in the second and one in the third to take a 4-0 lead and not look back.
Miller started with a single up the middle, followed by a hit by pitch for Carly Robinson. Corbitt took a 2-1 pitch right back where it came from to bring home a pair of runs after the center fielder misplayed the ball.
Mihalicz got things started in the top of the second with a double to right center. Gaby De La Cerda took a 1-2 pitch into right center to take a 3-0 lead after the top of the second inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Robinson sent the 1-0 pitch over the right field fence to take a 5-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
UTM scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Colonel lead, 5-2, after five innings.
Mihalicz hit her second double of the game to start the top of the sixth inning followed by De La Cerda’s third hit of the game to put runners on first and third with no one out. Melissa Jacobsen delivered a two RBI double down the right field line to take a 7-2 lead. Lizzmore wasted no time sending an 0-1 pitch over the right field fence to take a 9-2 lead.
Bethany Todd started in the circle going four and one-third innings striking out two and letting up a pair of unearned runs.
Robinson went 2-for-3 with one home run and one RBI. De La Cerda was 3-for-4 with one RBI, with Lizzmore going 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBIs.
Eastern out-hit UTM 14-4 in game two.
AUSTIN PEAY 9, BELMONT 1; AUSTIN PEAY 6, BELMONT 3
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University hit seven home runs versus Belmont, Friday at Cathi Maynard Park, as the Govs swept an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader versus the Bruins, 9-1 and 6-3.
In Game 1, the Govs (18-14, 3-1 OVC) opened their scoring in the second inning with a solo home run by Carly Mattson, followed an inning later by another solo shot by Drew Dudley and an RBI triple by Kelsey Gross to make it 3-0.
Belmont (19-12, 2-4 OVC) would cut the Govs lead to 3-1 on an RBI single by Bailey Sims, but that would be as close as they would get, as APSU’s Morgan Rackel shut the Bruins down after that, not allowing another run, while giving up just one hit and a walk over her last two innings of work.
Overall, Rackel allowed five hits and the one walk while striking out six.
The Govs would add a single run in the fifth inning, on a single by Mattson, before closing out the game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning – highlighted by a three-run homer by Rackel – for the 9-1 final.
In Game 2, Belmont jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, with the Bruins scoring one run in the first on a double by Hayley Baker, then adding two in the second on a two-run single by Cheyenne Cavanaugh.
Rackel would spearhead the Govs rally after than recording five RBIs in her last three at bats, including two, two-run homers in the fifth and sixth innings to go with an RBI single in the third.
Danielle Liermann would also hit a home run in the sixth inning, which was her 200th career hit.
Gross (2-1) got the win in relief, throwing four shutout innings, while allowing one hit and walking two.