SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Mississippi State 2, Southeast Missouri 0
Eastern Illinois 5, Green Bay 1
Eastern Illinois 5, @Miami (Ohio) 2
Mercer 5, Murray State 3
Belmont 6, Butler 3
@Memphis 6, Belmont 4
Austin Peay 6, Purdue Fort Wayne 4
UMass Lowell 15, Austin Peay 5
@Lipscomb 6, Tennessee Tech 5
@Eastern Kentucky 7, UIC 5
@Eastern Kentucky 3, Dayton 2
SIUE 3, Boise State 2
MISSISSIPPI STATE 2, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
STARKVILLE, Miss.– Annie Willis combined on a four-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts to lead #22 Mississippi State (24-3) to a 2-0 win over Southeast Missouri (12-5) Sunday afternoon.
SEMO finished runner-up in this year's Bulldog Slamboree with a 3-2 mark behind MSU which won all five of its tournament games.
The Bulldogs picked up their 13th-straight win and blanked the Redhawks twice by identical 2-0 scores.
Rachel Anderson had two of the Redhawks hits for the day. She tripled twice with one of her hits coming in the first inning and the other coming in the sixth. Anderson was stranded at third base on each of those occasions.
MSU scored the game's decisive runs on a two-RBI double by Carter Spexarth with one out in the bottom of the first inning. The Bulldogs got all three of their hits in the game's opening inning and were no-hit by Rachel Rook the rest of the way.
SEMO threatened during its final at-bat in the seventh when Rachael Donald and Claudia Gallo singled, and Danina Marton walked to load the bases. Reliever Emily Williams, who beat SEMO Saturday, came on to strike out Austine Pauley for the final out of the game.
Willis did not allow a walk and faced 25 hitters.
Rook dropped to 4-2 and threw her team-high fifth complete game this season.
SEMO hosts Saint Louis on Mar. 11.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, GREEN BAY 1; EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, MAIMI (OHIO)
OXFORD, Ohio - Eastern Illinois improves to 11-10 on the season after they take both games today against Green Bay and Miami (OH). The Panthers went 2-2 this weekend, going 1-1 against both Green Bay and Miami. The Panthers had 18 hits on the day combined through out the two games.
Game One
In game three of the Miami University Tournament, the Panthers defeated Green Bay 5-1 in the second meeting of the tournament.
Green Bay struck first with a and RBI double from Brewer to go up 1-0 on the Panthers. Jade Montgomery held it down in the circle with four strikeouts in seven innings the rest of the game giving the Panthers the victory.
In the third inning, the Panthers got on the board with a Hannah Cravens single to bring Kayla Bear across the plate to tie up the game. Kendyl McKeough and Haley Mitchell both drove in a run to give EIU the lead 3-1.
Kayla Bear kept the scoring going as she hit a two-run homer into center field to put the Panthers up 5-1. Montgomery closed out the game for the Panthers holding the Phoenix to just one run on five hits and improves to 7-5 on the season after this win.
The Panthers were led by Bear with a home run, two runs, and two RBI's. Mitchell and McKeough each had three hits with one double each.
Eastern finished the game with five runs on 11 hits with three errors and nine left on base.
Green Bay was led by Brewer with a double and an RBI giving the Phoenix their only run of the game. Green Bay finished with one run on five hits with two errors and six left on base.
Game Two
In the final game of the tournament the Panthers defeated host Miami (OH) 5-2 and split the series on the weekend 1-1.
The Panthers struck first with a Mia Davis triple into right field to score Hannah Cravens. Later in the inning, Mitchell reached first on a RedHawk error as Davis makes it 2-0.
EIU tacks on three more runs off of a Cravens double and a Davis two-run homer to lead 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. The RedHawks fought back in the sixth inning with a Lott two-run home run to make the score 5-2.
The Panthers finished the game with five runs off of seven hits with one error. Davis led the Panthers on the offensive side with two hits including a triple and a home run. Hannah Cravens take the win for EIU in the circle making her record 2-0 on the season.
The RedHawks were led by Loot who had a home run and two RBI's.
Up next the Panthers head to Longwood, Fla., for The Spring Games. EIU will play Stenson and Northern Kentucky on March 13.
MERCER 5, MURRAY STATE 3
STILLWATER, Okla. - Murray State softball closed the Mizuno Classic with a single game against Mercer in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Sunday. Sierra Gilmore belted her seventh home run of the season, but the Racers could not overcome a four-run third inning from the Bears as Murray State endured a 5-3 defeat to conclude the weekend.
The Racers got a spark from Gilmore in the first inning of the contest when the junior from Williamsburg, Indiana went yard with a two-out solo shot to give her side a 1-0 lead in the early stages of the ballgame.
Murray State went on to double its lead in the third, scoring another run when Logan Braundmeier crossed the plate on a throwing error from the Mercer catcher as the Racers held a 2-0 advantage through the top half of the inning.
Defensive miscues would prove costly for the Racers in the bottom half, however, as four fielding errors contributed to a four-run third frame for Mercer as the Bears took the lead for the first time in the ballgame - owning a 4-2 edge through three complete.
A sacrifice fly off the bat of Sierra Gilmore that scored Jensen Striegel cut the Mercer lead to the slimmest of margins in the fifth, as the Bears clung to a 4-3 lead heading to the home half of the frame.
Mercer went on to match the Racer run with one of their own during the ensuing half inning, though, as they owned a two-run margin once again after Allie Jones scored from third off a Rachel Baker bunt to make it 5-3 in favor of the Bears through the end of five.
A two-out single from Braundmeier would bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but the Racers could not complete the comeback effort as they fell to Mercer 5-3 at Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater.
Braundmeier fueled the Racers at the plate, as the Aviston, Illinois native reached base three times – collecting a pair of hits while scoring a run and stealing two bases in the defeat. Sierra Gilmore's solo home run in the first brought her season total to a team-leading seven round-trippers on the year.
In the circle, Jenna Veber worked three innings and, while she took the loss, all four runs scored against the freshman were unearned as she struck out one and did not issue a walk on the day.
Hannah James also tossed three innings in relief, striking out two while surrendering one earned run in the contest.
The Racers will be back in action on Friday when they make their 2020 home debut at the Racer Classic in Murray, Kentucky. First pitch against Youngstown State is slated for 3:00 p.m.
BELMONT 6, BUTLER 3; MEMPHIS 6, BELMONT 4
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Belmont Softball opened the final day of the UofM Tournament with a win on Sunday morning. The Bruins (5-12) defeated Butler (13-7), 6-3.
The Bruin bats got hot early in the matchup. Freshman Molly Porter (Lindenhurst, Ill.) started a two-out rally in the top of the second inning, sending a double to right center. Sophomore Audrey Lyle (Westlake, Ohio) doubled to left, trading places with Porter to score the first run of the contest. The Bulldogs were able to knot the score with a run put across the plate in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the fourth frame, freshman Kristen Green (Buchanan, Ga.) was hit by a pitch before Porter unleashed a two-run bomb over the centerfield fence to put the Bruins ahead, 3-1. Belmont went on to add one more for good measure in the top of the next inning with the help of a double home by freshman Lauren Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.). Butler rebounded in its half of the same, posting a pair of runs to close the run differential to one, 4-3.
Belmont expanded its lead in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally. Senior Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) sent a double down the left line and was joined on base by Porter, who reached on four balls. A passed ball moved the duo into scoring position before Lyle sent her second double of the day down the left line to increase the Bruin run tally. Butler attempted one final rally in the seventh but Lee fanned a pair of batters to secure the 6-3 win.
BU was first to score in the nightcap against host-Memphis. Freshman Kristen Green (Buchanan, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice and was joined on base by junior Elison Ollinger (Robins, Iowa) after she was hit by a pitch. Lee fired a single to right to push a run over the plate.
The Bruins maintained a defensive lockdown on the Tigers until they put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth frame. Memphis managed to get three over the plate to take the lead, 3-1. Belmont was able to respond in the top of the next inning with a two-out rally of its own. A throwing error helped junior Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas) reach first base before the speedster took advantage of a wild pitch to get to second base. Back-to-back walks for Green and junior Georgia McKee (Frisco, Texas) saw Lee clear the bases with a double to left center. Memphis hoped a pitching change would reverse course but the new hurler walked in Belmont's third run of the inning. Despite leaving three on base, BU had regained the lead, 4-3.
Memphis came back with a vengeance in the bottom of the sixth. Capitalizing on three hits coupled with Bruin errors, the Tigers were able to score three runs to take the lead for good. McKee hoped to spark BU in the top of the seventh with a single up the middle but it was not enough as UM held on for the 6-3 victory.
For the day, Porter and Lyle both batted .500, going 2-for-4. Lyle finished with a pair of doubles and four RBI while Porter logged a homerun and two RBI. Lee went 3-for-7 at the plate with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
Inside the circle, Lee went the distance in game one, fanning eight batters. Junior Autumn McDanel also tossed a complete game.
Belmont returns to action on Wednesday at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins host UMass Lowell for a single game beginning at 3:30 p.m. The contest can be seen live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.
AUSTIN PEAY 6, PURDUE FORT WAYNE 4; UMASS LOWELL 15, AUSTIN PEAY 5
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay’s softball team split it’s final two games at its own Governors Classic, Sunday at Cathi Maynard Park-Cheryl Holt Field, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne, 6-4, before falling to UMass Lowell in the final game of the day, 15-5.
The Govs (9-12) build a 6-1 lead through the first five innings, highlighted by home runs from Lexi Osowski and Bailey Shorter along with a two-RBI double from Brooke Pfefferle.
Harley Mullins picked up the complete-game victory for the Govs, giving up six hits and four runs, while walking four and striking out nine.
Austin Peay wasn’t so luck in their game versus the Riverhawks, as they saw the visitors build a 15-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, with the Govs only runs up to that point coming in the third inning on RBI single by Pfefferle and Osowski.
The Govs would tack on three final runs in the bottom of the fifth on a three-run homer by Osowski for the 15-5 final.
LIPSCOMB 6, TENNESSEE TECH 5
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech softball team rallied to take the lead in the sixth, but the valiant effort was dashed as Lipscomb tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, then hit a walk-off leadoff home run in the home half of the seventh to take the rubber game 6-5 on Sunday afternoon.
In all, Lipscomb (11-10) hit four home runs in the contest, accounting for five of its six runs in the contest.
The Golden Eagles (10-9) return to action on Friday as they return to Johnson City for the ETSU Classic as they take on Radford and host East Tennessee State.
Alyssa Arden took the loss to fall to 7-3 on the season. She worked six frames, facing one in the seventh, as she allowed six runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Lipscomb starter Chloe Yeager went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five runs – two earned – on eight hits as she struck out two. Katie Turner closed out the contest to earn her fourth win of the season, allowing just one hit with a strikeout over the final inning and two-thirds.
The storyline of the game was the four home runs as Presley Leebrick hit a solo shot in the first, then Kamrie Rich hit the first of her two homers with a two-run blast in the second.
Tech added a solo run in the fourth as Nicolle Nystead drove in Beth McCulley with a double to center field, but the Lady Bisons reclaimed the run in the bottom half of the frame as Turner had an RBI single to left for the lone non-homer scoring play.
An error in left field on Raleigh Lewis’ batted ball allowed Sydney Love-Baker to score for a run in the fifth, then three hits and an error led to three Golden Eagle runs in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. A throwing error by the pitcher allowed Nysted to score, Chandler Caldwell came home on a wild pitch, then a Lowery triple pushed Love-Baker across.
Lipscomb tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Hannah DeVault hit a solo home run to left center, then clinched the win with Rich’s second home run of the day to lead off the bottom of the seventh, facing an 0-2 count.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 7, UIC 5; EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, DAYTON 2
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team pushed its winning streak to 16 games, the longest in NCAA Division 1 softball, after a pair of wins on the final day of the EKU Invitational.
Eastern Kentucky’s (20-2) took game one, 7-5, over Illinois-Chicago, before knocking off Dayton in game two, 3-2.
UIC (9-11) wasted no time in the top of the first inning.
Samantha Ferguson got things started by being hit by a pitch. Kayla Wedl followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second with no one out. Tara McElligott made the Colonels pay. She sent a 1-2 pitch over the left center field fence to give the Flames a 3-0 lead. Kayla Pociejewski joined the party sending a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence to give UIC a 4-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
Eastern Kentucky responded back in the bottom of the second.
Carly Robinson took the second pitch of the inning deep over the left field fence for her sixth home run of the year and cut into the Flames lead, 4-1. Mattira Morales was hit and Isabella Gonzalez walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Lou Bowers singled to right field to bring home Amanda Sjoberg and cut the UIC lead to, 4-2. Sammi Miller tied the game up with a two out single up the middle to score a pair of runs.
Miller got things started in the bottom of the fifth inning with a lead off bunt single. After an Ariyana Miranda walk put runners on first and second, Zoe Mihalicz sent the first pitch into right field to score two runs and give Eastern the 6-4 lead. Mihalicz scored on a wild pitch to give the Colonels a 7-4 lead after five innings.
UIC got a run in the top of the seventh on solo home run, but did not get any closer.
Samantha Reynoso (5-1) picked up the win in the circle tossing four innings and striking out five.
Miller went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Mihalicz chipped in 2-for-3 with one RBI.
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In game two, the Colonels used some late inning heroics to knock off Dayton, 3-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jaqueline Mercado got things started with a leadoff walk. Gabriela De La Cerda moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt, putting the winning run on second base. After an intentional walk to Miller, Miranda took a 1-2 pitch into left center scoring Miranda Lopez and pushing the EKU winning streak to 16 games.
Dayton (6-12) struck first in the top half of the third inning.
Mallory Kimmell singled to left center to put a runner on first with one out. After a fly out, Abby Ehrenborg took a 1-1 pitch over the left center field fence to give the Flyers an early 2-0 lead.
Eastern answered right back in the bottom half of the inning.
Miller started it sending the first pitch of the inning down the left field line for a double. Miranda singled up the middle to score Miller and advanced to second on the throw. Vianna Barron sent a rocket off the wall for a double to score Miranda and tie the game at 2-2 after three innings.
Tori Peterson (2-0) picked up the win in the circle, tossing four and one-third innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.
Eastern takes its winning streak to the sunshine state for a midweek double header against Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
SIUE 3, BOISE STATE 2
TUCSON, Ariz. - Zoe Schafer singled home the game winner in the bottom of the sixth as SIUE claimed a 3-2 victory over Boise State in the final day of the Wildcat Invitational.
SIUE improved to 13-5 this season. Emily Ingles picked up the victory and is now 8-2 overall.
The Cougars went back and forth with Boise State, which upended SIUE earlier in the tournament. Sunday would be different.
Boise State, 13-11, took the early lead in the top of the third when Alison Seng was hit by a pitch with the base loaded. The Bronchos would get no farther in the third and would relinquish the lead in the bottom half of the third.
Alana Cobb-Adams opened the inning with her fourth home run of the season, tying Schafer for the team lead. She pulled her home run over the right field fence.
Bailley Concatto kept the inning going by drawing a walk. Schafer then sacrificed herself on a bunt, and Abby Marlow gave SIUE the lead with a single to right field, scoring Concatto.
The Bronchos tied it up in the top of the sixth on an RBI by Serena Hutchinson.
Lexi King, who was the starting pitcher for the Cougars, was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth. After Concatto reached on a fielder's choice, Schafer picked up the RBI on an infield hit which scored King.
SIUE next heads to Kansas City for a midweek doubleheader. The Cougars face the Kangaroos starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday.