SATURDAY'S SCORES
Northern Illinois 16,
Jacksonville State 15 (10)
College of Charleston 13,
Jacksonville State 6
Eastern Kentucky 3, Boston University 2
Eastern Kentucky 7, Towson 2
Morehead State 8, North Carolina A&T 3
@Charlotte 10,
Morehead State 5
Southeast Missouri 7, Southern Miss 0
Southeast Missouri 13, @Troy 3
Austin Peay 3, Louisiana Tech 2
South Alabama 9,
Austin Peay 8
Western Kentucky 9,
Tennessee Tech 0 (5)
Marshall 6,
Tennessee Tech 1
Creighton 2,
UT Martin 0
Missouri State 8
, UT Martin 0
Kennesaw State 14,
Eastern Illinois 5
@Troy 3,
Eastern Illinois 0
@Mississippi State 3,
Tennessee State 0
Tennessee State 2, Tulsa 1
Western Michigan 8,
@Belmont 6
Murray State 3, @Northwestern State 0
Murray State 6, Arkansas Pine Bluff 1
SIUE 11, Southern 3
SIUE 9, Jackson State 0
MURRAY STATE 3, NORTHWESTERN STATE 0; MURRAY STATE 6, ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF 1
NATCHITOCHES, La. - For the second time in as many days, the Murray State softball team won both of its games at the 2020 Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic at the Lady Demon Field in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The Racers began the day with Jenna Veber one-hitter against Northwestern State, followed by a 6-1 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the night cap.
Game 1 – Murray St. 3, Northwestern St. 0
Veber went the distance in Saturday’s opener and allowed just one hit, a single in the fifth, no walks and tallied two strikeouts. Through two games at the Lady Demon Classic this weekend, Murray State pitchers have limited Northwestern State to no run on just four hits.
Offensively for Murray State, Jensen Striegel began the scoring in the second when she knocked in Lily Fischer on a triple to left center. Logan Braundmeier was then responsible for the final two runs as she had RBI-singles in the second and fourth to cap the scoring at three. The Racers ended the day with seven hits, while also drawing four walks.
Game 2 – Murray State 6, Ark.-Pine Bluff 1
In game two, the Racers bats came alive as they pounded out six runs on 10 hits. After Murray State scored two in the second inning, Sierra Gilmore and Lexi Jones helped seal the win in the third with back-to-back home runs. The home runs were the fourth of the season for Gilmore and third for Jones.
Alie Kennedy led MSU in the day’s second game by going 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk, while Gilmore was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIS. In the circle, Taylor Makowsky moved to 3-0 on the year by allowing just one run on four hits with three strikeouts and no walk over four inning of work. Ellison Barrett entered the game in the fifth for the Racers and earned the save by allowing now runs on one with two strikeouts and a walk.
Murray State will return to the Lady Demon Diamond Sunday in hopes of completing the weekend sweep when they take on Northwestern State at 10 a.m.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 7, TOWSON 2; EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, BOSTON UNIVERSITY 2
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team won a pair of contests on day two of the Winthrop Tournament.
The Colonels knocked off Towson, 7-2, in game one before knocking off Boston, 3-2, in the second game.
With the game against Towson tied, 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning the Colonels scored four in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-1 lead and not look back.
Jackie Mercado got things started after reaching third base after a misplay by the Towson right fielder to put a runner on third with no one out. Gaby De La Cerda followed with a double down the left field line to bring home Miranda Lopez and push the lead to, 2-1.
Ariyana Miranda doubled over the right fielder’s head to bring home De La Cerda to extend the lead to 3-1. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Carly Robinson hit her fourth home run of the year to push the Eastern lead to 5-1.
Towson (2-3) got a run back in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Julia Smith-Harrington to cut into the EKU lead, 5-2.
Eastern (5-2) answered back in the bottom half of the inning. Mollie Paulick hit her second home run of the year to push the lead to 6-2. Mercado followed with a double down the left field line and De La Cerda singled to left field to put runners on the corners with one out. Sammi Miller drove in the final run of the game with a sac fly.
Paulick (2-1) tossed her second complete game in as many days while allowing two runs and striking out six.
The Colonels scored first in the bottom of the second after Vianna Barron singled through the left side and Paulick doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Mercado brought home Barron with a sac fly
Robinson went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBIs. Paulick chipped in a 2-for-3 with one home run, one double and one RBI.
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In game two, Eastern used some late inning heroics to knock off Boston, 3-2.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the sixth, Miranda hit her fourth home run of the year to break up the no-hit bid and the shutout.
With Eastern (6-2) down to their last out, Mercado reached base after a wild pitch on a strikeout. Isabella Gonzalez made them pay. Gonzalez sent a 3-1 pitch down the left field line to give the Colonels their first lead of the game, 3-2.
Boston (8-1) got on the board early to start the game. Aliyah Huerta-Leipner tripled down the right field line to get things started for the Terriers. Huerta-Leipner scored after an EKU error to give them an early 1-0 lead.
Boston took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second after a solo shot by Nicole Amodio.
Samantha Reynoso settled down after that.
Reynoso (2-1) went the distance allowing two runs and striking out four batters.
The Colonels only managed two hits, but it was two home runs.
EKU wraps up the Winthrop Tournament on Sunday when the Colonels take on Georgetown University. First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
WESTERN MICHIGAN 8, BELMONT 6
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A late rally snipped Belmont Softball's chances of extending its win streak on Saturday afternoon for the second day of the Bruin Challenge. BU was edged in the final inning and fell, 8-6, to Western Michigan (2-6).
SIUE 11, SOUTHERN 3; SIUE 9, JACKSON STATE 0
VICKSBURG, Miss. - SIUE softball ran its record to 4-0 Saturday with victories over Southern and Jackson State.
SIUE bested Southern 11-3 in six innings and Jackson State 9-0 in five innings.
Sunday's games at the Alcorn State Tournament were cancelled due to rain in the Vicksburg area. SIUE now is idle until Feb. 22 when the team heads to Chattanooga for the 2020 Frost Classic.
Emily Ingles put together a complete game in the nightcap. She tossed the third no-hitter in her collegiate career. The Cougar senior struck out six and did not walk a batter. Her only blemishes were an infield error and a hit batter
Schafer made her mark with four more hits today, including her second home run in as many days.
Alana Cobb-Adams also joined Schafer in home runs with her first of the season against Southern, a shot to center field. The Cougars had 22 hits for the day.
Freshmen Kennedy Lehn and Lexi King combined for the Southern game in the circle. King picked up the win after throwing the final three innings.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0; TENNESSEE STATE 2, TULSA 1
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Tennessee State earned a spot in the championship game of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic with an upset win over Tulsa. The Tigers claimed a 2-1 10 inning decision over the undefeated Golden Hurricanes in the first bracket play game.
TSU fell to Mississippi State in the first game of the day, 3-0, and was the fourth seed after pool play and drew top seeded, Tulsa who finished 3-0 and was 7-0 on the season.
Raven Loveless went the distance, using 108 pitches in 10 innings of work. Loveless scattered seven hits and three walks; allowing just one run. The sophomore pitcher finished with one strikeout as she improved to 2-1 on the season.
Lauren Farias led the offense in the night cap with three hits and scoring the game winning run in the tenth. Farias crossed home plate as Beckey Melton came up with the clutch two out single.
In the opener, Lauren Powell fell to 0-4 as she once again suffered another hard fought loss. Powell held the Bulldogs to one hit through the first five innings and took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth. MSU struck for three runs on four hits, the last two coming with two outs.
The Tigers were held to two hits in the contest with their best scoring chance coming in the second. Melton led off the inning with a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Jillian Rodriguez. Reese Weber followed with a shot to the gap in right center allowing Rodriguez to attempt to score from first. The Bulldogs executed the relay play to cut down the Tiger runner at the plate.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 9, TENNESSEE TECH 0; MARSHALL 6, TENNESSEE TECH 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – After a tough offensive outing against Bowling Green on Friday, the Tennessee Tech’s offensive woes continued on Saturday as the Golden Eagles were held to one run in two games, falling 9-0 in five innings to Western Kentucky, then 6-1 to Marshall.
The Golden Eagles (5-4) conclude their play in the Chattanooga Challenge at 11 a.m. Central as they take on tournament host Chattanooga at Frost Stadium.
Against WKU, Tech was held to one hit – a double for Sydney Love-Baker – as the Golden Eagles drew two walks and struck out nine times.
Alyssa Arden (3-1) took the defeat, allowing nine runs on 10 hits, walking three and striking out two in 3 1/3 innings of work. Callie Piper closed out the game, walking three in two-thirds of a frame.
Kendall Smith led Western Kentucky at the plate as she drove in three runs on a 2-for-3 effort, including a home run.
Against Marshall, Tech picked up three hits as Jessie Lowery, Raleigh Lewis and Alexis Trimiar each collected safeties. The team also walked twice and struck out four times.
It was a close game through the first five innings behind the effort from Haeli Bryson, with a 2-1 deficit entering the sixth. But an Aly Harrell grand slam in that frame put the Thundering Herd out of reach.
Bryson went six frames, allowing six runs – only two earned – on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Tech’s lone run scored in the fourth inning, tying the game at one as Nicolle Nysted’s grounder to short allowed Lowery to score.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7, SOUTHERN MISS 0; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 13, TROY 3
TROY, Ala.– Southeast Missouri (3-1) swept a pair of games during the second day of the Troy University Tournament Saturday. The Redhawks shutout Southern Mississippi (4-2), 7-0, and beat tournament host Troy (5-2), 13-3.
Freshman Paytience Holman tossed a complete game four-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to lead SEMO against Southern Mississippi.
Holman (1-1) had seven of her strikeouts over the first four innings and faced 27 hitters en route to her first career win.
After both teams were scoreless through three-and-a-half innings, SEMO scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Madison Harris singled up the middle with one out and Kaylee Anderson followed with a double down the left field line. Austine Pauley walked to load the bases and Claudia Gallo knocked in Harris for the game's first run on a sacrifice fly.
The other four Redhawk runs came with two outs. Ashley Ellis ripped a two-RBI single to score Pauley and Anderson. A single by Anna Griffin and an error led to two more runs as SEMO pulled ahead, 5-0.
Ellis slammed a two-run home run over the right field wall to polish off the 7-0 win. For Ellis, it was her third round-tripper of the season and 29thof her career.
SEMO outhit USM, 9-4, with both Gallo and Ellis getting multiple hits. Gallo went 2-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI, and Ellis finished at 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk, home run and four RBI.
The Redhawks trailed Troy, 2-0, in the first inning, but scored three to take a one-run lead in the top of the third.
After the Trojans tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, SEMO scored 10 unanswered runs.
SEMO scored four runs in each of the fifth and seventh innings, and two in the sixth.
In the fifth, Addison Barnouski ripped a two-out, two-RBI single to score both K. Anderson and Keira Hance. Harris then tripled down the right field line to score two more.
With one on and one out in the sixth, Ellis hit her fourth home run of the season over the right field wall. For Ellis, it was the 30thhomer of her career.
SEMO had the bases loaded in the seventh when Rachel Anderson brought everyone home on a triple. R. Anderson even scored herself with the help of an error on the play.
K. Anderson improved to 2-0. She struck out two and walked none in four scoreless innings.
The Redhawks registered 10 hits. Harris went 3-for-3, a run scored and two RBI to lead the way. R. Anderson had a game-high four RBI and scored two runs.
Troy had just three hits, all of which were singles.
SEMO wraps up play at the Troy University Tournament against Kennesaw State Sunday.
MOREHEAD STATE 8, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 3; CHARLOTTE 10, MOREHEAD STATE 5
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Morehead State softball team opened its 2020 season with a two-game split in the First Pitch Classic at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium on Saturday.
The Eagles started the day defeating North Carolina A&T (0-4) 8-3 before falling to the host Charlotte 49ers (3-6) 10-5.
In the games, sophomore Adeline Nicholson combined to go 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI while earning three walks in her first games in an Eagle uniform.
The Eagles return to action Sunday again facing off against North Carolina A&T at 11 a.m. before seeking revenge versus Charlotte at 2 p.m.
The Aggies began the scoring with a double in the first to make it a 1-0 game. The lead was furthered in the second on another double that drove in two more to push the margin to 3-0. The Eagles answered back in the third inning thanks to a single by freshman Kirya Kingery that brought in one. This was quickly followed by a two-run single by Nicholson that tied it up at 3-3. A pair of sacrifices, a bunt by freshman Madeline Gailor and a flyout by Kingery, scored two more in the fourth. Sophomore Maddie Kawall pushed the lead to 7-3 in the fifth on account of an RBI double that scored one before crossing the plate herself on a wild pitch. Kawall earned another RBI in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to account for the 8-3 final score.
Kawall went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and three runs scored in her first career game for the Eagles. Senior Lindsay Anderson recorded two hits, a run scored, and a walk in her final Opening Day. Morehead State out-hit the Aggies 9-6. Freshman Kelsey Perkins (1-0) went the distance in her first career game earning five strikeouts in the process. Perkins only gave up two hits for the Aggies in the final five innings of the game.
Morehead State scored all of its runs in the first inning that began with a two-run double by Nicholson and an RBI sac bunt by sophomore Peyton Rose. This was followed when sophomore Peyton Slater was hit by a pitch that brought in another runner and a sac fly by freshman Taylor Rhea that made it a 5-0 game. The 49ers answered back in the bottom of the first with a single that scored two and a wild pitch that brought in another to make it 5-3. Charlotte tied the game off a two-run home run in the third. The home team continued to score in the fifth thanks to a triple, single, and double that each drove in one run to create an 8-5 margin. Charlotte finished its scoring in the sixth off another RBI double and a sac fly that brought in the final run of the game to account for the 10-5 score.
Charlotte touched up freshman Carolyn Alincic for seven hits and five runs while Taylor Rhea was given the loss in her first college appearance on the mound. Gailor went 2-for-4 in the game with one run scored. The Eagles recorded seven hits on the game.
KENNESAW STATE 14, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5; TROY 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
TROY, Ala. - Eastern Illinois softball fell to Kennesaw State in the first game 14-5 and then to Troy University 3-0. The Panthers play two games tomorrow, the first against Purdue Fort Wayne at 9 a.m., and the second against Southern Mississippi at 11:30 a.m.
The Panthers head into tomorrow with a record of 4-3 as they look for two to close out the Troy University Tournament.
Game 1
The freshman Taylor Florea got the start on the mound in the first game for the Panthers. Florea had one strikeout before Sydney Cammon came in and took over for her, then Hannah Cravens closed for the Panthers.
In the first inning, the Panthers got off to a rough start as the Owl's score eight runs off of five hits and three Panther errors. The Owl's picked up two more runs against Florea in the third off of two hits.
The Panthers were able to pick up four runs in the fourth as Mia Davis led off the inning with a double lined out into right field. Megan Burton hit in the first RBI and Kayla Bear walked in the second runner. In the fifth inning, the Panthers were able to get one more run as Kendyl McKeough homered out to left field to make the score 5-10.
The owls topped off the game with four runs in the seventh inning off of Cravens to win 14-5 against the Panthers.
Game 2
In the second game for the Panthers senior Jade Montgomery, got the start as she picked up two strikeouts. Florea came into the game in the sixth inning to try and get the save for the Panthers but was unable to do so.
In the fourth inning, the Trojans got on the board first with back-to-back doubles to score one runner. Later in the inning, Troy had a sacrifice fly to score in the other run making the score 2-0 in favor of the Trojans.
In the fifth inning, the Trojans get one more run across the plate in the game. The Panthers tried to get their offense going but were not able to as they come up short against Troy and fall 0-3.
AUSITN PEAY 3, LOUISIANA TECH 2; SOUTH ALABAMA 9, AUSTIN PEAY 8
MOBILE, Ala. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team rallied for two late-inning runs to defeat Louisiana Tech, 3-2, at Jaguar Field, in the second day of the Jaguar Challenge before seeing a late rally fall one run short in the nightcap to South Alabama, 9-8.
The Govs (3-3) trailed the Lady Techsters 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but tied the game when Katelyn Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Austin Peay would then win the game in walk-off fashion, 3-2, as Lexi Osowski doubled in Emily Moore with the game-winning run with a two-out double.
Shelby Harpe (2-1) got the win in relief, throwing one shutout inning, after starter Harley Mullins went the first six innings, giving up two runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out five.
In their second game of the day, the Govs got down to South Alabama, 6-2, after three innings – including giving up five unearned runs in the second inning, before answering back with a five runs of their own, also all unearned, in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-6 lead.
The Jaguars would retake the lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times to go up 9-7.
But the Govs tried to mount one final comeback, scoring a run in the top of the seventh to cut the margin to one with runners on second and third, but couldn’t get the final big hit in falling short, 9-8.
The Govs will conclude play at the Jaguar Challenge, 10 a.m., Sunday with a rematch versus Louisiana Tech.