SATURDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Illinois 5, @UT Martin 2
@Southeast Missouri 5, SIUE 1
Robert Morris 12, @
Tennessee Tech 3 (5)
Ohio 8,
@Tennessee Tech 3
Southern Indiana 6, @Morehead State 4
@Morehead State 6, Southern Indiana 5
Tennessee State 14, @Lindenwood 1
EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, UT MARTIN 2
MARTIN, Tenn. - It took one extra inning but in the eighth Eastern Illinois was able to come up with the big hits it needed as the Panthers completed a weekend sweep over UT Martin. The Panthers won 5-2 to win their seventh straight.
EIU improved to 13-9 overall, 3-0 in the OVC. UTM fell to 6-11 overall, 0-3 in the OVC.
Both teams starting pitchers were strong through seven innings with both starters working into the eighth.
EIU had a scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh but had a runner thrown out at the plate keeping the game scoreless through seven.
In the eighth EIU broke through against UTM starter Kiersten Nixon (0-4). Lindy Milkowski drove in two with a bases loaded single back up the middle. Rachel Kaufman then cleared the bases with a three-run homer to stake EIU to a 5-0 lead.
Alexa Rehmeier (4-2) went the distance for EIU allowing just two hits. The second hit for UTM came in the eighth with one runner on as Kallie Pickens connected for a two-run home run. Rehmeier had six strikeouts while issuing three walks.
Nixon allowed five hits but issued seven walks in the contest. Jaylen Prichard had two of the five hits for EIU.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, SIUE 1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Marisa Davis allowed only two hits in a complete game win and Jillian Anderson went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and one stolen base to lead Southeast Missouri (10-6, 3-0) to a 5-1 victory over SIU Edwardsville (8-14, 0-3) Saturday.
SEMO swept its Ohio Valley Conference opening weekend with the win. The Redhawks, now on a four-game winning streak, nailed down its 20th-consecutive home victory.
Only three runners reached base against Davis, who pitched her first complete game of the season.
Davis set the tone by retiring the first nine hitter she faced before Paige Rocha ended her no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the fourth inning.
Hayley Palm walked in the seventh and Grace Lueke homered in the top of the seventh for SIUE's only run of the contest.
The Redhawks scored four runs with two outs in the bottom of the second inning to key their series-clinching win.
Sydney Dennis doubled to left center and Kynzie Wrigley scored to ignite SEMO's two-out rally. Anderson followed with a double in the same spot to score Dennis. Alyson Tucker then blasted her first home run of the season over the left field wall to give her team a 4-0 advantage.
SEMO tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth when Kat Sackett singled to center and Anderson scored.
Davis, now 4-1, this season, struck out four and walked just one in her two-hit masterpiece. She faced 24 hitters.
Lexi King (1-3) took the loss. King gave up three runs on three hits and walked one in 1.2 innings.
SEMO outhit SIUE, 9-2, with Anderson paving the way. Her three hits matched a career-high. Six others had one hit apiece.
The Redhawks, who have heated up to win 10 of their last 13 games, opened league play with a three-game series sweep for the third year in a row.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 6, MOREHEAD STATE 4; MOREHEAD STATE 6, SOUTHERN INDIANA 5
MOREHEAD, Ky. -University of Southern Indiana Softball opened the Ohio Valley Conference season with a doubleheader split against Morehead State University on Saturday, winning the first game for the program's first-ever OVC win, 6-4, before coming up a run short in the second game, 6-5.
Southern Indiana made its OVC debut Saturday as part of the program's first season at the NCAA Division I level. The Screaming Eagles entered the OVC slate with a 6-10 record, while Morehead State entered OVC play at 4-6.
The first game began with each team scoring a run in the first inning. As manufacturing runs seemed to be the theme in the early innings, USI grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning with a bases-loaded walk. Morehead State answered with a run on a sacrifice in the third to even the game, 2-2.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, Southern Indiana jumped back in front, 3-2, in the top of the fifth inning on the first home run of the season for senior Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana). Goodin sent a pitch over left field for a solo shot. USI doubled its advantage to 4-2 in the sixth inning when senior outfielder Emma Tucher (New Palestine, Indiana) doubled to score sophomore outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana).
Offensively, Goodin and Tucher posted two RBIs each in the first game, while Nalley recorded a two-hit game.
USI tallied two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to lead 6-2. In the bottom of the seventh, Morehead State did not go down quietly, as they tried to mount a rally. Morehead State scored a run after getting to the first two batters of the inning to reach base. Morehead State would later score another run, making the score 6-4 USI, but the threat ended there as USI sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) finished the game for her fifth complete game of the season.
In the winning effort, Newman improved to 6-4 on the season. The right-hander struck out nine, allowing four runs – two earned – off nine hits and one walk in the full seven innings.
For Morehead State, sophomore pitcher Madi Ogden dropped to 2-5 this season. Ogden went six innings, giving up six runs – three earned – on eight hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, Southern Indiana got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs. Goodin accounted for another RBI on the day with a double that scored senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana). Goodin later scored on an RBI hit from junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana). USI added another two runs in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead, including one run off an RBI single from Rager.
In the bottom of the third inning, Morehead State tied the game, 4-4, on a grand slam by freshman catcher Emily Williams. USI answered the grand slam with a run in the top of the fourth, as Rager delivered with another RBI single to put USI back in front, 5-4.
Rager led USI with three hits and two RBIs in the game. Fair and Tucher also registered multi-hit games for USI at the plate.
Morehead State went on to score a run in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-5 lead before closing out the game.
In the circle, USI sophomore pitcher Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) took a no-decision, pitching the first three innings, giving up four runs, and striking out three. Freshman pitcher Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana) was charged her first loss of the season after pitching the last three innings. Eads allowed two runs – one earned – and struck out two.
Morehead State's freshman pitcher Jessie Begley was credited with her second win of the season, tossing a complete game, and surrendering five runs – three earned – off 10 hits and three walks.
TENNESSEE STATE 14, LINDENWOOD 1
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Sophomore Ryla Traylor racked up three extra-base hits. Junior Anayah Baker-Rowell added two more to help lead the Tennessee State Tigers over the Lindenwood University Lions 14-1 on Saturday. Sophomore Caitlyn Manus (8-7,1-0 OVC) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State (10-10-1, 1-0 OVC). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on six hits, allowing no walks, and striking out four.
TSU had seven players with two hits or more in their 18-hit total. Traylor's three extra-base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-5 day, including three doubles and four RBI. Senior Marisa Mauroschadt contributed with two doubles and an RBI, part of a 2-for-5 performance at the plate. Graduate student Nahtali Simpson went 3-for-4 scoring three runs and knocking in one. Baker also helped out for the Tigers, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double, a home run, a walk, and three RBI.
Both pitchers were tough early on, giving up a combined five hits through four innings. The Tigers' offense started clicking and put up five runs in the top of the fifth. Baker-Rowell hit a home run to center field on the first pitch to get the Tigers rolling. With one out, junior Peyton Fointno got on base with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Simpson. A wild pitch with Traylor up scored Fointno. Traylor's double to center field scored Simpson. Freshman Onnika Spencer's infield single advanced Traylor to third, who then scored on an error by the catcher. Mauroschadt closed out the scoring in the inning with a double to center field, scoring Spencer.
The Tigers' offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning when they picked up two runs in the frame. The big hit was an RBI double from Traylor, which brought the TSU lead to 7-0. Lindenwood (MO) narrowed Tennessee State's lead to 7-1 on a home run by Lauren Pelton. The Tigers were not done as they brought 11 batters to the plate scoring seven more runs on eight hits to double the score to 14-1. Traylor once again hit a double to score two runs as the big hit in the inning. Baker-Rowell had two RBI in the inning, and Jasmine Blackburn, Fointno, and Spencer added an RBI apiece.
Lindenwood was led offensively by sophomore Irelynn West, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles.
Senior Amanda Weyh led the Lions pitching staff, throwing 4.1 innings of three-run ball.
ROBERT MORRIS 12, TENNESSEE TECH 3; OHIO 8, TENNESSEE TECH 3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - he Tennessee Tech softball team closed out its tournament on Saturday with some optimistic moments for the offense as the Golden Eagles collected 16 hits between both contests.
Kaylan Cole knocked a ball out of the park for Tech's first home run at home, but Ohio was able to respond to take an 8-3 victory in the closing game. The day's first game saw Robert Morris score 10 runs in the fifth inning on four hits, five walks and three errors to force the run-rule in a 12-3 defeat.
The Golden Eagles (1-20) return to action on Tuesday as they take on Western Illinois in a midweek doubleheader, starting at 3 p.m.
Carmen Betts led Tech against Robert Morris (8-10), going 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI, while Haeli Bryson collected the other RBI in the contest.
Tech took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Bryson drove in Abby Shoulders with a double to right center, then Betts drove in Tristen Head with a sacrifice fly to left field. The Colonials countered in the top of the third, but Tech retook the lead in the bottom of the third as Betts drove in Head with a single to center field.
Neither team scored in the fourth, but the fifth inning proved to be a tough one for Tech. It was a solid performance for starter Callie Piper to that point, but she ended the contest allowing eight runs – six earned – on four hits while walking six across 4 2/3 innings. Cole pitched the final two-thirds, allowing four unearned runs on two hits, walking one and striking out two.
Meadow Sacadura drove in three for RMU, while Anna Resnik and Avery Winchell each drove in two. Jane Garver picked up the victory, throwing four innings as she allowed six hits and three runs while walking one and striking out two. Dana Vatakis pitched the final frame, ceding two hits and striking out one.
In the night cap, Ohio struck for four runs in the top of the second, then Tech countered with a pair in the bottom of the third as Betts and Cole each had RBI singles. After the Bobcats (9-12) picked those two runs back up, Tech got the solo shot from Cole in the bottom of the fifth. Ohio scored single runs in the sixth and seventh.
Cole went 2-for-2 with two RBI to lead the Golden Eagles against the Bobcats, while Shoulders, Bryson, Betts, Jordan Key, Savannah Talley and Meagan Houk combined for eight hits in the game.
Cole pitched the first two frames, allowing four runs on three hits – three earned as one came home on a passed ball – with three walks. Gracelyn Woollen threw the final five innings, allowing four runs – three earned – walking four and striking out one with six hits.
Kylie Coffelt claimed the win, allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out four.