SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Tennessee State 3, Morehead State 2
@SIUE 4, Lindenwood 1
TENNESSEE STATE 3, MOREHEAD STATE 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -Freshman Onnika Spencer's ninth home run of the season was the deciding run as the Tennessee State Tigers (21-24, 12-11 OVC) defeated the Morehead State Eagles 3-2 in the final regular season game for both teams. The game was halted after the top of the fifth because of lightning and rain. It was the fifth victory in a row for the Tigers and their first series sweep since the opening OVC series against Lindenwood.
"It is good to finish the season on a high note," said TSU head coach Genee McRath. "We hope that we are peaking at the right time. We are excited to make the postseason. We stacked some wins at the end to put us in a good position."
Caitlyn Manus (15-13) started in the circle and picked up the win for TSU. The right-hander had her second complete-game victory in a row, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out two.
Offensively, the Tigers were paced by Spencer, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Laila Armstrong also compiled a sound performance at the dish, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Peyton Fointno also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together two hits in two trips to the plate. Fointno had a huge series going 6-for-7 from the plate with five RBI.
The Eagles struck in the first inning when Kirya Kingery single, stole second and third, then scored on a single by Madi Ogden. The Tigers took the lead in the top of the second, scoring two runs. Mikayla Duke led off the inning with a single and stole second. A Fointno single moved her to third. Senior Jordan Turner grounded to third, and Duke beat the throw home. For Turner, this was her final home game as a Tiger and her second start of the year. Armstrong knocked in Fointno for the second run of the inning.
The Eagles threatened to tie the game in the third, but Duke's running catch to deep left-center field with a runner on kept Morehead off the board. In the bottom of the inning, Spencer scored 3-1 when she saw a pitch she liked and drove it over the right-field fence. TSU loaded the bases with one out, but Turner hit into a double play to end the inning.
Morehead State wouldn't go away quietly. In the top of the fourth, they made the score 3-2 on a double by Peyton Jordan and a single by Erin Boyle. They then loaded the bases with no outs, but Manus managed to get out of the jam by getting out the next three batters. The Tigers tried to stretch the lead, but diving catches by left-fielder Red Campbell and right-fielder Erin Boyle saved extra-base hits.
In the top of the fifth, it was the Tigers' turn to flash the leather. Grad student Nahtali Simpson took a hit away with a diving catch in short center field from her shortstop position. Turner closed the inning when she fielded a tricky hop and tagged first base. After a 30-minute delay because of lightning, it started to rain, and the umpires called the game.
SIUE 4, LINDENWOOD 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -After nearly five hours of weather delays Sunday, SIUE softball closed out the regular season by defeating Lindenwood 4-1 at Cougar Field.
The Cougars next head to the Ohio Valley Conference Championships where they have earned a No. 5 seed and will face eighth-seeded Morehead State in a 12:30 p.m. contest Wednesday.
SIUE completed the regular season with a 26-24 overall record and a 12-10 mark.
Sunday's Senior Day festivities were delayed when a lightning delay caused a pause nearly 35 minutes before the scheduled start time of 2 p.m. With the first pitch at 4:05 p.m., the two teams played 2 1/2 innings before lightning once again caused a nearly two-hour delay.
Once the game restarted with Lindenwood leading 1-0, SIUE flexed its offensive muscles.
After fouling off a handful of pitched, Madisyn Webster led off with a single to left field. Paige Rocha followed with a single to center field that stretched out to two bases on an outfield error. Webster scored on the error. Lexi King added a double off the fence to drive home Rocha. Grace Lueke then made it 4-1 as she tied for the team led in home runs with six, blasting a pitch over the left field fence.
Kelsey Ray earned the complete game victory, pitching even stronger after the lightning delay, Ray struck out seven and yielded just two hits against Lindenwood, which finished the regular season with a 16-31 record and an 8-15 mark in OVC play.