FRIDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 5, Northern Kentucky 0
Tennessee Tech 2, Presbyterian 0
UT Martin 7, Chattanooga 1
Baylor 8,
UT Martin 6
Tennessee State 1, Grambling 0
Tennessee State 8, Alcorn State 3
Austin Peay 14, Purdue Fort Wayne 0 (5)
Austin Peay 6, Alabama A&M 0
Louisiana Tech 2,
Morehead State 1
Evansville 4,
Morehead State 0 (9)
SIUE 4, Jacksonville State 2
SIUE 8, Louisiana Tech 0 (5)
Southeast Missouri 13, Alabama A&M 0 (5)
Southeastern Louisiana 6,
Southeast Missouri 2
St. Thomas 12,
Eastern Illinois 9
Eastern Illinois 11, Valparaiso 2
Butler 6,
Murray State 0
Seattle 3,
Murray State 2
TENNESSEE TECH 5, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 0; TENNESSEE TECH 2, PRESBYTERIAN 0
CLINTON, S.C. – It was a day for senior Haeli Bryson as she drove in Tennessee Tech's first runs of the year against Northern Kentucky, hit the Golden Eagles' first home run of the season against Presbyterian, then claimed a win in the circle against the host Blue Hose on Friday afternoon as Tech went 2-0 on the opening day of the season at the Blue Hose Invitational.
It is the first 2-0 Opening Day performance for the Golden Eagles since the 2004 campaign. It is also the first time Tech pitchers had back-to-back one-hit victories in a single day since Bonnie Bynum and Sarah Street on March 23, 2006, at Tennessee State.
Bryson went 2-for-3 in the opener with two RBI against the Norse, then went 1-for-3 against Presbyterian with a two-run home run for four total RBI on the day.
In the circle, Bryson and Alyssa Arden matched, both throwing complete-game one-hit victories. Arden allowed just one hit to the Norse, a safety for right fielder Ella LeMonier, to claim her 29th career victory. Bryson allowed one hit to Jersey Silver, walked three and struck out eight en route to her 15th career win.
Tech challenged NKU hurler Madisyn Eads, drawing six walks and collecting five hits. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases in the first, second and fifth innings, powering through in the second as Haeli Bryson drove in Tech's first two runs of the year with a two-run single to center field. The hit allowed Savannah Talley and Mackenzie Fitzgerald to come home to score.
Abby Buettner brought two more home to score in the fourth as her hit ball led to an error in left, sending Fitzgerald and Bryson to score. Carmen Betts picked up an RBI as she drove Buettner home on a single to left.
Betts went 2-for-3 in the opener, while Talley broke up Jenna Greene's no-hit bid in the second game with a hit to short. Green ended the game allowing two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out eight.
It was all quiet in the second game until Bryson helped her own cause as she hit a home run to left, bringing in Alexis Trimiar's pinch-runner, Shelby Penning, home on the blast.
Play continues at the Blue Hose Invitational on Saturday as the Golden Eagles take on South Carolina State at 9 a.m., followed by a rematch with Northern Kentucky at 1:30 p.m.
SIUE 4, JACKSONVILLE STATE 2; SIUE 8, LOUISIANA TECH 0
MONROE, La. - Mia Haynes became the 19th player in SIUE softball history to throw a no-hitter Friday as the Cougars swept the opening day of the 2022 season.
SIUE bested Louisiana Tech 8-0 in five innings on the no-hitter, which is the 14th no-hitter for the Cougars during the NCAA Division I era. The Cougars started the day by handing Jacksonville State its first loss of the season 4-2.
SIUE has now won 11 straight games dating back to last season.
Sydney Baalman tossed a complete-game victory against Jacksonville State. She allowed just two solo home runs from the Gamecocks.
The Cougars turned around quickly in the Best on the Bayou Classic at the Ouachita Sportsplex for a meeting with Louisiana Tech.
If anyone looked away in the first inning, they missed all of the scoring.
Arps led off the game with a single to left. Mason doubled down the left field line to score Arps. King blasted a home run to center field.
With the lead in hand, Haynes not only did what she needed but blanked Louisiana Tech.
It also was Haynes' first victory as a Cougar.
SIUE rallied for four more runs in top of the second. Mason doubled to left center, driving home Jenna Herron. Lexi King drove home Micah Arps on a sacrifice fly. Grace Lueke added a two-run homer that scored Mason.
Haynes, who also batted for herself, would score the eventual winning run in the top of the fifth as Kylie Lane drove her home on a single to right field.
The challenges don't end there for the Cougars. SIUE returns to the Best on the Bayou Classic Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. game against host Louisiana Monroe and a 3 p.m. neutral site game against Syracuse.
AUSTIN PEAY 14, PURDUE FORT WAYNE 0; AUSTNI PEAY 6, ALABAMA STATE 0
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Austin Peay State University’s softball team opened its 2022 regular season with back-to-back shutouts, Friday at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex, as its defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 14-0 and Alabama State 6-0 at the Stinger Classic.
In the opener versus Purdue Fort Wayne, the Govs pounded out 12 hits while scoring in every inning while Govs starter Jordan Benefiel picked up her fourth career shutout.
Lexi Osowski led the Govs offense going 3-for-3 at the plate, including a triple and four RBIs, while Emily Harkleroad droving in four and Mea Clark three.
In the nightcap versus the tournament host Alabama State, the Govs broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the third inning by using three doubles to score two runs.
That would be all the runs that the Govs would need as freshman Samantha Miener threw the complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits and a walk, while striking out three.
The Govs would add a run in the fourth, to make it 3-0, and then broke the game open with a three-run fourth for the 6-0 final margin.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 13, ALABAMA A&M 0; SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 6, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
HAMMOND, La. – Fifth-year senior Rachel Rook struck out 12 in a complete game one-hit shutout and Southeast Missouri (1-0) scored its most runs in a season-opener during a 13-0 blowout over Alabama A&M (0-1) Friday afternoon at the Lion Classic.
Rook struck out the side in each of the first two innings and fanned eight of the first nine hitters she faced. SEMO's 13 runs surpassed the Redhawks previous program record of 11 done in multiple season-opening games.
SEMO wasted no time giving Rook a lead when it jumped all over Bulldog starting pitcher Alyssa Lopez.
The Redhawks roughed up Lopez – who did not record an out – for six runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Lopez was knocked out of the game after facing only six hitters.
AAMU committed a pair of errors in the bottom of the first which saw 11 hitters come to the plate for SEMO. Kaylee Anderson knocked in the Redhawks first run of the season with a single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch. Marshall University transfer Kat Sackett later brought home Anderson on a base hit before freshman Aubrie Shore smacked a two-RBI triple to right center in her first collegiate at-bat. Jillian Anderson's two-RBI hit put SEMO ahead, 7-0.
The Redhawks added five more runs during their at-bat in the third.
Shore led things off with a solo home run to left center. After Kileigh Grisham touched home on a passed ball, Paige Halliwill doubled home two runs. K. Anderson delivered her second hit of the game to score Halliwill pushing SEMO's lead to 12-0.
Nine-hole hitter Alyson Tucker plated the final run of the game on a single to left field in the fourth inning.
Rook (1-0) was perfect through her first 3.2 innings before Tatianna Roman gave the Bulldogs their lone hit of the game in the top of the fourth. Rook struck out all but seven of the hitters she faced and walked just two in five innings. The shutout was the 13th of her career. Rook also struck out 10 or more in a game for the sixth time as a Redhawk.
SEMO outhit AAMU, 11-1, with eight different players getting a hit.
Shore went 2-for-2 with a pair of extra base hits, two runs and three RBI, while Halliwill finished at 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, and K. Anderson went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI.
J. Anderson followed with two runs, a hit and two RBI, while Sackett, Kelby Robinson, Sydney Dennis and Tucker were the others in the hit column.
SEMO improved to 16-15 all-time in season-opening games since elevating to NCAA Division I status in 1992.
Southeast Missouri (1-1) committed five errors in a 6-2 loss to Southeastern Louisiana (1-0) Friday night in the Lion Classic.
SEMO split two games in its first day of the event that also includes tournament host SELA, Nicholls and Alabama A&M.
The Redhawks shaky defense led to five unearned runs for the Lions and that was the difference.
Lexi Johnson reached on an error to lead off the second inning and later scored giving SELA a 1-0 lead.
An inning later, the Lions scored three more with the help of two additional Redhawk mishaps. After Lindsey Rizzo and Madison Rayner both singled, Madisen Blackford reached on an error to load the bases. Lexi Johnson knocked in a run on a fielder's choice. Then, Johnson and Rayner touched home on an error to increase the Lions lead to 4-0.
Kat Sackett delivered a RBI-single and Aubrie Shore scored Kaylee Anderson on an infield hit to get SEMO on the board and make it a 4-2 game in the top of the fourth.
But, another two errors led to a pair of unearned runs as SELA put its win on ice in the bottom of the fifth.
Preseason All-Southland Conference pitcher Heather Zumo (1-0) was credited with the win. Zumo struck out three, walked one and allowed two runs on three hits in 4.2 innings.
Marisa Davis (0-1) took the loss. Davis also worked 4.2 innings, where she struck out two and gave up six runs on four hits. Only one of those tallies was earned.
SELA edged SEMO, 5-4, in hits.
Sackett went 2-for-3 with a RBI to lead the Redhawks.
SEMO resumes play with two more games at the Lion Classic Saturday. The Redhawks face Nicholls at 1 p.m., CT and SELA at 3 p.m.
ST. THOMAS 12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 9; EASTERN ILLINOIS 11, VALPARAISO 2
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Lindy Milkowski tied an NCAA record with two grand slams on Friday afternoon as the Eastern Illinois softball picked up its first win of the season with an 11-2 win over Valparaiso at the Rosemont Dome.
EIU improved to 1-2 on the season while Valparaiso fell to 0-3.
Milkowski hit the first of her grand slams in the top of the fourth inning to break open a 1-1 contest. Jaylen Prichard and Riley Dittmar singled before Megan Burton walked to load the bases for Milkowski, who delivered the bomb to left field.
Valparaiso scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth to close the lead to 5-2 heading into what proved to be the final inning.
In the fifth Milkowski cleared the bases scoring Prichard, Morgan Lewis and Burton. Prichard reached on a hit while Lewis got on board with a walk.
Milkowski finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with eight RBI. She drove in three runs and had a two-run homer in the Panthers early afternoon contest.
Hannah Cravens and Prichard both added three hits for EIU as the Panthers finished with 13 hits on the day.
Alexa Rehmeier (1-0) picked up her first college win throwing three innings. Cheyenne Nietz took the loss for Valparaiso falling to 0-1.
Taylor Tonoian was 2-for-2 to as the only Valpo player with multiple hits.
St. Thomas (Minn.) scored eight runs in the top of the second inning and held off Eastern Illinois to pick up a 12-9 win over the Panthers on the second day of the Rosemont Dome Tournament.
EIU fell to 0-2 on the season after the Panthers climbed to within one run in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings but could not complete the comeback.
The Tommies big inning was sparked by three doubles by Coryn Jacobson, Sarah Hudson and Cassidy Carby batting in the three through five spots in the order. Jacobson's double was a two-run shot.
EIU answered with three runs in the bottom of the second with Riley Dittmar, Morgan Lewis and Megan Burton all driving in runs.
After both teams scored in the third inning, EIU cut the lead to 9-8 in the bottom of the fourth. Lindy Milkowski opened the inning with a two-run homer. Kendall Fields had a sacrifice fly and Maddie Swart drove home a run with a ground out to bring EIU within one.
Brooke Ellestad gave St. Thomas a little cushion in the fifth as she led off with a solo home run. Ellestad was 4-for-5 on the day with three RBI.
Milkowski drove home her third run of the day for EIU in the bottom of the fifth bringing the Panthers to within 10-9. The tying run would be stranded on third as Isabelle True forced a fly out to center. True worked three innings to collect the save. Lauren Berridge (1-0) picked up the win in relief.
Tieghan Morio (0-1) was the losing pitcher for EIU as the Panthers used five pitchers in the game.
St. Thomas tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh for the final score. Hudson joined Ellestad as St. Thomas players with multiple hits going 2-for-4.
Dittmar, Lewis and Burton all finished with two hits for EIU.
EIU wraps up action at the Rosemont Dome Tournament on Saturday morning facing Bowling Green.
TENNESSEE STATE 1, GRAMBLING 0; TENNESSEE STATE 8, ALCORN STATE 3
VICKSBURG, Miss. - The Tennessee State softball team swept opening day with two victories over HBCU opponents in the River City Classic.
Final: Tennessee State 1 (W: Raven Loveless, 1-0), Grambling State 0 (L: Dacia Richard, 0-1)
TOP 1ST: To lead off the game, in her first collegiate at-bat, Jasmine Brown slapped a double along the left field line. On the following play, Lauren Farias dropped down a bunt single and Brown scored from second on the play. || TSU, 1-0
Raven Loveless started in the circle for TSU; the senior tossed a one-hit, complete game shutout and struck out two.
Jasmine Brown, in her collegiate debut, was the offensive player of the game as she went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored.
Brown was the only player to log multiple hits and scored the lone run of the contest.
In 2021, Loveless tossed nine complete games and did not have a CG shutout. It was the third CG shutout of her career.
Tennessee State won their season opener for the first time since 2017.
TSU's defeated Grambling in four straight meetings, outscoring GSU by a sizable margin, 23-10.
Final: Tennessee State 8 (W: Francys King, 1-0), Alcorn State 3 (L: Lexi Veamoi, 0-1)
TOP 3RD: After a strikeout to begin the inning, Lauren Farias reached on a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Tigers took an early lead on a throwing error by Alcorn State's shortstop. || TSU, 1-0
BOT 7TH: The Braves started the inning with a free-pass and followed up with a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. The No. 8 hitter, Miracle Crosby, tied the game on an RBI single. || TIED 1-1
TOP 9TH: Tennessee State kick-started the ninth inning with a single from Kayli Mothershed after a lengthy at-bat. Mothershed advanced to second after Peyton Fointno was plunked by a pitch. After a fielder's choice and a strikeout, Ivory Jones walked to load the bases. Farias came through in the clutch with two outs, the senior laced a two-run double to give TSU a crunch-time lead. Jasmine Brown sliced a two-RBI double to left field to extend the lead to four, 5-1. After Meaghan Lewis reached base, Anayah Baker belted a three-run home run to give the Tigers a comfortable lead. || TSU, 8-1
BOT 9TH: Alcorn State responded with a walk to begin the bottom half of the ninth. The Braves scored on a run on a fielding error by TSU's shortstop, Farias. With two runners on, Desirea Lindsey poked an RBI single into center to trim the deficit. || TSU 8-3
Francys King started in the circle for TSU; the sophomore went eight innings, allowed one run on eight hits, walked two and struck out seven.
Lauren Farias tallied the first run of the game and drove in the go-ahead run. The senior went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In her first start of the season, Kayli Mothershed went 3-for-5, including a lengthy at-bat to jump-start the ninth inning.
TSU had three players register multiple RBI in the contest (Brown 2, Baker 3, Farias 2).
True freshman, Jasmine Brown, recorded multiple hits in consecutive games.
For the first time since 2012, the Tigers have won their first two games of the season.
TSU's defeated Alcorn State in four straight meetings, outscoring the Braves by a wide margin, 28-10.
After going hitless in game one, Anayah Baker launched a three-run bomb for her fourth career home run.
Tennessee State will continue their opening weekend with a two-game set against Jackson State and Grambling State tomorrow afternoon. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:15pm, with game two following about 30 minutes after.