SUNDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee State 7, @Lindenwood 1
Tennessee State 4, @Lindenwood 2
Southern Indiana 9, @Morehead State 5
SOUTHERN INDIANA 9, MOREHEAD STATE 5
MOREHEAD, Ky. - University of Southern Indiana Softball captured a 9-5 win in the rubber match at Morehead State University on Sunday, claiming the Screaming Eagles' first Ohio Valley Conference series win in program history.
Sunday's win improved USI's overall record to 8-11 and 2-1 in OVC play. Through the opening weekend of the OVC season, USI sits in the top half of the standings. Morehead State dropped to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in the OVC.
Southern Indiana struck first in the top of the second inning on an RBI single rocketed into centerfield by sophomore outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana). USI added two more runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead off an RBI hit by freshman third baseman Carlee Effinger (Evansville, Indiana) and a defensive error by Morehead State.
The Screaming Eagles surged ahead to a 5-0 advantage through the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, another defensive error by Morehead State allowed one run to score, and then junior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) drilled an RBI double into right-center field to score the second run of the inning for USI.
In the meantime, USI sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was in control in the circle, holding Morehead State scoreless and hitless through 3.2 innings. With two outs and a baserunner at second, Morehead State doubled to record its first hit and run of the contest.
Southern Indiana tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth, extending USI's lead to 7-1. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) tripled to the left-center gap to drive in both runs. The Screaming Eagles' offense continued its string of two-run innings in the sixth, growing Southern Indiana's lead to 9-1.
Offensively, Bedrick and Effinger led USI in the game with two RBIs each. In the hit column, senior designated player Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) paced USI with a 3-for-5 day. Kihega and senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) also had multi-hit games with two hits each.
Morehead State did not give up, making some noise in the bottom of the sixth and scoring four runs in the inning off a pair of two-run home runs.
Newman settled back in to retire the side in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to finish off the complete game and the 9-5 win for USI.
Sunday was Newman's sixth complete game of the season, as her record improved to 7-4 with the win. The sophomore struck out seven in the contest.
Morehead State's freshman pitcher Jessie Begley was charged with the loss, moving her record to 2-1. Begley went 3.2 innings, giving up five runs – two earned – off eight hits.
TENNESSEE STATE 7, LINDENWOOD 1; TENNESSEE STATE 4, LINDENWOOD 2
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Senior Marisa Mauroschadt had herself a day going a combined 3-for-7, a homer run, a double, and seven RBI to give the Tennessee State Tigers softball team a 7-1 and 4-2 sweep of the Lindenwood Lions. TSU also received complete games from freshman Holly Ayala (2-3, 1-0 OVC) and sophomore Caitlyn Manus (9-7, 2-0 OVC). Manus' win surpasses the eight wins she had last season as a freshman.
The Tigers swept the three-game series with Lindenwood, the first three-game OVC sweep by the Tigers since an April 28-29, 2007 series against Eastern Kentucky. The 3-0 start is the best in OVC history for Tennessee State.
GAME 1 | Tennessee State 7, Lindenwood 1
Senior Marisa Mauroschadt racked up four RBIs to help power the Tennessee State Tigers over the Lindenwood Lions 7-1 on Sunday.
Freshman Holly Ayala (2-3, 1-0 OVC) started in the circle and won for Tennessee State (11-10-1, 2-0 OVC). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on five hits, allowing one walk, and striking out two.
Mauroschadt went 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk and had four RBIs for the Tigers. Freshman Onnika Spencer also furnished a good day at the plate l, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Ryla Traylor also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
The Tigers got on the board immediately, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, junior Peyton Fointno and graduate student Nahtali Simpson walked. Traylor's single to left field scored Fointno. Alyssia Drayton's single knocked in Simpson, setting up Mauroschadt's three-run home run to left field to make the score 5-0.
The Tigers then lost some of their lead when LWU pushed across a run in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the fifth, the Tigers extended the lead, punctuated by a run-scoring double off the bat of Spencer, which brought the score to 7-1. Ayala closed the game out with her fifth complete game of the season.
Lindenwood was led offensively by sophomore Irelynn West, who went 1-for-4 with a double.
Senior Keighlan Cronin led the Lions pitching staff, throwing seven innings of seven-run ball.
GAME 2 | Tennessee State 4, Lindenwood 2
The Tennessee State Tigers responded from down 2-1 in the sixth inning to win breathtakingly, tallying three runs in the seventh on a bases-loaded double by senior Marisa Mauroschadt to secure a 4-2 victory over the Lindenwood Lions Sunday. Sophomore Caitlyn Manus (9-7, 2-0 OVC) got the win for Tennessee State (12-10-1, 3-0 OVC). The right-hander threw a complete game, giving up two runs, one earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk, and striking out three.
At the plate, the Tigers were paced by Mauroschadt, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a double and three RBI. Freshman Nahtali Simpson went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Sophomore Alyssia Drayton also helped out for Tennessee State, putting together a double in three trips to the plate while adding a double.
The Tigers were trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning when they first put runs on the board. Freshman Onnika Spencer came across to score after leading off the inning with a walk and advancing to third on Drayton's double. She then scored on a fielder's choice by Junior Laila Armstrong. In the bottom of the inning, the Lions re-took the lead, scoring on an unearned run. With one out in the top of the seventh, Simpson got on with a walk, advanced to second on a Traylor single, and then went to third on a long fly out by Spencer. A pitch hit Drayton to load the bases setting up Mauroschadt's bases-clearing double to make the score 4-2. Manus pitched a scoreless ninth to give her team the win.
Lindenwood was led offensively by sophomore Irelynn West, who went 2-for-4 with a double.
Freshman Avery Wapp led the Lions pitching staff, throwing five innings of one-run ball.