FRIDAY'S SCORES
Austin Peay 14, IUPUI 4
North Alabama 8,
Austin Peay 0
South Alabama 9,
Belmont 1
@Mississippi State 8,
Belmont 0
Pitt 6,
Tennessee Tech 0
USC Upstate 3,
Tennessee Tech 2
#15 Louisaina 3,
Eastern Illinois 2 (9)
Northwestern State 7,
Eastern Illinois 5
@Jackson State 6,
UT Martin 0
Mississippi Valley State 4,
UT Martin 3
Middle Tennessee 2,
Murray State 0
Murray State 8, @Mercer 0
#11 Oklahoma State 9,
Tennessee State 0
Texas Southern 9,
Tennessee State 0
AUSTIN PEAY 14, IUPUI 4; NORTH ALABAMA 8, AUSTIN PEAY 0
BIRMING HAM, Ala. – Austin Peay’s softball team split its first two games at the UAB Blazer Invite, Friday at Mary Bowers Field, as they Govs defeated IUPUI, 14-4, before falling to North Alabama, 8-0.
In the opener versus IUPUI, the Gov would put the game away early with a five-run first inning followed by a seven-run second to go up 12-0.
Highlighting the early offensive surge for the Govs were Mea Clark and Lexi Osowski, who both homered, with Clark’s being a grand slam in the first and Osowski’s a two-run shot in the second.
Overall, the Govs recorded 12 hits in the win, with Harley Mullins (1-0) picking up the complete-game victory for APSU.
In the night cap versus North Alabama, the Govs couldn’t get their offense going verus the Lions, as they were limited to five hits, including two each by Osowski and Morgan Zuege.
North Alabama (9-2) did most of their damage in the second and fifth innings, scoring three times in the second and four times in the fifth.
PITT 6, TENNESSEE TECH 0; USC UPSTATE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – It was a tough day Friday at the Wings Etc. Classic as the Tennessee Tech softball team had a tough outing against Pitt, falling 6-0, then saw a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh end the Golden Eagles’ big at handing USC Upstate its first loss of the season, dropping a 3-2 decision.
Tech (7-5) has lost three in a row after a 7-2 start to the season, and returns to action on Saturday as the Golden Eagles take on Pitt once more at 10 a.m., followed by Cleveland State at 2 p.m.
Sydney Dukes had three of Tech’s hits on the day – one against Pitt and two against USC Upstate -- while Haeli Bryson had the Golden Eagles’ only other hit against the Panthers, and Mackenzie Fitzgerald, Nicolle Nysted and Brooklin Richardson had the other hits against the Spartans.
Alyssa Arden took the loss to fall to 3-3 on the season. She allowed three runs on eight hits across five inning, walking one and striking out seven. Tyler Erwin pitched the final frame in relief, allowing three runs – two earned – on three hits, striking out one.
Their counterpart in the circle, Dani Drogemiller, improved to 3-2 as she held Tech to two hits, while walking two and striking out seven.
The Golden Eagles fared slightly better in the day’s second game as Alyssa Kelly allowed two Tech runs in the top of the seventh to knot the score at two. Kelly yielded the scores on five hits and two walks, while striking out five.
However, Kelly received the win after her Spartan teammates collected a single, then picked up a two-out double to right center for the victory.
Bryson worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while walking and striking out one.
Tech scored its two runs on the day in the seventh inning as Abby Buettner led off with a walk, then Dukes singled down the right field line. Nysted drove the runners up on a single down the right field line. Richardson and KaDedra Temple hit back-to-back grounders – to second and short, respectively – to bring Buettner and Dukes home.
#15 LOUISIANA 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2; NORTHEASTERN STATE 7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Eastern Illinois softball nearly pulled off the upset as the Panthers lost in extra innings to No. 15 Louisiana to open the 2022 Mardi Gras Mambo. Louisiana scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat EIU 3-2.
After the two teams played through regulation tied at 1-1, neither team was able to score in the eighth inning after placing a runner on second for the international tie breaker.
In the ninth EIU was able to take a 2-1 lead as pinch runner Olivia Price came around to score on a Rajin’ Cajuns error.
Louisiana rallied in bottom of the ninth tying the game at 2-2 as Laney Credeur led off the inning with an RBI single to right center. Three batters later Louisiana took advantage of a throwing error to third base trying to get out the lead runner, the error allowing the game winning run to score.
Rachel Kaufman (1-2) went the distance for EIU allowing no earned runs while scattering eight hits with five strikeouts. Meghan Schorman (2-1) pitched 4.1 innings of relief to get the win.
Louisiana scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Maddie Hayden singled and advanced to third on a throwing error. She would come in to score on a wild pitch.
EIU tied the game in the fifth on a Megan Burton RBI double to left that scored Morgan Lewis. EIU was limited to just four hits in the game with Burton, Lewis, Jaylen Prichard and Hannah Cravens all collecting hits.
Credeur, Stormy Kotzelnick and Jourdyn Campbell all had two hits for the Rajin’ Cajuns.
EIU fell to 6-5 on the season while Louisiana improved to 7-1. The match-up featured a father-daughter battle as Louisiana is coached by Gerry Glasco the father of EIU head coach Tara Archibald. This is the second time the two have squared off as college head coaches.
JACKSON STATE 6, UT MARTIN 5; MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 3
JACKSON, Miss. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team got off to a cold start at the Capital City Invitational this weekend by droppings both of its contests on the opening day of the tournament to host Jackson State on a walk-off loss by a score of 6-5 before seeing its rally come up just short against Mississippi Valley State in the second contests at 4-3.
The Skyhawks (5-5) scored first in both contests but could not maintain their advantage through the game. In the opener against host Jackson State, the lead changed hands four times before the Lady Tigers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to scratch out the walk-off winner. Then against the Devilettes, the Skyhawks fell victim to a four-run fourth inning and could never dig themselves out of their hole.
Katie Dreiling paced the Skyhawks offensively with four hits on the afternoon while driving in a pair of runs. Paige Clark also had a nice day with three hits in the box while swiping three bags. Meanwhile four other players tallied a pair of hits with the quartet of Kaci Fuller, Kallie Pickens, Anna Hazlewood and Kaitlyn Kelley combining for two RBIs.
In the pitching circle, the Skyhawks racked up 18 total strikeouts on the day but allowed six earned runs to cross the plate. Junior Alexis Groet (2-2) picked up her second loss of the season after a grueling matchup against Jackson State where she struck out 10 while walking four in 6.1 innings of work. Graduate Seeley Layne (2-1) earned her first loss of the season after striking out seven and issuing zero walks but giving up seven hits in 5.1 innings. Dreiling appeared in relief, striking out one of two batters faced.
UT Martin will face off against Jackson State once again on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. before playing Southern immediately afterwards to round out their appearance at the Capital City Invitational.
SOUTH ALABAMA 9, BELMONT 1; MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, BELMONT 0
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Belmont University Softball falls to South Alabama in the first contest at The Snowman hosted by Mississippi State, 9-1.
To begin the game the Bruins fell under the heat of the South Alabama pitching and let up two runs. The Jaguars had another two runners on first and second but the Bruins were able to get out of the inning without letting another run in, 2-0.
The first inning did not shy the Bruins away from the batter's box. Top of the second Abi Ledbetter sent a bomb to right field for a single run homer, 2-1.
The Jaguars countered in the second with an unearned run, 3-1.
Bottom of the fifth the Bruins let up an additional six runs including a three run homerun, 9-1.
Despite the score Pitcher Alicia Veltri had three strikeouts. The Bruins tallied one run off of Ledbetters homerun against the Jaguars.
Belmont University Softball falls 9-0 to the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The Bruins held 0-0 in the first inning. Pitcher Alex Clesi did a fantastic job striking out two Bulldogs, her first strikeouts of the season.
The Bulldogs scored in the bottom of the second off of a throwing error by first baseman Abi Ledbetter. A hard hit to centerfield, Cheyenne Cavanaugh threw it home but was unsuccessful in getting out the runner. The Bulldogs go up another two runs after a two run homerun, 4-0.
In the bottom of the third the Bulldogs scored off of a throwing error and hit a two run homerun, 7-0.
Mykayla Spurlin broke up the Bulldogs no hitter in true Bruin style with a triple in the top of the fifth.
Top six, Cheyenne Cavanaugh reached first on a Bulldog error.
The Bulldogs tallied a final run to win 8-0 in the sixth.
The Bruins struggled tonight against the Bulldog pitching but showed grit and determination to finish out the game.
#11 OLKAHOMA STATE 9, TENNESSEE STATE 0; TEXAS SOUTHERN 9, TENNESSEE STATE 0
COLLEGE STATE, Texas - The Tennessee State softball team dropped two games this afternoon in the Reveille Classic.
No. 11 Oklahoma State 9, Tennessee State 0
TOP 1ST: The lead-off batter for the Cowgirls, Kiley Naomi, jumpstarted the game with a home run to left center. After TSU recorded two outs, Julia Cottrill blasted a homer to center field for third long-ball of the year. || OKST, 2-0
TOP 2ND: Morgyn Wynne reached on a free-pass and advanced to second on a wild pitch. On the 11th pitch of her at-bat, Taylor Tuck roped an RBI double to left field. After a single to Karli Petty, Chelsea Alexander drove in two runs with a single through the left side. Alexander came around to score after a throwing error by TSU's third basemen. || OKST, 6-0
TOP 3RD: The Cowgirls rattled off four consecutive singles and Petty logged an RBI base knock to extend the lead. Oklahoma State increased their advantage on a wild pitch to score Tuck. || OKST, 8-0
TOP 4TH: Miranda Elish pinch hit for Cottrill and walked for the fifth inning's first baserunner. Hailey Kastl pinch-ran for Elish and came around to score. The Big-12 foe added an insurance run after an RBI single from Sydney Pennington which scored Kastl. || OKST, 9-0
Caitlyn Manus suffered her first loss of the season as the freshman tossed 2.2 innings, allowed eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits.
Analeigh Coursey pinch-hit for Ryla Traylor in the fourth and broke up the no-hitter with a single to left field.
Anayah Baker laced a double in the fourth inning, the only extra base hit for TSU.
Baker is tied for the team lead with four extra-base hits (4) with Lauren Farias.
Farias snapped her five-game hitting streak as the senior went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Oklahoma State's Sydney Pennington has started in 218 consecutive games, every game of her collegiate career.
The Cowgirls have allowed four runs or fewer in eight of its last 11 games.
Final: Texas Southern 9, Tennessee State 0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TOP 1ST: Texas Southern's lead-off batter Pamela Richardson walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a groundout which moved Richardson to third, Daryn Haslam logged an RBI single to take an early lead. || Texas Southern, 1-0
TOP 2ND: The Lady Tigers reached base with back-to-back walks to begin the inning. With two runners on and no outs, Tevanae Tate recorded an RBI double to score Tierrah Williams from second. Ja'Lynn Swiney reached base on a fielders choice and Haley Castro scored on an error by TSU. Haslam reached the plate for the second time in two innings and recorded an RBI on an infield single. With two runners on, McKnight blasted a three-run home run to left field to extend the lead. || Texas Southern, 8-0
TOP 5TH: Williams reached base on a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a flyout advanced her to third, Shimkus pinch-hit for Swiney and drove in an RBI single. || Texas Southern, 9-0
Peyton Fointno and Mikayla Duke reached base twice in the contest with a double and a walk apiece.
Anayah Baker went 1-for-3 with a double.
Francys King came into relief for Raven Loveless, who made two appearances today. King went 3.2 innings pitched, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out two.
Baker leads the team in extra-base hits (5) after tonight's double.
Three of the four hits were for extra-bases, despite being shut-out for the fourth time this season.
Tennessee State will enjoy a day off tomorrow as rain is in the forecast and take the field on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 9:00am. Game one against No. 11 Oklahoma State to begin the day, with game two approx. 30 minutes following against Texas Southern.