FRIDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 16, Purdue Fort Wayne 2 (5)
Tennessee Tech 5, Northwestern State 0
Radford 7,
SIUE 4
Chattanooga 3,
SIUE 2
Memphis 5,
Austin Peay 4
Boston College 4,
Austin Peay 2
Southeast Missouri 6, Central Michigan 0
Bellarmine 4,
Southeast Missouri 3
Murray State 13, Toledo 2
North Dakota 4,
Murray State 3
UT Martin 11, Maine 3 (5)
UT Martin 4, North Alabama 3
Jackson State 5,
Eastern Illinois 4
Eastern Illinois 5, North Alabama 3
Belmont 8, Memphis 4
@FGCU 7,
Belmont 6
IUPUI 2,
Tennessee State 0
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 0; BELLARMINE 4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3
BOWLING GREEN, Ky – Rachel Rook threw a no-hitter and struck out 12 to lead Southeast Missouri (4-3) to a 6-0 win over Central Michigan (0-1) Friday at the Western Kentucky Hilltopper Classic.
SEMO split its first two games at the event, dropping the latter by a tight 4-3 margin to Bellarmine (4-2).
Rook tossed the ninth non-combined no-hitter in NCAA Division I softball this season. Oklahoma and Clemson accounted for one combined no-hitter apiece in addition to those performances.
A native of Republic, Missouri, Rook retired 20-straight prior to Shannon Stein's two-out walk in the top of the seventh. Stein was the Chippewas only baserunner of the game as Rook was perfect through 6.2 frames.
She recorded the second no-hitter of her career and first seven-inning no-hitter as a Redhawk. Rook also improved to 3-1 this season, struck out the side twice and finished with over 10 strikeouts for the third time in four starts.
Karsyn Davis delivered a two-out single to score both Kat Sackett and Aubrie Shore giving SEMO a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Redhawks scored 19 runs in the first inning through their opening seven contests.
Alyson Tucker, who reached on a leadoff single, came around to score with the help of a Jillian Anderson base hit and groundout by Paige Halliwill to make it 3-0 in the second.
SEMO added another tally on a solo home run by Kaylee Anderson in the sixth and scored a pair of unearned runs on an error in the seventh to polish off its 6-0 shutout.
K. Anderson went 3-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI to lead the Redhawks who notched nine hits. J. Anderson followed with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate.
The Redhawks met CMU in softball for the first time in 40 years.
Tied, 2-2, after three-and-a-half innings against Bellarmine, the Knights took the lead on a two-out, two-RBI single by Alexis Hargrove and that was the difference.
Abigail Rickermann singled home a run to make it a one-run game in the top of the fifth. SEMO had the bases loaded with two outs, but Bellarmine silenced the threat.
After that, the Redhawks had one more baserunner in the final two innings and the Knights held on.
Freshman Tori Bradley and Rickermann paced SEMO with two hits apiece. K. Anderson, Kileigh Grisham and Bradley accounted for the Redhawks runs.
The Redhawks outhit Bellarmine, 9-6, and have outhit their opponent in five of seven games thus far.
K. Anderson (1-1) took the loss in relief allowing two runs on four hits and striking out two in two innings. Rook entered the game in the sixth and fanned two of the three hitters she faced to run her strikeout total to 14 for the day.
SEMO resumes play at the Hilltopper Classic when it faces Western Kentucky at 12:30 p.m., CT Saturday.
MEMPHIS 5, AUSTIN PEAY 4; BOSTON COLLEGE 4, AUSTIN PEAY 2
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Austin Peay State University’s softball team was on the short end of two last at bat setbacks, Friday at the Florida Gulf Coast University Softball Complex, as the Governors fell to Memphis, 5-4, followed by a 4-2 final to Boston College.
In Game 1 versus Memphis, the Govs (4-3) led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but Memphis scored twice, taking advantage of two hits and an error, for the 5-4 final margin.
Lexi Osowski led the Govs with two hits, while Kylie Campbell picked up two RBIs.
In Game 2 versus Boston College, the Govs saw the Eagles (4-2) push across two runs in the tip of the seventh to break a 2-2 deadlock, as Austin Peay left nine runs stranded on the bases during the contest.
Bailey Shorter led the Govs with three hits, while Mea Clark drove in two.
MURRAY STATE 13, TOLEDO 2; NORTH DAKOTA 4, MURRAY STATE 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Murray State softball split the opening day at the 2022 Blazer Classic, defeating Toledo in a mercy-rule five innings, 13-2 in the Racers first-ever meeting with the Rockets before falling 4-3 to North Dakota on Friday at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Game One – Murray State 13, Toledo 2
The Racer bats exploded for 13 runs with three players collecting multi-hit games. The Racers top four in the order, Logan Braundmeier, Jensen Striegel, Sierra Gilmore and Gracie Osbron drove in all eight of the Racers' RBIs.
Gilmore got the scoring started in the top of the first with a sac fly to plating Braundmeier.
Getting her third start of the season, Hannah James struck out the side in the first inning.
In the second inning, Murray State scored five runs on six hits. Striegel picked up her first RBI of the season, lining a single to left to score Chloe Jacque with Braundmeier coming home on the play thanks to an error by the left fielder. Following a Rockets pitching change, Gilmore and Obsron launched back-to-back home runs to make to 6-0.
Toledo got one run back in the bottom half of the inning on a Macey Moore RBI single.
The Racers blew the game open in the third and fourth innings using five Racer hits and two Rocket errors to put up three runs in each to extend their lead to 12-1.
Toledo's Jenna Kroll led off the bottom half of fourth with a solo home run making it 12-2.
Osbron continued the hit parade with her third of the game, with Gilmore scoring on the play to bring it to 13-2.
James tossed the complete, mercy-rule game to earn her first win of the 2022 season. She allowed only three hits during the five-inning affair, striking out six.
Game Two – Murray State 3, North Dakota 4
North Dakota got off to a fast start in the first inning, putting up three runs.
Braundmeier got the Racers on the board in the third with an RBI single and Osbron closed the Fighting Hawks lead to one in the fourth.
UND made it 4-2 in the fifth inning in what proved to be the game-winning run as the Racers mounted a comeback in the seventh with Braundmeier driving in her second run of the game but fell just short as they dropped the second game of the day 4-3.
The Racers return to action tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. to face Toledo again and 5:30 p.m. against host UAB.
JACKSON STATE 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 4; EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, NORTH ALABAMA 3
VICKSBURG, Miss. - Four different Eastern Illinois players hit home runs as the Panthers bounced back to win their second game on Friday afternoon with a 5-3 decision over North Alabama.
EIU improved to 2-4 on the season after splitting their opening two games at the River City Classic II Tournament. North Alabama fell to 4-2 on the season.
Starting pitcher Alexa Rehmeier got some early help in the contest as she pitched a complete game to improve to 2-0 on the season.
After having the first five batters of the game retired in order, Kendall Fields was able to draw a walk for the first baserunner of the game. Abi Stahlhut then delivered what would be the first of four home runs for the Panthers in the game with a two-run shot. Aniya Holt followed one batter later with a solo shot to put EIU up 3-0.
The Panthers tacked on a solo run in the third when reigning OVC Player of the Year Megan Burton hit her first home run of the season.
North Alabama scratched across its first run in the bottom of the fifth as Sindey Bevis had a double and advanced to third on a throwing error. She came around to score on a passed ball.
UNA threatened one more time in the bottom of the seventh with the Lions scoring two runs. Kalli Daniel had an RBI triple that scored Bevis before coming around to score on an RBI single by Georgia Land. Rehmeier would get a fly out and strike out to end the contest as she struck out eight while scattering five hits.
Sidney Revels (1-1) had the loss in the circle for UNA.
Morgan Lewis was the lone EIU player with multiple hits going 2-for-4 with two doubles.
Jackson State was able to take advantage of a couple of Eastern Illinois errors in the fourth inning as the Tigers held on to beat EIU 5-4 in the opening game of the River City Classic II Tournament.
JSU was able to score all five of its runs in the crucial fourth frame to win the opening game of the weekend event. Mari Stephens had the big hit of the inning with a 3-run homer against EIU starter Olivia Price (0-1). Alexis Arrendondo delivered the other big JSU hit of the inning with a run scoring single.
Eastern Illinois had jumped out to an early lead in the game scoring two runs in the first against JSU starter Takiya Hill (2-0). Morgan Lewis and Megan Burton both singled to open the game with Riley Dittmar clearing the bases with a two-run triple. Hill was able to pitch out of the jam to end the inning and finished the game with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work.
The Panthers would threaten again in the top of the fifth as they scored two runs to cut the JSU lead to 5-4. In the inning Lindy Milkowski had an RBI double while Dittmar drove in her third run of the day. Dittmar finished 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI.
With runners at second and third in the fifth, JSU relief pitcher Victoria Salazar was able to get the final out of the inning preserving JSU's lead. EIU would also put a runner in scoring position in the top of the seventh. Salazar picked up her first save of the year.
EIU fell to 1-4 on the season and was set to play North Alabama later on Friday afternoon before two additional games on Saturday and two on Sunday. JSU improved to 6-2 on the year.
Lewis added two hits for EIU while Laurent Stewart was the lone JSU player with multiple hits going 2-for-4.
IUPUI 2, TENNESSEE STATE 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee State softball team fell in the home opener to IUPUI, 2-0, in the Roar City Invitational.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TOP 2ND: IUPUI tallied the first run of the Roar City Invitational after Jordan Barnes reached on a fielding error. Maicey Bedrick pinch-ran for Barnes and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hailey Pop logged drove in a run on an infield single. || IUPUI, 1-0
TOP 4TH: Barnes reached on a base hit up the middle. In the following at-bat, Jordan Calvert poked a single to right field. The Jaguars loaded the bases after a free-pass to Pop. IUPUI extended the lead on a fielder's choice to Ashley Shelton. || IUPUI, 2-0
Raven Loveless tossed her second complete game in three starts, as the senior allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits.
Lauren Farias went 1-for-2 with a stolen base, as she increased her batting average to .467.
The Tigers registered at least one base runner in all seven innings.
Farias has recorded a base hit in five of six games this season.
IUPUI secured their first win of the season.
TSU's allowed less than three runs in four of six games.
Tennessee State will continue the Roar City Invitational tomorrow morning as the Tigers are scheduled for two games, with Bradley at 10:30am and Miami (OH) at 3:30pm.
TENNESSEE TECH 16, PURDUE FORT WAYNE 2 (5); TENNESSEE TECH 5, NORTHWESTERN STATE 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The bats were swinging well on Friday as the Tennessee Tech softball team went 2-0 on the first day of the Chattanooga Challenge. The Golden Eagles drove in 21 total runs in two games, run-ruling Purdue Fort Wayne 16-2 in five innings, then shutting out Northwestern State 5-0 in the second game.
Haeli Bryson continued her hot streak, driving in seven RBI on the day as she was 3-for-7 at the plate. In the first seven games of the season, Bryson has 15 total RBI, eight shy of the total team-leading 23 collected by Nicolle Nysted last season. The team as a whole has 51, over a third of the 144 driven in at the conclusion of the season.
Tech, at 6-1, has posted its best start since the Golden Eagles started 15-0 in 1997.
Bryson also collected a three-hit shutout against Northwestern State to improve to 2-0 in the circle. She walked two and struck out eight in the victory.
Tyler Erwin also picked up her second win of the season, throwing four scoreless innings against PFW with three hits allowed while striking out two. Callie Piper threw the fifth frame against the Mastadons, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out one.
In addition to Bryson’s four RBI against PFW, Mackenzie Fitzgerald also had a four-RBI day, while Carmen Betts drove in three against the Mastadons.
Tech struck for six runs in the bottom of the first. Fitzgerald led off with a single, then Sydney Love-Baker reached on an error to short. Bryson drove in the first run with a single, then Abby Buettner loaded the bases as she reached on an error at short with no play to be made.
Betts delivered the big blow, dropping a double into the field to clear the bases ahead of her. KaDedra Temple and Shelby Penning drew walks to load the bases once more, then Jordan Key picked up an RBI as she drew a free pass. Fitzgerald pushed another run across on a grounder as Temple came home, but the Mastadon defense was able to collect an out on the play and get out of the inning.
Tech added five more runs in the third as Fitzgerald drove in Penning and Talley with a triple, Love-Baker pushed Fitzgerald across, then Bryson hit a two-run bomb to make it an 11-0 game through three.
Five more came across in the fourth as Jessica Arrington came home on a Nysted single, Key brought Nysted home on an error at short, then Fitzgerald had another RBI double. Love-Baker drove in Key with a single and Bryson drove in Fitzgerald on a grounder to second.
Gracie Brinkerhoff took the loss, allowing 16 runs – 10 earned – on 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. She walked four and struck out two.
In the day’s second game, Fitzgerald led off with a single to short, then stole second.
Bryson reached on an error at short. A Buettner fly out to right allowed Fitzgerald to move up to third, then Bryson swiped second. A passed ball allowed Fitzgerald to take home, then Betts followed up with a single back to the circle, allowing Bryson to score.
In the second inning with two down, Key eyed a single through the left side, then Fitzgerald singled to center. Love-Baker worked the count to draw a walk, then Bryson picked up two more RBI with a single to left.
Tech scored a single run in the top of the seventh as Bryson put down a sacrifice bunt back to the circle. Fitzgerald’s speed was enough to get her home from third on the play.
The Golden Eagles (6-1) continue their play at the Chattanooga Challenge on Saturday as Tech takes on Indiana State at 11:30 a.m., followed by a matchup with host Chattanooga at 4:30 p.m.
RADFORD 6, SIUE 4; CHATTANOOGA 3, SIUE 2
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Amber Storer's two-run homer against host Chattanooga highlighted the opening day of the Chattanooga Challenge.
SIUE fell to 2-5 overall with a pair of losses, dropping a 7-4 decision to Radford and 3-2 to Chattanooga.
The Cougars are back in action Saturday with two more games. SIUE faces Indiana State at 9 a.m. and Northwestern State at 2 p.m.
Storer hit her first home run of the season to break a 0-0 deadlock in the fourth inning. Her blast went over the left field fence after Mia Haynes drew a one-out walk.
But Chattanooga, 2-3, chipped away at the lead against SIUE's Sydney Baalman, scoring one run in each of the final three innings. Kailey Snell, who had three hits, doubled home the winning run.
In Friday's opener, SIUE yielded home runs to Jordan Moss and Rachel Smith in the first inning.
Haynes, who started game one for the Cougars, regained one run back by herself in the second inning. Her solo home run to center field was one of eight hits for the Cougars.
SIUE outhit Radford 8-5, but the quick start held up for the Highlanders. Emily Spingard threw 4 1/3 innings for the win while Jessie Marvin threw the final eight outs for her first save of the season.
BELMONT 8, MEMPHIS 4; FGCU 7, BELMONT 6
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Bruins got the bats going on this 80 degree sunny afternoon in the sunshine state. In the first inning alone the Bruins had five hits and four runs. The Bruins continued the hitting streak in the bottom of the sixth to earn their first win of the season (8-4).
The Bruins started out the season with a jam packed first inning. Going down 4-0 in the top of the first the Bruins reacted seamlessly with a complete comeback, 4-4. Baie Ensio started the Bruins off today, singling to left field, she then stole second, and returned home from an Emma Barnes single. Kristen Green also singled, moving Barnes to second. After an error Abi Ledbetter reached base while Green and Barnes hit home plate. Mykayla Spurlin walked, stole second and was brought home by an Audrey Lyle single.
Neither team was successful in scoring in the second, third, fourth, or fifth inning.
Bottom of the sixth, Ledbetter singled to left field to secure a spot on first base to start the Bruins off. Sending in Savannah Haltermann to pinch run for Ledbetter. Halterman stole second and advanced to third off of a Spurlin single to left field. Lyle doubled to left center, sending Halterman and Spurlin home( 6-4). Emily Cockrill reached first after an error on a sacrifice bunt, sending Lyle home (7-4). Bases loaded no outs after Ellison Ollinger singled to left center and Ensio singled to third base on a bunt. Ollinger advanced to third as Cavanaugh got caught in a fielder's choice to second base. Emma Barnes flew out to left field, sending Ollinger home. A four run, five hit inning for the Bruins.
Offensively, Lyle led the Bruins going 2-3 at the plate with a double and three RBI. Ensio went 2-4 at the plate scoring one run while Barnes went 1-3 with two RBI. Spurlin had two runs for the Bruins today.
Defensively, Emma Summers earned her first win as a Bruin today as she closed out the game facing ten batters with no hits tallying six strikeouts.
The Bruins totaled eight runs, 10 hits, and six RBI to secure the win against The University of Memphis.