SATURDAY'S SCORES
Southern Indiana 2, @Eastern Illinois 0
@UT Martin 6, Tennessee Tech 2
@UT Martin 5, Tennessee Tech 4 (8)
@Southeast Missouri 1, Morehead State 0
@SIUE 8, Tennessee State 0
@SIUE 4, Tennessee State 3
SOUTHERN INDIANA 2, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
CHARLESTON, Ill. - University of Southern Indiana Softball picked up a road series win at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles shut out the Panthers, 2-0, to finish off the series.
Entering Saturday's series finale, USI was third in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 7-6 conference record. Eastern Illinois was second in the league table at 9-1 in the OVC, sitting percentage points behind first-place Southeast Missouri State University.
The start of Saturday's game was reminiscent of Friday's series opener, as both starting pitchers were dialed in early. Southern Indiana sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) held Eastern Illinois hitless through 3.1 innings. With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Panthers cracked the hit column with a double and then a single, placing runners at the corners. Newman was unfazed, as she struck out back-to-back batters to get out of the jam. The sophomore had five strikeouts through four innings.
On the flip side, Eastern Illinois junior pitcher Olivia Price was just as solid as her game 1 start on Friday. In the second and third innings, Southern Indiana sophomore infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) and senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) each had leadoff singles, but Price was able to draw a double play in each inning.
The Screaming Eagles struck for the game's first run in the top of the fifth inning. Gotshall led off the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second after a productive sacrifice from senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana). Senior Emma Tucher (New Palestine, Indiana) pinch ran for Gotshall at second base and came around to score on a two-out, RBI single into centerfield by Martinez.
Southern Indiana threatened again and doubled its lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth inning. Senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) began the inning with a single down the left-field line and advanced to second on an EIU error, forcing Eastern Illinois to remove Price for senior pitcher Rachel Kaufman in the circle. Two batters later, Bedrick crossed home plate on an RBI single from senior Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana).
Gotshall and Martinez led USI at the plate, finishing 2-for-3, while Martinez and Goodin accounted for the RBIs.
Newman locked in the 2-0 shutout win in the bottom of the seventh inning, picking up a pair of strikeouts. Newman earned her 12th win of the season to move to 12-7. She also tossed her 12th complete game and fifth shutout of the 2023 campaign. The right-hander struck out eight total in seven innings of work.
Eastern Illinois' Price dropped to 8-3 with the loss, going five innings and allowing two runs – one earned – off five hits.
With the win, the Screaming Eagles improved to 14-17 this season and 8-6 in the OVC. Eastern Illinois dropped to 20-15 overall and 9-2 in conference play, as both of EIU's OVC losses came at the hands of USI this weekend.
UT MARTIN 6, TENNESSEE TECH 2; UT MARTIN 5, TENNESSEE TECH 3
MARTIN, Tenn. -Recap coming soon.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1, MOREHEAD STATE 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -Kimmy Fleming scored the game's only run to lead Southeast Missouri (20-9, 13-1) to a close 1-0 victory over Morehead State (10-15, 5-7) Saturday afternoon at the Southeast Softball Complex.
SEMO completed a sweep of MSU and picked up its fourth series sweep of the season. The Redhawks, who have won 10-straight OVC games and 26-consecutive home games, are now in sole possession of first in the conference after Eastern Illinois dropped two contests to Southern Indiana this weekend.
The Redhawks had only two hits in the game, but scored the decisive run in the bottom of the first inning and did what it needed the rest of the way to hold off the Eagles.
Fleming led off the game when she reached on a fielding error by shortstop Kirya Kingery. Kat Sackett and Aubrie Shore both walked with one out to load the bases. Alyson Tucker's sacrifice fly to left field brought home Fleming for the unearned run.
Both teams left six runners on base. Four of MSU's baserunners were in scoring position.
Delaney Kell (10-3) claimed her 10th win of the season in the circle. Kell threw five shutout innings with three strikeouts. She did not allow a walk and scattered five hits while facing 22 hitters.
Marisa Davis relieved Kell with one out in the sixth inning and struck out two in the final 1.2 frames to get her second safe. Davis recorded the last two outs of the sixth inning when the Eagles had runners on second and third. She then struck out Ilencia Lightbody for the last out of the contest. Lightbody fouled off eight pitches before Davis ended the game.
Lennon Spicer (2-5) suffered the loss. Spicer gave up the game's only run, walked two and allowed one hit in three innings of work.
Kynzie Wrigley and Zoe Schulte each had a single for SEMO's hits.
The Redhawks grabbed their 20th win of the season and are the second OVC team to 20 victories joining EIU.
SEMO honored seniors Karsyn Davis, Marisa Davis, Fleming and Tucker prior to the game.
SIUE 8, TENNESSEE STATE 0; SIUE 4, TENNESSEE STATE 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -Recap coming soon.