SUNDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Kentucky 3, Austin Peay 1
@Austin Peay 11, Eastern Kentucky 3
Belmont 10, @SIUE 4
Belmont 11, @SIUE 3 (5)
@Jacksonville State 1, Southeast Missouri 0
Southeast Missouri 3, @Jacksonville State 1
@Murray State 9, Morehead State 1
@Murray State 15, Morehead State 0
UT Martin 4, @Tennessee Tech 0
UT Martin 15, @Tennessee Tech 0
@Eastern Illinois 1, Tennessee State 0 (8)
@Eastern Illinois 7, Tennessee State 4
EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, AUSTIN PEAY 1; AUSTIN PEAY 11, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky spilt an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader, Sunday at Cathi Maynard Park, with the Colonels winning the opener, 3-1, with the Govs winning the nightcap, 11-3, in five innings.
In Game 1, Austin Peay (28-19, 13-5 OVC) took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Kelsey Gross in the second inning, but couldn’t push anymore across, leaving 10 runners stranded on base in the contest.
Eastern Kentucky (28-18, 14-6) would rally in the top of the sixth inning, with Melissa Jacobsen scoring to tie the game 1-1 on an APSU error, followed by a two-run homer from Hannah Clark two batters later for the 3-1 final margin.
Murphy McRoberts (1-6) picked up the win in relief, while Morgan Rackel (19-5) too the loss despite not giving up an earned run and striking out 10.
Game 2 would see the Govs take the lead early once again, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning – including one run on an RBI double by Carly Mattson.
The Colonels would answer with three runs of it own in the third inning, to take the lead 3-2, with Destinee Lizzmore hitting a two-run homer and Zoe Mihalicz driving in the other run with a single.
But unlike Game 1, the Govs hitters continued to drive in runs, scoring three times in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings – highlighted by four RBIs by Rackel -- for the 11-3 run-rule shorten contest.
Gross (6-1) picked up the win for Austin Peay, while Mollie Paulick (11-7) took the loss.
BELMONT 10, SIUE 3; BELMONT 11, SIUE 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - For the first time since 2017, Belmont University Softball has recorded four consecutive conference victories. On Sunday, the Bruins (30-19, 12-8 OVC) swept SIUE (15-24, 7-11 OVC), winning 10-4 and 11-3 in five innings to extend their winning streak to four contests.
The pair of wins marked the first time since joining the OVC that BU has swept the Cougars and it marks the first time since joining the OVC that BU has swept both opponents on a road weekend in league play. Additionally, 2019 becomes the sixth time in program history the team has recorded at least 30 victories and it stands as the first time Belmont has recorded at least 12 wins in conference play in the Division I era.
The first two and a half innings of game one was a pitchers' duel with neither team able to get a runner over the plate. The Cougars were able to score first in their half of the third frame, after loading the bases and taking advantage of a pair of BU throwing errors. The flurry saw SIUE take a 2-0 lead.
The Bruins were finally able to respond in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back walks for senior Chelsea Thomas (Hot Springs, Ark.) and sophomore Elison Ollinger (Robins, Iowa) saw the first SIUE pitching change. Four consecutive singles for seniors Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) and Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas), freshman Audrey Lyle (Westlake, Ohio) and junior Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) sent three over the plate and forced the Cougars to change pitchers again. However, the next two BU players were able to walk in runs and Ollinger, who saw her second at-bat in the inning, used a hard single to send another Bruin home. At the end of the stunning half inning, Belmont led, 6-2.
The bats remained hot in the top of the following inning for BU. Cook sent a double to right and Lyle reached on four balls before sophomore Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) cleared the bases with her double to right that put Belmont ahead, 8-2. A pair of singles with two outs helped the Cougars to plate a single runner in the bottom of the sixth. The Bruins refused to let up in the top of the seventh, adding more to their run tally. A fielding error by SIUE helped sophomore Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas) reach before Cook was sent to first base on four balls. The Cougars sent another pitcher into the circle to attempt to slow down the Bruins. Baker cleared the bases with a double to left, putting BU ahead, 10-3. SIUE was able to add a single run in its half of the final inning but Belmont shut down a two-out rally to secure the 10-4 victory.
Belmont did not see its bats cool in the nightcap. In the top of the first frame, Baker smashed a double up the middle and was able to use her speed to get over the plate after a fielding error of a hit by Lyle. BU exploded offensively in the top of the second inning. Back-to-back walks for Veltri and Lee were followed with a single by Thomas to load the bases. A triple by Cook cleared the bases and put Belmont ahead, 4-2. Baker reached on a Cougar fielding error, helping another run score and before a 2-out two run bomb by Lyle continued to expand the BU lead. After the scoring onslaught, Belmont led 7-2.
The Bruins refused to let off the gas and added even more runs in the top of the third inning. Cavanaugh was walked and three consecutive singles led to a pair of runs being scored. Sims reached on four balls to load the bases once again and a double to the fence by Veltri helped two more runners over the plate. This time, BU was ahead a commanding 11-2. SIUE had one last gasp in the bottom of the fifth inning, sneaking one run over the plate by stringent defensive play saw Belmont hold on for the 11-3 win.
For the day, Cook batted .750 with five runs, a double, a triple and four RBI. Veltri batted .600 with a run, three doubles and five RBI.
Inside the circle, Lee and Veltri each went the distance in her respective contest. Lee finished with six strikeouts in her win while Veltri posted three in her win.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 1, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Senior Faith Sims threw her second no hitter in three days to lead Jacksonville State to a split with Southeast Missouri and to clinch at least a share of another Ohio Valley Conference title on Senior Day Sunday.
Just 48 hours after no-hitting UT Martin on Friday, Sims tossed her third-career no-no in a 1-0 win in the opening game for the Gamecocks (33-13, 17-5 OVC). The Redhawks (38-15, 15-5 OVC) kept their hopes of sharing the title alive with a 3-1 win in the nightcap.
Sims continued her dominance of OVC pitching on Sunday, facing just one batter over the minimum and striking out five batters in handing SEMO its first no-hitter this season. The Redhawks entered the game leading the OVC with a .307 average and a .320 average in conference play.
The senior from Cordova, Ala., made the most of her Senior Day start that came just two days after tossing 10 hitless innings over a sweep of UTM that saw her earn a win and a save. On Sunday, Sims (20-4) threw 7 and 1.3 hitless frames over the twinbill. She becomes the third Gamecock to earn 20 wins in different seasons, joining Ann Shelton (1995, 96) and Carly Kellam (2005, 06), and has not allowed a hit in her last 21 and 2/3 innings pitched.
The split secures at least a share of JSU's seventh OVC regular season title since joining the league in 2004. It is the Gamecocks' 14thOVC trophy, thanks to seven OVC Tournament titles.
Sims was on the winning end of a pitcher's duel in the first game, edging the SEMO duo of Rachel Rook and Kaylee Anderson in the 1-0 game. The Redhawks held JSU to just three hits, but two of those came in succession in the sixth to win the game.
A two-out infield single from Hannahstaysia Weaver set up a game-winning double by Karsen Mosley that gave Sims all the run support she would need.
An inside pitch grazed Claudia Gallo to put the tying run on base, but third baseman Mosley and second baseman Anna Chisolm turned a double play on Ashley Ellis to end the game and preserve the win.
Rook started the game and held JSU scoreless on one hit through four innings of work. Anderson (5-3) tossed the final two innings and suffered the loss after allowing a run on those two back-to-back hits in the sixth.
In the second game of the day, SEMO's top hitter, Rachel Anderson, put her team on her back and lifted the Redhawks to the split. She had a homer, double and single and drove in two runs for SEMO. She singled in the first run in the second and homered for the last in the top of the seventh.
JSU scored its run in the sixth, when Taylor Beshears doubled in Alexus Jimmerson from first to cut what was a two-run deficit in half. Anderson's homer stretched the lead back to two in the top of the seventh.
Haley Thogmartin (17-6) earned the win for SEMO, holding JSU to a run on four hits in five innings of work. Kaylee Anerson tossed the final two innings and held JSU to a hit and earned her second save of the season.
Reagan Watkins (2-1) suffered the loss for JSU, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in 2 and 2/3 innings of work. Senior Kirsten Titus held SEMO to a run on two hits and a pair of walks in 3 and 2/3 innings before Sims came in to retire the final batter for SEM0 on just one pitch.
MURRAY STATE 9, MOREHEAD STATE 1; MURRAY STATE 15, MOREHAED STATE 0
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State softball welcomed Morehead State to Racer Field for their final two home games of 2019 on Sunday afternoon. Putting on a dazzling offensive display over the pair of contests, the Racers celebrated Senior Day with victories of 9-1 and 15-0 over the visiting Eagles. Extending the Racer winning streak to three games, the two triumphs also clinched a postseason berth as Murray State improved to 14-6 against Ohio Valley Conference opponents.
Game 1 - Murray State 9, Morehead State 1:
Exploding for five runs in the opening frame of game one, the Racers took a commanding lead and never looked back. After Lillie Goetz, Jensen Striegel, and Sierra Gilmore drew three consecutive walks to begin the afternoon, Lindsey Carroll's sacrifice fly to right field would drive in the first of many Racer runs on the day. Brenna Finck would follow with a two-run single, while Logan Braundmeier and Denise Teague would drive in the other two runs to cap the first-frame scoring extravaganza.
Murray State would tack on two more in the second, courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Sierra Gilmore and another run-scoring single from Brenna Finck, as the Racers held a 7-0 advantage through the end of two complete innings.
Hannah James, who got the start in the circle for Murray State, fanned three batters over two scoreless innings of work before senior Amber Van Duyse took over the pitching duties for the Racers in the third.
Denise Teague would then extend the Racer lead to 8-0 in the home half of the third when she got a good piece of a 1-1 delivery to drive in Logan Braundmeier with a one-run double.
Helyna Bissell brought Aubrey Bennett around to score, accounting for the only Eagle run of the ballgame for Morehead State in the fourth, before the Racers would bring game one to an early ending in the bottom half of the fifth.
After Denise Teague opened the frame with a trip to first base by way of a walk, Lexi Jones ended the contest with a run-scoring double to left center, securing a 9-1 victory for the Racers.
Amber Van Duyse (3-2) would earn the win in the circle for Murray State, tossing three innings without surrendering an earned run.
At the plate, the dazzling offensive display was led by Brenna Finck (2-2, 3 RBI, R) while Jensen Striegel, Denise Teague, and Lexi Jones each doubled in the first game of the doubleheader.
Game 2 – Murray State 15, Morehead State 0:
Game two would tell a similar tale after the Racers jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after the end of the first inning. Brenna Finck opened the scoring with a two-run single to right field, while Logan Braundmeier would record an RBI-double of her own later in the frame.
Lexi Jones kicked off the second inning by sending a Randi Hamilton delivery soaring over the wall in left center to give the Racers a 5-0 lead through two innings of action.
With Taylor Makowsky dealing in the circle for Murray State, she would face the minimum nine batters through her three-inning shift on the day.
If there was ever a doubt that the Racers were in control of game two, they would put those ideas to rest after they broke open the ballgame with a seven-run third inning. An RBI-single from Denise Teague and a two-run double from Brenna Finck would highlight the plethora of Racer runs as they now owned a 12-0 lead after the third inning of the competition.
In what would be their last inning at the plate, the Racers added three final runs in the bottom of the fourth to cap an outing that saw 15 runs on 19 Murray State hits.
In her first career plate appearance, freshman Carly St. George plated a pair of runs with a one-out double down the right field line, before Jensen Striegel scored from third on a wild pitch to conclude Murray State's impressive offensive performance.
Taylor Makowsky improved to 8-4 in the circle while surrendering just one hit in three scoreless innings of action, while Grace Vaughn also dealt a pair of scoreless frames with two strikeouts in the 15-0 victory.
Lillie Goetz (3-4, RBI, 3 R), Jensen Striegel (3-3, R), and Lexi Jones (3-3, RBI, 3 R, HR) all collected three hits apiece to fuel a potent Racer offense in a dominant performance over the Eagles of Morehead State.
UT MARTIN 4, TENNESSEE TECH 0; UT MARTIN 15, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - With today marking arguably the biggest series of the season, the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team stepped up to the plate and surged past Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee Tech – outscoring its opponent 19-0 for a series sweep behind a complete team effort.
The Skyhawks (29-24, 10-10 OVC) won in every phase of the game with tremendous pitching, spectacular defensive plays and timely hitting. With the pair of victories, UT Martin clinched a berth in the upcoming OVC Softball Championship. One of the team’s many highlights came in the form of freshman standout Lexi Ray (8-7) who was simply amazing, notching a perfect game with two strikeouts in five innings of work. The perfect game marked the third in program history and first since 2007.
While Ray was perfect in the circle, junior Hannah Ridolfi (8-9) set the standard in Game 1 with a shutout of her own. Ridolfi scattered four hits while striking out a pair in eight shutout innings for her third of the season.
With the pair of outstanding pitching performances, the Skyhawk offense just needed to tally a single run in both games for victories but vastly exceeded that total. The Skyhawks would score 19 runs on the afternoon behind a team-leading four hits by Haylee Short while the speedster converted all five of her stolen base attempts. Freshmen Chelsey Gore and Kenna Garst each tallied three base hits while combining for three RBIs. Joining in the action was Shelby Woodard, Gracyn McBride, Alli Fulcher, Paige Clark, Aalia Bivens and Kallie Pickens who each tallied a pair of base knocks.
UT Martin 4, Tennessee Tech 0 (Eight innings)
The first game of the day proved to be a pitching duel with Ridolfi allowing just one base hit until the bottom of the seventh while the game remained in a scoreless tie. That’s when things began to become stressful for the Skyhawks.
With both teams fighting for one of the final spots in the tournament field, Tennessee Tech tallied a pair of singles to lead off the inning. A third single by Gabby LaSala almost tallied a walk-off single but a laser outfield assist from Bivens sniped the runner attempting to score at home to record the inning’s first out. With the game continued for another at bat, head coach Donley Canary brought Gabbi Campbell off the bench and inserted her as a fifth infielder – playing straight up the middle with runners on first and second. As often happens, the ball found the new infielder as Campbell caught the ball on a line drive and rifled the ball back to first to record a double play to escape the inning and force extras.
With a new life, UT Martin sprung to action as Gore led off the inning with a single up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt, Bivens came through on the offensive side of the ball with the eventual game-winning single through the left side. With a run on the board, the Skyhawks continued to pile on as Garst singled to left field and a sacrifice bunt by Fulcher brought two runs home to score. The Skyhawks would add another run on a throwing error to take a 4-0 lead and set Ridolfi up for the eight-inning shutout to close out the victory.
UT Martin 15, Tennessee Tech 0 (Five innings)
UT Martin would strike first in the game’s second inning on a RBI single to left by McBride to take an early advantage.
The Skyhawks would begin to pull away in the fourth inning with a four-run frame. McBride would come through again in the clutch with her second RBI of the game to score Woodard before another throwing error on a stolen base and a single by Gore made it a four-run contest. After a total of three stolen bases in the inning, Bivens drove in the team’s fifth run of the game with a hard-hit ball to third.
While already holding a five-run advantage, the Skyhawks put the game well out of reach in the top of the fifth. A home run by Fulcher marked her seventh of the season and 22nd of her career to tally the team’s first run of the inning. As a whole, the Skyhawks would score 10 runs on nine hits in the frame with RBIs coming from Clark, Garst, Woodard, Fulcher and Short to take a 15-0 lead.
Needing just three hits to secure the perfect game, Ray got a leadoff groundout to start the inning. From there Gore recorded a diving snag for the second out while Bivens came up in the clutch again on defense, as she fielded a ball hit through the right side and fired a strong throw to get the runner at first base to finish the perfect game.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 1, TENNESSEE STATE 0; EASTERN ILLINOIS 7, TENNESSEE STATE 4
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball sweeps Tennessee State Sunday afternoon on senior day. The Panthers took a 1-0 win in eight innings for game one. They took game two 7-4. Seniors Mady Poulter and Breya Cooper each hit a homer in game two of today's action.
EIU finishes the season with a 16-39 overall record and 5-17 in the OVC. TSU falls to 12-28 overall and 5-15 in the OVC.
Game 1
McKenna Coffman led the Panthers to their 1-0 win in game one. Coffman did not give up a hit until the seventh inning and retired a career-high 11 batters as she pitched the full eight innings for EIU.
The Panthers tallied seven hits in the game led by Mia Davis, Kendyl McKeough, and Morgan LaMore who were each 2-for-4 in the game. LaMore reached first on a fielder's choice in the eighth inning as the second baseman grabbed her infield hit to get McKeough out at second unassisted. Denaed Santini scored the game winning run on a throwing error to the catcher on the play for a walk-off victory.
Coffman finishes 6-12 in the circle this season. Raven Loveless pitched a complete game for the Tigers retiring five batters. She falls to 10-13 on the year.
Game 2
The Panthers bats lit up in their final game of the 2019 season as they combined for 12 hits. Megan Burton, Poulter, Mia Davis, Haley Mitchell, and LaMore each recorded two hits each, while Cooper and Sydney Cammon each tallied one.
The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first that EIU quickly tied in the bottom of the inning. Burton started EIU out with a double to left center and Poulter drove her in on a two-run homer to right center. TSU added two more runs in the second inning both of which were unearned after a fielding error.
Davis hit her first double of the game in the third inning to get on base with two outs. Mitchell sent a hit up the middle to score Davis to bring EIU within one run. LaMore opened the bottom of the fourth with a single to center and scored on Cooper's two-run homer to right field in the next at-bat giving EIU a 5-4 advantage. Burton and Poulter each scored in the sixth inning to secure a 7-4 win over the Tigers.
The game saw four pitching changes as TSU went through four pitchers. Katie Schneider gets the loss falling to 0-6. Jade Montgomery made the start in the cirlce for EIU pitching 2.1 innings. Cammon pitched in relief improving to 3-2.