FRIDAY'S SCORES
Central Michigan 4,
Austin Peay 3
James Madison 13,
Austin Peay 2 (6)
Eastern Illinois 8, Northern Kentucky 3
@Gardner Webb 6,
Eastern Illinois 1
Murray State 14, Howard 4
Sam Houston State 5,
Belmont 2
@LSU 8,
Belmont 0 (5)
Eastern Kentucky 9, George Washington 1
Jacksonville State 6, Nicholls State 2
Southeast Missouri 16, South Carolina State 3 (5)
Southeast Missouri 12, Alabama State 3 (6)
Tennessee Tech 16, La Salle 6 (5)
Bowling Green 7,
Tennessee State 1
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 4, AUSTIN PEAY 3; JAMES MADISON 13, AUSTIN PEAY 2
ATHENS, Ga. - Austin Peay State University dropped both games in the opening day of the 17th Annual Georgia Classic, Friday at Jack Turner Stadium, losing a heartbreaker to Central Michigan in the morning game, 4-3, before falling to #21 national-ranked James Madison in the afternoon.
The Govs (3-5) led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning versus Central Michigan (1-5), on an RBI double by Bailey Shorter, but the Chippewas took advantage of a two-out walk and back-to-back hit batters to score two runs in the bottom of the inning to escape with the win.
Austin Peay had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on Brooke Pfefferle’s first home run of the season and extend that lead to 2-0 in the fifth on an RBI single by Shorter, before CMU tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer.
In the nightcap versus James Madison (4-1), the Govs saw the Dukes break open a 0-0 contest with a four-run third inning on four hits.
The Govs would try to mount a comeback, scoring twice in the top of the fourth, including a sacrifice fly by Emily Moore, but a home run and a bases-loaded error allowed the Dukes to score four more runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-2.
James Madison would add a run in the fifth before ending the game in the bottom of the sixth on a game-ending grand slam.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 3; GARDNER WEBB 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Eastern Illinois softball opened up day one of the Gardner-Webb Tournament as they beat Northern Kentucky 8-3 and fell to host Gardner-Webb 6-1.
The Panthers are 5-4 on the season heading into the next two games of the tournament. At 12 p.m., they face off against Mount St. Mary's and then at 4 p.m., they play Gardner-Webb for the second time.
Game 1
In the first game, Jade Montgomery took control on the mound as she went all seven innings with only three runs scored against her. Montgomery struck out three batters, walked one, and gave up five hits.
At the plate, the Panthers struck first as Kendyl McKeough had a sacrifice fly to score Kayla Bear. In the second inning, NKU fired back as they scored three runs to take the lead 3-1.
The Panthers took back control as the three runs NKU score were the only runs they would score. In the third inning, McKeough had another sacrifice fly as Hannah Cravens scored for the Panthers.
In the fourth inning McKeough hit a double to score Bear and Taylor Jones to make the score 4-3. In the fifth inning, the Panthers ran away with it as Cravens hit a grand slam to score Bear, McKinlee Miller, and Megan Burton.
The Panthers ended the game with only one error and ten hits. McKeough and Cravens led the team in RBI's each with four as the Panthers win 8-3.
Game 2
In the second game, the Panthers fell to host Gardner-Webb 6-1. Taylor Florea started for the Panthers as she collected one strikeout and had five runs scored against her. Cravens came in to relieve her but was unable to get the save as she had one run scored against her and pitched one strikeout.
In the first inning Gardner-Webb scored first with two runs against Florea. In the second inning, McKeough scored the only run for the Panthers of the game. Gardner-Webb scored three in the fourth and one in the sixth to win 6-1
MURRAY STATE 14, HOWARD 4
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Murray State softball opened the weekend in spectacular fashion on Friday, cruising to a 14-4 five-inning victory over the Bison of Howard University. The Racers (8-2) are now winners of six straight after the first of four games at the Stinger Classic in Montgomery, Alabama this weekend.
It would actually be the Bison who opened the scoring in the first frame, putting up a single run in the top half, but the Racers would respond with 14 unanswered - due in large part to an eight-run reply in the bottom of the first.
Sierra Gilmore got things going for Murray State when the junior from Williamsburg, Indiana drove in Logan Braundmeier and Lindsey Carroll to plate a pair of runs with nobody out in the first. Lexi Jones would then bring Gilmore around to score with a base hit of her own as the Racers took a 3-1 lead while the Bison still looked to record the first out in the inning. Jones would later come around to score when Jenna Bleiberg reached via an error on a ball hit to the shortstop.
It would then be Mashea Glover's turn as the freshman delivered with a one-out run-scoring single to score Abby Shoulders from third, making the score 5-1 in favor of the Racers.
Logan Braundmeier followed with a two-run double to center, scoring Glover and Chloe Jacque who had entered to pinch run for Bleiberg. A sacrifice fly from Sierra Gilmore would also be on the menu, as the ball advanced Glover the final 60 feet to home plate capping the Racer scoring in the first as Murray State held an 8-1 lead through one complete.
The Racers would tack on one more in the second when crafty base running manufactured the ninth run of the ballgame for Murray State. With Kristen Bialek on first and Abby Shoulders on third, both runners were able to steal bases with Shoulders sliding just under the tag at home plate to give her side a 9-1 advantage.
Hannah James got the nod in the circle, and would toss three strong innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out a pair of Bison batters before Taylor Makowsky took over to start the fourth.
The Racer offense continued to produce in the bottom of the fourth when a Lily Fischer double scored Gracey Murt and Kristen Bialek to widen the Racer margin to 11-1. A two-run single from Gilmore to score Fischer and Jensen Striegel followed by a Lexi Jones double to score Tyler Shemwell, brought the score line to 14-1 through four innings of action.
The Bison were able to put three runs on the board in the fifth, but it would not be enough to keep the game going as the contest would end with a final score of 14-4.
Picking up the win in the circle would be Hannah James as the sophomore from Nicholasville, Kentucky moved to 4-1 on the year.
At the plate, the Racers were led by Logan Braundmeier (2-4, 2 RBI, R, 2B), Sierra Gilmore (2-2, 5 RBI, R), Lexi Jones (2-4, 2 RBI, R, 2B), and Abby Shoulders (2-3, 2 R, 3B) who all posted two-hit performances on the afternoon. Additionally, Murray State's 13 hits overall are a season-high in 2020.
The Racers will return to action on day two of the Stinger Classic on Saturday, with games scheduled against North Alabama (1:00 p.m.) and Grambling State (7:00 p.m.) in Montgomery, Alabama.
SAM HOUSTON STATE 5, BELMONT 2; LSU 8, BELMONT 0
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Despite a promising start on the first day of the Purple & Gold Challenge, Belmont Softball (1-5) was held off in a pair of contests on Friday. The Bruins fell to Sam Houston State, 5-2, and host No. 6 LSU, 8-0.
Game one saw the Bearkats get on the board first, posting a run in the top of the first but the Bruins quickly responded in their half of the same. A walk and a wild pitch moved junior Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas) to second base before she was joined on base by sophomore Audrey Lyle (Westlake, Ohio) who also reached on four balls.
Cavanaugh turned on the afterburners and stole third before heading home with the aid of a Sam Houston State error. Lyle was quickly joined on base by junior Georgia McKee (Frisco, Texas) and freshman Molly Porter (Lindenhurst, Ill.), who were both walked. The loaded bases allowed freshman Kristen Green (Buchanan, Ga.) to walk in her first run of contest.
SHSU held onto its slim 3-2 advantage for four innings until it added two more in the top of seventh frame. BU was able to get a runner on base in its half of the same inning but could not get her over the plate as the Bearkats held on for the 5-2 win.
In the nightcap, the Bruins looked to senior ace Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) as the Bruins took on nationally ranked LSU. The first two innings were a pitching duel with neither pitcher allowing a hit. Ironically, it would be Lee who would notch Belmont's first hit of the day in the top of the third inning. The Tigers fired back in the bottom of the fourth frame. After loading the bases, LSU would use a double to left to send three runners of the plate. The home team followed with another base clearing hit, this time a triple to put the Tigers ahead, 6-0.
The top of the fifth inning saw the Bruins get freshman Kailey Brown (San Antonio, Texas) on base with a walk. However, BU was unable to get a runner any further in its half. LSU continued with is hot bats in their half of the frame, posting two more to take the matchup, 8-0.
For the day, Lyle and Cavanaugh plated runs for BU.
Inside the circle, senior Brittany Kennett (Melbourne, Australia) finished with eight strikeouts while classmate Lee fanned three LSU batters.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday for the final day of the Purple & Gold Challenge. BU takes on Sam Houston State at Noon and No. 6 LSU at 5 p.m. Live stats will be available for both contests and the matchup with the Lady Tigers can be seen live on SEC Network+.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 9, GEORGE WASHINGTON 1
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team scored seven runs in the first three innings to roll past George Washington University, 9-1, on Friday in Wilmington.
Eastern (8-2) wasted no time scoring against the Colonials. A walk by Sammi Miller followed by three straight hits by Ariyana Miranda, Zoe Mihalicz and Carly Robinson gave the Colonels an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. With two outs in the top of the first Mollie Paulick reached via an error to bring home Miranda and Mihalicz and push the Eastern lead to 3-0.
George Washington (1-10) got a run back in the bottom half of the inning. Jenna Cone singled through the right side to get things started with one out. With two outs in the inning, Sidney Bloomfield doubled down the left field line to put the Colonials on the board.
GWU did not score again.
Gabriela De La Cerda led off the top of the second with a single to third base. Miller followed suit with a double into right field to bring home De La Cerda and push the Colonel lead to 4-1. Mihalicz brought home Miller with her second single of the game to give Eastern the 5-1 lead over GWU. Vianna Barron pushed the third run of the inning across with a single up the middle to bring home Mihalicz.
The Colonels pushed one across in the third and two more in the seventh to give Eastern the 9-1 win.
Miller went 3-for-4 with one double, two runs and two RBIs. Mihalicz went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs.
Eastern out-hit George Washington 14-5 on the game.
Paulick (4-1) tossed six innings and struck out eight batters. Bethany Todd tossed a scoreless seventh inning with one strikeout.
Eastern returns to the diamond tomorrow when the Colonels take on George Washington and Brown. First pitch against the Colonials is scheduled for 3 p.m.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, NICHOLLS STATE 2
YOUNGSVILLE, La. - Redshirt Freshman Macy Bearden settled in and pitched the Jacksonville State softball team to a 6-2 win over Nicholls State to open the SLU Mardi Gras Mambo on Friday afternoon.
After the Colonels (4-9) grabbed two runs in the first, Bearden held them scoreless the rest of the way as the Gamecocks (4-5) stormed back to open the three-day event with a win.
The Bowdon, Ga., native struck out six in her first complete game, allowing two runs on six hits and only one walk in seven innings in the circle. After the two-run first and the Colonels left the bases loaded with no outs in the second, only one runner reached scoring position the rest of the way against Bearden.
While she was holding the Nicholls bats in check, the Gamecocks started mounting their comeback in the third inning. A two-run single through the right side by senior Alexus Jimmerson started the scoring for JSU, driving in Keeli Bobbitt and Savannah Sudduth to tie the game.
JSU took the lead for the first time in the sixth, thanks to an RBI groundout from freshman Megan Fortner and squeeze attempt that turned into an infield RBI single from junior Jada Terry.
The Colonels assisted JSU in its cause in the sixth, allowing one run on an error and another on a wild pitch to post the final score on the board.
Bobbitt, a transfer from Wallace State and a native of Vernon, Ala., led the way with two of the team's seven hits, while Jimmerson drove in a team-high two runs.
Emily Danehower suffered the loss for Nicholls, surrendering four runs, three earned, on seven hits and four walks in 4 and 1/3 innings of work. Taryn Westbrook allowed two unearned runs on two walks in her 1 and 2/3 innings of relief work.
JSU will continue play in the tournament on Saturday, when they take on Abilene Christian at 3 p.m. and Incarnate Word at 5 p.m.
TENNESSEE TECH 16, LA SALLE 6
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Tennessee Tech took advantage of a five-error third inning for La Salle as the Golden Eagles exploded for 12 runs in the frame en route to a five-inning, 16-6 victory on Friday.
KaDedra Temple and Sydney Love-Baker hit back-to-back home runs in the inning, as well as collected three RBI each in the contest to lead Tech (7-4). The Golden Eagles had 11 hits in the contest, including three for Love-Baker.
Haeli Bryson picked up the victory, improving to 3-3 on the season. Bryson ended the game allowing one hit as she walked one and struck out three over 4 1/3 scoreless frames.
Kendall Durard made her first appearance in the circle for the Golden Eagles this season, coming on in the top of the fifth. Durard yielded the first three hits of the contest, leading to six runs – two earned – following an error. She also walked three.
Jenna Khantzian (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits and one walk in two innings. Lauren Begg took the brunt of the damage, allowing 11 runs – three earned – on five hits and a walk on two-thirds of an inning.
All of Tech’s runs came in the second and third. In the second, the Golden Eagles scored four runs on three hits as Temple drove in Nicolle Nysted on a sacrifice fly, Hannah Richter scored on a Love-Baker double down the right field line, then Love-Baker scored on Jessie Lowery’s single up the middle.
The fifth inning was disastrous for the Explorers as they allowed the Golden Eagles to score 12 runs on six hits with five errors extending the frame. Tech batted all the way around before a single out was recorded.
Beth McCulley led off as she was walked on four straight pitches, then took second on a wild pitch. Nysted doubled to right, scoring McCulley, then came home on Richter’s first hit of the season – a single into right. Richter stole second, then an error on a misplayed fly ball allowed Temple to reach, putting runners on the corners.
Love-Baker drove in Richter on an RBI single, then a wild pitch allowed Temple to score and Love-Baker to take second. Lowery reached on an error at second as Love-Baker scored. Bryson reached on an error at short, then Raleigh Lewis singled to left, loading the bases. Alexis Trimiar reached on an error at short as Lowery and Bryson came home.
A passed ball allowed Lewis to score, then a wild pitch gave Trimiar room to come home. Richter reached on a fielder’s choice, then Temple went yard for a two-run blast to left center. Love-Baker then homered to left for the 12th and final run of the inning.
With the run-rule firmly in effect, the Golden Eagles saw La Salle rally for six runs in the last-ditch bottom of the fifth, including a three-run home run for Casey Walker.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday morning against Maine at 10 a.m. The Black Bears went 1-1 on Friday, beating La Salle 4-2 and falling to Virginia 1-0.