TUESDAY'S SCORES
Southern Illinois 9,
@Southeast Missouri 3
Chattanooga 8,
@Belmont 1
@Ole Miss 13,
UT Martin 0
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 9, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Rachel Anderson went 3-for-4 with a RBI and Sarah Messex finished at 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI as Southeast Missouri (32-12) fell to longstanding rival Southern Illinois (27-10), 9-3, Tuesday in midweek action at the Southeast Softball Complex.
Messex launched her fifth home run of the season to left field to pull SEMO within a run (4-3) in the bottom of the fourth inning, but that was as close as the Redhawks would get in the 94thmeeting between these teams.
SIU answered with a home run in each of the next two innings to stretch its lead to 8-3. Ashley Wood hit a two-run home run with two outs in the fifth and Kyleigh Decker hit a solo home run as part of a two-run sixth inning.
The Salukis put one more run on the board when Wood walked and came around to score with the help of a throwing error.
Brianna Jones (18-6) picked up the win in relief. Jones struck out three, walked one and gave up two runs on two hits in 4.2 innings.
Haley Thogmartin (14-5) took the loss. Thogmartin worked two innings allowing four runs on four hits.
SIU recorded 10 hits for the game with Megan Brown and Jordan Spicer leading the way with two apiece.
The Redhawks had seven hits, including a combined five from Anderson and Messex.
Both teams left seven runners on base.
CHATTANOOGA 8, BELMONT 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont Softball jumped out to an early lead but was unable to sustain it over the stretch and fell to visiting Chattanooga on Tuesday at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins (26-18) were held off, 8-1, after a late rally by the Mocs (26-12).
BU leapt onto the scoreboard first, posting a run in the bottom of the opening inning. Senior Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) battled through 14 pitches to smash a homerun, her fourth of the season, to record what would become Belmont's lone run of the contest. UTC fired back in the top of the second frame, using a sac fly to knot the score, 1-1.
The contest remained stalemated over the next inning until the Mocs exploded in the top of fourth inning. Chattanooga plated four runs, behind a walk and a pair of singles that opened the door for a base clearing double. A deep single to left sent another UTC pair of players home and gave the visitors the 5-1 advantage. Belmont attempted to make moves in the fifth and sixth frames but could not send a runner over the plate. Fortunately, the BU defense was being just as stingy and kept the Mocs off the board as well.
Chattanooga surged again, this time in the top of the seventh inning, posting three runs to go up 8-1. In Belmont's half of the same frame, sophomore Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas) started a one-out rally, with a hard hit infield single. A UTC fielding error allowed senior Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) to reach first base before a single by freshman Autumn McDanel (Morovia, Iowa) loaded the bases. Unfortunately, BU was unable to send any of the runners home and went on to fall, 8-1.
For the day, Cavanaugh went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Bruins.
Inside the circle, sophomore Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) and junior Brittany Kennett (Melbourne, Australia) split time, combining for five strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action on Friday at E.S. Rose Park, resuming Ohio Valley Conference play. The Bruins host Eastern Kentucky for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m
OLE MISS 13, UT MARTIN 0
OXFORD, Miss. - Recap coming soon.