SATURDAY'S SCORES
Belmont 10, @Morehead State 0 (5)
Belmont 12, @Morehead State 3 (6)
@Murray State 1, Tennessee Tech 0
@Murray State 5, Tennessee Tech 0
Southeast Missouri 14, @SIUE 1
@SIUE 4, Southeast Missouri 3
UT Martin 3, @Eastern Illinois 2
UT Martin 6, @Eastern Illinois 2
@Tennessee State 1, Eastern Kentukcy 0
Eastern Kentucky 2, @Tennessee State 0
BELMONT 10, MOREHEAD STATE 0; BELMONT 12, MOREHEAD STATE 3
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Fueled by six homeruns, Belmont University Softball extended its win streak to three games with a sweep on the road at Morehead State on Saturday. The Bruins (22-15, 4-6 OVC) defeated the Eagles (2-27, 0-8 OVC), 10-0 in five innings and 12-3 in six innings.
The Bruins wasted little time making a dent on the scoreboard in the top of the opening frame, using a solo shot over the right fence by senior Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) to post its first run of the day. Not to be outdone, sophomore Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) duplicated the feat, smashing her solo homerun over the left fence to put Belmont ahead, 2-0. BU added one more run in the top of the third before its bats caught fire over the next two innings.
In the top of fourth inning, the Bruins pushed three runners over the plate. Senior Chelsea Thomas (Hot Springs, Ark.) reached on four balls before being moved to third with a double up the middle by Veltri. Junior Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) laid down a great bunt that saw the first run hustle over the plate. The Eagles changed pitchers but the Bruin bats remained hot. Senior Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) smashed a double to left to send two more runners home and put Belmont ahead, 6-0. The hits kept coming in the top of the fifth. Junior Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) singled and was moved to second after Thomas was walked again. Veltri smacked a three-run homer over the centerfield fence, forcing MSU to make another pitching change. It didn't seem to matter to Lee as she connected for a single homerun off the second pitch to put Belmont ahead, 10-0. The Bruins then turned a 3 up, 3 down half inning to secure their win by the same score.
In the nightcap, the Bruins were again the first to post runs, recording three over the second and third innings. Morehead State was able to notch a run in the bottom of the fourth frame but was matched with a one run output in the top of the following inning by Belmont. Leading 4-1 heading into the top of the sixth, the Bruins made their move.
All told, BU posted a whopping eight runs off of eight hits, batting around during the effort. Morehead State attempted to slow the streaking Bruins with a pair of pitching changes but could not find an answer. Belmont concluded the scoring onslaught with a grand slam by Lee, the first of her career as a Bruin to lift the team to a 12-1 advantage. MSU attempted to show signs of life in its half of the same frame, squeaking two runs across but the Bruins were able to clamp down to secure the 12-3 win.
For the day, Veltri led the Bruins at the plate, batting .800 with a double and pair of homeruns. Sims batted .714 with one double and two RBI.
Inside the circle, Lee picked up her 10th victory of the season in game one, recording five strikeouts. Veltri notched the win in the nightcap, tallying a pair of strikeouts.
UT MARTIN 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2; UT MARTIN 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball wrapped up the week with a conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Panthers fell in both games to the visiting UT Martin Skyhawks. UTM took a 3-2 win in game won and stole a game two win 6-3 scoring all their runs in the seventh inning.
The Panthers drop to 10-29 overall and 1-9 in the OVC. The Skyhawks improve to 25-15 overall and 7-3 in the OVC.
Game 1
Morgan LaMore finished perfect at the plate going 2-fo-2 in the first game of today.
Megan Burton had a hand in both the Panthers runs in the first game. She stole third base forcing a throwing error by the catcher, which allowed Burton to score an unearned run for EIU. in the second inning, Burton hit a sac fly to score Mady Poulter for the second run.
The Skyhawks tied the game 2-2 in the fifth with a one-run single. UTM scored the game winner in the eighth inning on a sac fly from McBride.
Jade Montgomery pitched all eight innings and falls to 4-15 on the mound.
Game 2
Mia Davis hit atwo-run homer in the seventh inning for the second time this week. She finished the game with just that hit.
The Panthers went up 1-0 in the sixth inning on a bunt from LaMore that scored Denaed Santini. UTM responded scoring all six of their runs in the top of the seventh. They tallied five RBI on back-to-back hits from McBride and Short.
Davis would homer to bring the Panthers within three, but the Skyhawks secured the sweep with a 6-3 win.
Hannah Cravens made the start on the mound, while Montgomery and McKenna Coffman split the final inning. Montgomery collects the loss falling to 4-16.
MURRAY STATE 1, TENNESSEE TECH 0; MURRAY STATE 5, TENNESSEE TECH 0
MURRAY, Ky. - A late miscue broke a scoreless tie at an inopportune moment on Saturday while the Tennessee Tech softball team couldn’t get the timely hit it needed to break onto the scoreboard as the Golden Eagles were swept in both ends of the doubleheader against Murray State.
The Racers (17-18, 7-1 Ohio Valley Conference) won the first game 1-0, then defeated Tech (15-17, 5-5 OVC) 5-0 in the second.
The first game was a fantastic pitchers’ duel between Tech’s Alyssa Arden and Murray’s Hannah James as the two went blow for blow in the contest and neither hurler yielding a run. Arden even had a no-hit bid going through the sixth.
It was all good until the top of the seventh. Madison Culver reached on a one-out single down the left field line, lifted for pinch runner Kristen Bialek. Lexi Jones was hit by a pitch with an 0-2 count, then a Lindsey Carroll single to left center loaded the bases.
Ellison Barrett grounded the ball to short, but the play resulted in an error, allowing Bialek to score the walk-off run.
Arden saw her record fall to 9-7 as she allowed an unearned run on two hits – both coming in the bottom of the seventh -- as she walked three and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings of work. Her counterpart, James, saw her record improve to 9-8 as she went the distance, allowing no runs or walks on three hits with three strikeouts.
Beth McCulley went 2-for-2 for Tech in the game, while Jessie Lowery had the third hit for the Golden Eagles.
In game two, the Racers jumped on Tech starter Kayla Hughes early, tagging her for two runs in the opening frame as Culver hit a two-run single up the middle.
The Golden Eagles collected five hits in the game, but just couldn’t get it to come as the right moment as Tech stranded five.
Ashley McGowan reached twice on hits, while Lowery, Sydney Love-Baker and Alexis Trimiar also collected a hit – Trimiar’s a double late in the contest.
The Racers added three more runs in the fifth inning as Sierra Gilmore hit a two-run single to center field, then scored herself on an error in center field.
Hughes fell to 3-5 on the year, allowing five runs – four earned – on eight hits as she walked three and struck out one. Murray pitcher Taylor Makowsky improved to 5-2 as she did not allow a run in the complete game effort, allowing one walk and striking out two.
TENNESSEE STATE 1, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0; EASTERN KENTUCKY 2, TENNESSEE STATE 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky produced a pair of old fashion pitcher’s duels at Tiger Field on Saturday afternoon. TSU earned a 1-0 victory in game one, while the Colonels claimed game two, 2-0.
The Tigers Raven Loveless and EKU’s Mollie Paulick were featured in both contests. Loveless received the start in both contests, as she tossed her first collegiate complete game shutout in the opener. The freshman worked the first five innings in game two and was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs on seven hits. On the day Loveless gave up 13 hits and three walks while fanning five, as she moved to 7-8 on the season.
Paulick entered game one in the first inning with no outs on the board and the Colonels trailing 1-0. The junior finished the game allowing two hits and striking out 10 batters. In game two, Paulick (7-6) earned the win as she worked the first 4.2 innings with five punch outs and allowing just three hits.
Samantha Reynoso entered in the fifth and was credited with her first save after closing out the final 2.1 innings. Reynoso sat down all seven batters she faced, striking out one.
The Tigers scored the lone run of game one in the bottom of the first off EKU starter Bethany Todd (5-3). TSU loaded the bases on two singles and a hit by pitch with no outs. TSU took the 1-0 lead as Bri Vire crossed home plate on a Katie Schneider walk.
In the night cap, EKU used a two-run inside the park home run by Sammi Miller in the top of the fifth to provide the winning margin.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 14, SIUE 1; SIUE 4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Reagan Curtis scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth of the nightcap Saturday as SIUE softball earned a split with Southeast Missouri at Cougar Field.
SIUE won the nightcap 4-3 after dropping the opener 14-1.
Tied 3-3 in the eighth, Curtis opened the eighth inning with a single and moved to second on a single to left field by Bailley Concatto. After a bunt sacrifice by Alana Cobb-Adams moved up the runners, Curtis scored easily on a wild pitch by Southeast Missouri reliever Marisa Davis.
SIUE Interim Head Coach Jessica Jones said she told her team to play with passion.
The run gave SIUE the lead for the second time in the game. SIUE opened the scoring in the third inning when Abby Marlow drew a walk off SEMO starter Alexis Estes with the bases loaded. Zoe Schafer's fielder's choice would score Alyssa Heren later in the inning.
The Cougars, 10-16 overall and 2-4 in OVC play, added another run in the fifth on a Marlow sacrifice fly, scoring Heren once again from third.
SEMO tied the game in the top of the sixth with RBI hits from Kaylee Anderson, Sarah Messex and Mykaela Arellanes.
That set up the eventual game winner for SIUE pitcher Corrina Rivas, who battled in both games Saturday. She went the distance in the nightcap, allowing 11 hits and striking out two. Rivas is now 5-7.
Catcher Sydney Bina provided a key moment in the top of the seventh, throwing out SEMO's Rachel Anderson. That provided enough momentum for the victory.
Southeast Missouri, 28-9 overall and 6-2 in the OVC, collected 12 hits in the opener. Nine of the Redhawks' hits went for extra bases.
The Cougars avoided the shutout in the sixth as Heren scored from third off a SEMO fielding error.
Haley Thogmartin, 12-3, picked up the win for SEMO with six strikeouts to her credit.