SATURDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 11, @Tennessee Tech 0 (5)
Southeast Missouri 9, @Tennessee Tech 1
Eastern Illinois 5, @Tennessee State 3
Eastern Illinois 4, @Tennessee State 1
@Southern Indiana 6, UT Martin 4
Lindenwood 4, @Morehead State 2
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 11, TENNESSEE TECH 0; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, TENNESSEE TECH 1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -Recap coming soon.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, TENNESSEE STATE 3; EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, TENNESSEE STATE 1
NASHVILLE, TENN. - Recap coming soon.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 6, UT MARTIN 4
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -University of Southern Indiana Softball won its series opener against the University of Tennessee at Martin, 6-4, on Saturday behind a four-RBI afternoon by senior Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) and a 10-strikeout, complete game from sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana).
With the win, Southern Indiana improved to 11-14 overall and 5-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which is good for a fourth-place tie after Saturday's action. UT Martin dropped to 11-15 this season and 4-5 in OVC play.
In the bottom of the first inning, USI's offense started out with back-to-back bunt singles. With two on and no outs, Goodin rocketed a two-RBI double to the gap, scoring both runners. Goodin scored later in the inning after a throwing error by UT Martin. USI led 3-0 after one.
USI led off the third inning with consecutive singles. After a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position, senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) recorded a sacrifice RBI to give USI a 4-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Newman was cruising in the circle. The sophomore started the game by retiring the first 11 Skyhawks, five of which came via the strikeout. With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, UT Martin broke into the hit column with a double.
UT Martin went on to cut into USI's lead with three runs in the fourth inning, including two off a home run. All three runs were unearned after an error earlier in the inning. Two innings later, the Skyhawks tied the game, 4-4, on a solo home run in the sixth.
The Screaming Eagles answered in the bottom of the sixth inning. After three walks loaded the bases with one out, Goodin delivered again with a hard hit to left field to drive in a pair and put USI back up, 6-4.
Newman closed out the complete game in the seventh inning with her 10th strikeout of the contest and by stranding a leadoff baserunner. The outing was Newman's ninth complete game of the season, as she moved to 9-6 in 2023. Along with 10 strikeouts, the right-hander allowed only one earned run and three hits. Newman is approaching 100 strikeouts on the season, sitting at 98, which is good for top-50 in the nation.
Offensively, Goodin led USI with three hits and four RBIs, increasing her season RBI total to 20 to pace the squad. Goodin's .462 batting average through Saturday tops the team and is inside the top-20 in the nation. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) also had a solid day at the plate with a couple of hits and two runs.
For UT Martin, junior Kierston Nixon started in the circle, lasted only two innings, and gave up four runs – three earned. The loss went to junior Katie Dreiling, dropping her record to 6-4 after tossing the last four innings with five strikeouts and two runs surrendered.
LINDENWOOD 4, MOREHEAD STATE 2
MOREHEAD, Ky. -Senior Amanda Weyh had everything working on Saturday, fanning 10 Morehead State hitters over nine innings of work to help lead the Lindenwood Lions past the Eagles 4-2.
In addition to her 10 strikeouts, Weyh tossed nine innings, giving up one run on 10 hits and walking one for Lindenwood (12-17, 4-5 OVC). Freshman Avery Wapp (3-4) also made an impact in the circle for the Lions, throwing two innings, giving up one run on two hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.
In the batter's box, the Lions were led by senior Morgan Gersch, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a home run and two RBI. Sophomore Mya Bethany put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with two walks.
The Lions put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the eighth inning. Gersch put Lindenwood (MO) on the board with a leadoff home run off freshman Jessie Begley.
The Eagles then tied the ballgame at one before the Lions came back to reclaim their advantage in the eleventh inning. which brought the Lions lead to 4-1. Morehead State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Lindenwood (MO) still held on for the 4-2 win.