SATURDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee State 2, @Eastern Illinois 0
SIUE 9, @Belmont 1 (9)
@Murray State 5, Morehead State 1
@Murray State 1, Morehead State 0
Southeast Missouri 10, @Jacksonville State 5
Southeast Missouri 3, @Jacksonville State 2
UT Martin 2, @Tennessee Tech 0
@Tennessee Tech 7, UT Martin 4
@Austin Peay 9, Eastern Kentucky 4
@Austin Peay 5, Eastern Kentucky 1
TENNESSEE STATE 2, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois closed out its 2021 season on Saturday afternoon as Tennessee State beat EIU 2-0 at Williams Field.
EIU closed the season at 25-19 overall, 16-14 in the OVC as it was the final appearance in a Panthers uniform for seven players: Shelby Martell, McKinlee Miller, Valerie Thompson, Taylor Jones, Jade Montgomery, Mia Davis and Haley Mitchell.
Davis and Mitchell each picked up hits in their final EIU games as the pair joined the 200 hit club at EIU during the season. EIU was limited to just five hits on the day.
TSU starter Lauren Powell scattered the five EIU hits during a complete game shutout that included seven strikeouts.
Kayli Mothershed connected for a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning to give TSU the lead. Peyton Fointno had an RBI single in the sixth to provide TSU with an insurance run.
Montgomery had the start for EIU and tossed a complete game allowing just six hits.
SIUE 9, BELMONT 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Zoe Schafer capped her collegiate career Saturday with a home run in her final at bat as SIUE completed the 2021 season with a 9-1, five-inning win over Belmont at Cougar Field.
The Cougars, 18-21 overall and 18-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference, won for the ninth straight time. In any other year, SIUE would enter the OVC Championships as the hottest team in the league. However, the league championships feature only the top four regular-season teams, and the Cougars fell short in conference winning percentage. The nine-game winning streak is the longest since the 2017 season.
Schafer made sure SIUE had the happy ending in its final regular season and led the Cougars with three hits and three RBIs. Her final hit was a fourth-inning two-run homer over the left field fence.
Her 32nd career home run, the most by a Cougar in the Division I era, also was her 207th career hit.
SIUE freshman Sydney Baalman earned the win and improved her season record to 10-9. She won her last six games and yielded just five earned runs during that span. She struck out six Saturday.
Senior Bianca Vozenilek threw the final inning in her final game as a Cougar against Belmont, 15-25 overall and 11-20 in the OVC.
SIUE's offense collected 12 hits for the game and chased Belmont's Alex Chesi, 6-11, in the third inning with a five-run rally. The third inning featured RBI hits from Lexi King, Schafer, Amber Storer, Micah Arps and Bailley Concatto.
The Cougars added four more runs in the fourth on Schafer's homer, an RBI double by Storer and an infield error off the bat of Arps.
MURRAY STATE 5, MOREHEAD STATE 1; MURRAY STATE 1, MOREHEAD STATE 0
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State softball wrapped up the season on a high note on Saturday when they concluded the 2021 campaign with a doubleheader against Morehead State at Racer Field. The Racers ended the year with a series sweep of the Eagles, earning victories of 5-1 and 1-0 on the day.
Game 1 - Murray State 5, Morehead State 1
The Racers picked up right where they left off in yesterday’s 14-4 victory when they stayed aggressive offensively with a pair of runs in the opening frame.
Sierra Gilmore’s one-out double drove in Lily Fischer for the first Racer run, before a perfectly-executed first and third double steal saw Gilmore cross the plate later in the inning as Murray State owned a 2-0 advantage through the end of one complete.
The score would remain unchanged until the home half of the fourth when the Racer bats generated two more runs – this time courtesy of a Jordan Childress pinch-hit double that scored a pair to extend the Murray State lead to 4-0 through four innings of action.
The Eagles did get one back in the sixth when Jennifer Clausen’s two-out RBI single made it 4-1, but the Racers responded with another run of their own in the bottom half when Kamryn Carcich launched her first home run in a Racer uniform – a solo shot that restored the Racers’ four-run cushion.
Jenna Veber cruised through a 1-2-3 seventh in the circle, and the Racers secured a 5-1 victory to win their seventh OVC series of the season.
The five Racer runs came on seven hits, with Lily Fischer (2-3, R) and Sierra Gilmore (2-3, RBI, R, 2B, SB) each turning in a multi-hit performance. Childress’ double and Carcich’s home run accounted for the other two Murray State extra-base hits in the contest.
Hannah James earned her ninth victory of the season, tossing five scoreless frames while surrendering just two hits and striking out four Eagle batters.
Jenna Veber went the rest of the way, striking out one while allowing just the single run in two innings of relief.
Game 2 - Murray State 1, Morehead State 0 (8 inn.)
The final contest of the campaign saw the Racers head to extra innings for the seventh time in 2021.
Hannah James recorded eleven of the first 12 outs by way of strikeout, but one of those eleven would be much more significant than the rest. When the Nicholasville, Kentucky native set down Morehead State’s Maddie Kawall on strikes in the second frame, she recorded her 149th strikeout of the season – setting a new Murray State single-season program record. The previous record of 148 from 2013 was held by CheyAnne Gaskey.
James carried a no-hit bid into the seventh, but a Josie Wefer double to open the frame spoiled the effort. James would keep the shutout intact when she retired the next three Eagle batters in order as the game remained scoreless through the top of the seventh.
Lindsey Carroll reached on an error by the Eagle shortstop in the home half, and would even reach third with two outs in the inning, but the game’s first run was left stranded 60 feet away as the season finale required extra innings to decide a winner.
Jenna Veber entered to pitch the eighth and retired three-straight batters to keep the Eagles off the board in their first opportunity in extra innings.
After Jensen Striegel drew a lead-off walk in the home half, she stole second and then scored the game’s winning run by way of a Logan Braundmeier base hit through the left side as the Racers earned a 1-0 victory in walk-off fashion.
Hannah James dealt seven scoreless innings of one-hit softball while tying a career high with 13 strikeouts in the contest as the new Murray State single-season record now stands at 158. Veber would be credited with her eighth win of the season for her stellar outing in relief.
Five different Racers collected a hit in the season finale, with Kamryn Carcich (2-3) leading the way with a two-hit performance.
The Racers end the season at 22-19 overall that includes a 19-15 mark against OVC competition.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 10, JACKSONVILLE STATE 5; SOUTEHAST MISSOURI 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 2
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Southeast Missouri (28-14, 23-5) won the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title and claimed the top seed in this year's OVC Tournament with a 10-5, 3-2, doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville State (22-23, 20-13) Saturday.
SEMO won its second-straight OVC crown and seventh in program history. The Redhawks also claimed their first-ever series win over the Gamecocks and broke a school record with 23 league wins.
SEMO had a season-high four home home runs, including two by Kaylee Anderson in its game one victory.
Down 1-0 after two innings, Anderson and Kynzie Wrigley hit back-to-back home runs to give the Redhawks their first lead.
After pinch-hitter Kimmy Wallen reached on a double to left, Anderson homered to left field. On the next play, Wrigley sent her second home run of the season over the right field fence putting SEMO ahead, 3-1.
JSU narrowed SEMO's lead to 3-2 when Jada Terry knocked in Keeli Bobbitt on a single in the bottom of the third.
The Redhawks then answered with another two-run home run, this time by Alyson Tucker, to push their lead to 5-2 in the top of the fourth. Austine Pauley, who was hit by a pitch, scored on Tucker's third round-tripper of the year.
SEMO continued to pour it on adding two more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings, and another in the seventh.
Tucker's second hit of the game, a one-out single, scored Ashley Emert and Anderson in the fifth. After Wallen singled to lead off the sixth, Anderson belted her second home run to left field pushing the Redhawks lead to 9-2.
Rachel Anderson doubled home SEMO's final run of the game in the top of the seventh.
SEMO pounded out 14 hits.
K. Anderson went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and matched a career-high four RBI to lead the way. The multi-home run game was the third of her career. Additionally, Anderson recorded the final out of the game in her first pitching appearance this year.
Wallen added a pair of hits and two runs scored, while Wrigley and Tucker finished with two hits apiece.
Rachel Rook (18-8) picked up the win, her OVC best 18th of the season. Rook gave up three runs on four hits and struck out three in 6.1 innings.
Nicole Rodriguez (8-8) suffered the loss. Rodriguez gave up five runs and seven hits, struck out seven and walked one in three innings.
In game two, SEMO took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-out error.
JSU tied the game with a leadoff solo home run by Megan Fortner in the bottom of the fifth.
The Redhawks answered with two runs to get ahead of the Gamecocks, 3-1, in the top half of the sixth. Kelby Robinson stole second and Ashley Emert scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by third baseman Karsen Mosley. On the next play, Austine Pauley singled and Robinson scored.
JSU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and made it a one-run game when Fortner reached on a fielder's choice. Shelby Newsome scored trimming SEMO's lead to 3-2.
Marisa Davis struck out Sidney Wagnon to end the threat as JSU stranded the tying and go-ahead runners on base.
Rook entered the game to pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning, where Raegan Watkins doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bobbitt.
With one out, Rook threw a high pitch that catcher Chelsy Pena fielded off the backstop. Watkins broke for home, but was thrown out at the plate. Pena threw the ball to Rook who tagged out Watkins.
Rook then struck out Alex Howard to end the game earning her fourth save.
K. Anderson (1-0) was credited with the win. She struck out one in one inning of relief.
SEMO had only two hits in the nightcap.
Watkins (6-6) took the loss for JSU. She struck out three, walked six and gave up three runs on two hits in seven innings.
UT MARTIN 2, TENNESSEE TECH 0; TENNESSEE TECH 7, UT MARTIN 4
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.- As the Tennessee Tech softball team honored its senior class, they all came up big in the season finale leading to a doubleheader split on Saturday. UT Martin took the day’s first game 2-0, then the Golden Eagles won the second 7-4.
Jessie Lowery went 3-for-4 in the second game, Beth McCulley was 3-for-7 on the day with an RBI and Hannah Richter set up scoring plays in the later contest.
With those players coming through and helping the Golden Eagles (19-30, 13-20 Ohio Valley Conference) earn a victory in the finale, Tech builds some momentum for the future.
Alyssa Arden picked up the victory in the later game, earning her 10th win of the season. She allowed four runs – three earned – on seven hits as she walked two and struck out one. Seeley Layne took the loss, allowing five unearned runs on six hits over four frames, allowing one walk and striking out three. Emily Brown threw the final two frames, allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out none.
After Mackenzie Fitzgerald reached in the bottom of the first on a triple, Lowery hit a grounder to second, but the ball was misplayed, allowing Fitzgerald to score. The Skyhawks evened the score in the top of the second as Aalia Bivens hit a double to center field, then an error on Macey Neals fly ball allowed Bivens to score.
Tech put four runs on the board in the third inning. Fitzgerald reached on a fielder’s choice as the Skyhawks erased Carmen Betts at second. Lowery hit an infield single to short, then a McCulley grounder allowed the runners to advance. Nicolle Nysted hit the ball back to the circle, but the throw to first sailed over the first baseman, allowing Fitzgerald and Lowery to score. Haeli Bryson hit an infield single to second and took second on a throw across the field trying to get Nysted. Sydney Love-Baker drove the two runners in with an single up the middle to make it a 5-1 game.
UT Martin scored two runs in the sixth as Kaitlyn Kelley hitting a two-run home run to left.
The Golden Eagles responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the inning. Love-Baker reached with a full-count walk, then Paxton Grimes reached on a fielder’s choice as UTM took out pinch-runner Brooklin Richardson at second. A wild pitch allowed Grimes to move up to second, then Richter moved her over to third on a ground out to second.
Tech then got four consecutive infield base hits as Betts singled to second to drive in Grimes, Fitzgerald singled to third, Lowery singled back to the circle, then McCulley singled to short to drive in pinch-runner Chandler Caldwell.
Paige Clark, who was 4-for-8 on the day, drove in Neal with a double to left center for the Skyhawks’ final run.
In game one, Erin Gallagher held Tech to three hits with a walk, while striking out five. Bryson dueled her in the circle, but was tagged for two runs on 10 hits in the seven-inning effort, walking none and striking out five.
Both of the Skyhawks’ runs scored in the bottom of the third as Shyanne Sheffield drove in Clark and Anna Blanton with a single to left field.
AUSTIN PEAY 9, EASTERN KENTUCKY 4; AUSTIN PEAY 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team swept an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader versus Eastern Kentucky, Saturday at Cathi Maynard Park-Cheryl Holt Field, coming away with 9-4 and 5-1 victories.
In Game 1, The Govs 27-14, 23-11 OVC) jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings, aided by four EKU (32-15, 22-9 OVC) errors.
The Colonels would try to rally in the fifth inning, scoring four times, including three coming on a home run by Isabella Gonzalez, to make it 7-4.
But that would be as close as they would get, with the Govs adding two insurance runs in the sixth on a two-run homer by Kelsey Gross for the 9-4 final.
Shelby Harpe (2-0) would get the win for the Govs, with Gross picking up her fourth save of the season. TorI Peterson (16-5) took the loss for EKU.
In Game 2, Austin Peay broke on top, 1-0, in the second inning off an RBI single by Bailey Shorter, then added a second run in the fourth on a single by Brett Jackson.
EKU’s lone run came in the fifth, on an RBI single by Zoe Mihalicz, to cut the Govs lead to one, 2-1.
But the Govs closed out the games scoring with a three-run homer by Drew Dudley in the bottom of the fifth for the 5-1 final.
Harley Mullins (8-6) picked up the complete-game victory, while Bethany Todd (0-4) took the loss for EKU.