SUNDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 9, Maryland 3
Western Michigan 3,
UT Martin 2
Indiana State 10,
UT Martin 1 (5 inn)
Southern Utah 5,
Eastern Illinois 0
@Presbyterian 9,
Morehead State 1 (5 inn)
@Louisiana-Monroe 9,
Lindenwood 0 (5 inn)
@Tennessee State 4, Western Michigan 3
@Tennessee State 5, Saint Louis 3
@Arkansas-Pine Buff 3,
Western Illinois 2
Western Illinois 8, @Arkansas-Pine Buff 5
@#11 Alabama 2,
Southern Indiana 0
SIUE 8, @Texas A&M-Commerce 4
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, MARYLAND 3
HAMMOND, La. - Southeast Missouri (4-5) picked up a win over a Power Five school for the fourth-straight season when it took down Big Ten Conference member Maryland (3-7), 9-3, at the Lion Classic Sunday.
SEMO nailed down its ninth Power Five win under Head Coach Mark Redburn and knocked off its second Big Ten Conference opponent with Redburn at the helm. The other was a 4-3 victory over Iowa on Mar. 15, 2022.
SEMO took its first lead in the bottom of the second inning and never turned back.
Freshman Brooklyn Saysoff doubled to right center for her first career extra base hit and advanced to third on a single by Marissa Peek. Peek stole second giving the Redhawks runners at second and third with one out.
After a strikeout, freshman Sophie Schupp delivered a two-out RBI-single and Saysoff scored to put SEMO ahead, 1-0. For Schupp, it was her first career hit in only her third at-bat as a Redhawk.
SEMO added to its lead behind a two-out rally in the bottom of the third.
Paige Halliwill was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Aubrie Shore walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch with Halliwill scoring an unearned run. On the next play, Gracie Luna singled to right and pinch-runner Zoe Schulte scored to push the Redhawks lead to 3-0.
Megan Mikami drew a leadoff walk and came around to score UM's lone run on a sacrifice fly by Sammi Woods cutting SEMO's lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth.
The Redhawks blew the game open during their at-bat in the fourth inning.
Three-straight hits by Tatum Gerwitz, Schupp and Sydney Dennis immediately loaded the bases with one out. Brittany Affolter and Halliwill each walked in a run and Shore brought home Dennis on a sacrifice fly. Halliwill then stole second and a throwing error on the play allowed Affolter to score extending the Redhawks lead to 7-1.
UM scored twice more in the top of the sixth inning on a two-RBI double by Mazie MacFarlane. Freshman Maddie Carney entered the game to get the final as the Terrapins stranded runners at second and third.
In her final at-bat of the game, Shore extended her hitting streak to nine games with a two-out, two-RBI to finish off the Terrapins for good.
Paytience Holman (2-1) earned the win allowing only one run on two hits in five strong innings. Holman also struck out two and faced 19 hitters.
Carney recorded the final four outs consecutively in the final 1.1 innings of the contest.
SEMO outhit UM, 8-3. Luna, Saysoff and Schupp accounted for half of those hits. Schupp went 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI to lead the way.
Today's win adds to a list of Power Five wins for Redburn that also includes Ole Miss (2023), Iowa (2022), Texas Tech (2021), Arkansas (2019), Kansas (2019, two wins), Missouri (2018) and Georgia Tech (2017).
WESTERN MICHIGAN 3, UT MARTIN 2; INDIANA STATE 10, UT MARTIN 1 (5)
NASHVILLE - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team capped off its appearance in the Roar City Classic with a pair of setbacks on Sunday afternoon, falling just short against Western Michigan by a final score of 3-2 before dropping the finale to Indiana State in a 10-1 matchup.
The Skyhawks (2-5) battled the elements all weekend, first with rain and freezing temperatures on Friday and before completely canceling Day 2 of the tournament. With their stay in the Roar City Classic extended a day, UT Martin battled through chilly temperatures once again, but ultimately couldn't find the winning ingredients on Day 3.
A pair of Skyhawks tallied multiple hits on the day as newcomers Alli Robinson and Kyla Harley both recorded a pair of base knocks for the squad. The trio of Kaci Fuller, Dylan Scott and Annie Gutierrez notched RBIs on the afternoon while Fuller also drew a pair of walks to reach base three times.
Sophomore Ashtyn Green impressed as she tossed 2.2 scoreless innings of relief while senior Katie Dreiling was given a tough loss after allowing one run over 4.1 innings of action.
UT Martin jumped out to an early lead against Western Michigan, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Skyhawks loaded the bases after an error, walk and bunt single started off the bottom half of the inning. With a prime scoring opportunity at hand, Gutierrez got the game's scoring started with a single up the middle to score Carly Ward. Then the squad punched another run in as Scott recorded her first RBI as a Skyhawk later in the inning.
Western Michigan got on the board in the top of the fourth when a single by Brendtke cut the Skyhawks advantage in half. The score remained the same until the top of the sixth when the Broncos took their first lead of the game when a throwing error brought in the tying run and a wild pitch ultimately gave WMU a 3-2 lead.
The Skyhawks would have a chance to at least tie the game in the bottom of the seventh after Robinson led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Unfortunately, the Skyhawks could not push across the game-tying run as the contest ended on back-to-back strikeouts.
The second game of the day proved to be a tough matchup for the Skyhawks. Indiana State jumped on the pitching staff with five runs on six hits in the first inning and never looked back. The Sycamores added another lopsided inning in the second frame as the squad pushed their margin out to a 10-0 cushion.
The Skyhawks did get on the board in the third inning off a RBI-single from Fuller, but the margin would be too much for the squad as they dropped the contest in five innings.
SOUTHERN UTAH 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
SAN DIEGO - Eastern Illinois softball lost a late-night heartbreaker on Saturday evening and then played Southern Utah early on Sunday morning to wrap up play at the San Diego Classic.
The Panthers bats were held in check during the Sunday morning contest as Southern Utah won 5-0.
The Thunderbirds scored all the runs they would need in the first inning as Karmyna Becerra scored on a double steal attempt from third as Emily Gonzalez was thrown out at second. Becerra opened the game with a double and moved to third on a single by Gonzalez.
Southern Utah added an unearned run later in the first to lead 2-0 against EIU starter Olivia Price (2-3).
EIU’s offense was limited to just two hits in the game with Jadin Justman collecting a single in the first and Karson Davey a single in the third.
Keimon Winston (3-2) picked up the win with 4.1 innings of relief for Southern Utah.
Southern Utah’s final runs came on home runs in the second and seventh.
PRESBYTERIAN 9, MOREHEAD STATE 1 (5)
CLINTON, S.C. - Senior Peyton Jordan went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI for the Morehead State Softball team Sunday, and MSU allowed just three earned runs. But, the Eagles committed a couple of costly errors as the final margin was inflated in a 9-1 five-inning loss to the Presbyterian Blue Hose.
Freshman Addie Stem (2-2) started and took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (3-2). The right-hander went 2.1 innings, giving up five runs but zero earned, on just one hit, allowing three walks and striking out three.
Freshman Kendra Lewis also furnished a nice performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-1 with a double and a walk. Junior Sam Cervantes connected on MSU's other hit.
Jesie Begley also saw time in the circle for the Eagles, tossing 2.2 innings and allowing four runs.
A couple of fielding errors and a score on a wild pitch, plus a three-run homer, put the Eagles in a 6-0 hole in the third frame.
The Eagles first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Morehead State got on the board thanks to Jordan's RBI double with two outs. A two-out, two-run single by the Blue Hose in the fifth ended the game early.
LOUISIANA-MONROE 9, LINDENWOOD 0 (5)
MONROE, La. - The Lindenwood softball team (2-8) dropped their final game of the ULM Warhawk Invitational by a final score of 9-0 to the host school Louisiana-Monroe (8-4). Lindenwood was limited to just two hits on Sunday.
Avery Wapp (L, 0-2) was the losing pitcher for the Lions after throwing 3.0 innings allowing nine runs on 11 hits while walking one. She was relieved by Molly Berkey who allowed just one hit in her lone inning pitched striking out one as well.
Dallis Darnell and Tori Hatton both picked up a hit for the Lions. Kassidy Giddens (W, 2-1) picked up the win for the Warhawks after throwing all five innings allowing just two hits and one walk in the win. Giddens helped the ULM improve to 3-2 on the weekend.
The Warhawks struck quickly in the first inning bringing in four runs on back-to-back doubles by Meagan and Morgan Brown off of Wapp. Louisiana-Monroe then added three runs in the third and two in the fourth to extend the lead to 9-0.
TENNESSEE STATE 4, WESTERN MICHIGAN 3; TENNESSEE STATE 5, SAINT LOUIS 3
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State softball team picked up two wins on Sunday over Western Michigan and Saint Louis to go 2-0 on the final day of the Roar City Invitational. TSU defeated Western Michigan 4-3, followed by a 5-3 win over Saint Louis. Nahtali Simpson finished the day with five hits and five RBI.
The Tennessee State Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the second inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 4-3 victory against the Western Michigan Broncos on Sunday.
Caitlyn Manus (1-2) got the win for Tennessee State (2-5). The right-hander went five innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out four. Reina Castillo also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing three hits, walking none and striking out one.
Nahtali Simpson led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run and two RBI. Ryla Traylor put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI.
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers first put runs on the board in the second inning. Tennessee State plated two runs when Simpson left the yard with Traylor aboard.
The Tigers then held the Broncos scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Tennessee State picked up two runs when a single from Traylor scored
Laila Armstrong and Peyton Fointno, which brought the score to 4-1 in favor of the Tigers. Western Michigan put two runs on the scoreboard before the game ended, but Tennessee State still held on for the 4-3 win.
Nahtali Simpson and Ryla Traylor each collected two extra base hits to help propel the Tennessee State Tigers over the Saint Louis Billikens 5-3 on Sunday.
Reina Castillo (2-0) got the win for Tennessee State (2-5). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on 10 hits, allowing no walks and striking out four.
Simpson's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-4 day, and included a double, a home run and three RBI. Traylor made her contribution with a double, a triple and a walk, part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. O. Spencer also helped out for the Tigers, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
The Tigers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Tennessee State scored twice in the inning, including one on a solo shot from Simpson.
The Billikens failed to push any runs across before the Tigers offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Tennessee State picked up two runs in the frame, the big hit being an RBI double from Spencer, which brought the score to 4-0 in favor of the Tigers.
Tennessee State held Saint Louis without a run before expanding their lead to 5-0 the following inning. Saint Louis put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Tennessee State still held on for the 5-3 win.
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2; WESTERN ILLINOIS 8, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 5
PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Western Illinois played two on Sunday, a doubleheader at Arkansas-Pine Bluff that saw the Leathernecks split the day, losing in the first game, but coming up victorious in the second. A massive day at the plate saw senior Gabriela Drager extend her hitting streak to seven games, as she went 5-6 with a walk, two runs, and two RBIs on the day. A Monday series finale saw the Leathernecks take a loss in a game dominated by pitching.
The Leatherneck offense took a while to get going in game one, but Leatherneck starting pitcher Emily Price came out hot. Price struck out the side in the first inning, and by the end of the third inning, she had totaled six strikeouts while only allowing one hit.
Malia Robertson singled in the second, the Leathernecks' only hit of the first three innings. A fourth inning double from Drager and single and steal from Robertson had two runners in scoring position, but the Golden Lions shut down the Western bats and ended the inning unscathed.
Pine Bluff took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, scoring two runs on a walk and a pair of singles. Western tied it up in the next frame, scoring two runs on four hits, including singles from Drager, Abrianna Gracia, Megan Leonard, and Bella Alvarez.
The Golden Lions took back the lead instantly with an RBI double to give UAPB a lead that they did not relinquish. Western stranded two runners in the seventh as the Lions won game one.
In game two, it was a completely different story for Western, as five Leathernecks ended the game with multiple hits, and WIU took home a 9-5 win.
In the first, Drager continued her hitting streak with an RBI double into left that scored Rylee Boone. After the Golden Lions went down in order thanks to Leatherneck starting pitcher Raven Morrison, Western would pour it on in the second inning. WIU scored six runs on six singles, those from Morrison, Alivia Beard, Sophia Sanchez, Drager, Alvarez, and Leonard.
Western tacked on two more runs in the third to make it a 9-0 ballgame, as five players singled in the frame. Morrison got through the third and the fourth unscathed, although the Lions threatened in the fourth getting the bases loaded.
UAPB got their offense going in the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits. Raven Morrison left the game after the inning, finishing her day with seven strikeouts in five innings and the win.
A handful of errors from WIU in the sixth led to the Lions scoring one more, but Emily Price finished off the game with a one-two-three seventh inning to secure the win.
The series finale was played on the following Monday, with Lillie Wools taking the mound for Western Illinois.
UAPB jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, getting three hits in the frame. In the fourth inning, the Leathernecks got their first baserunner, as Rylee Boone reached on an error then stole second base. Western ended the inning without a score.
The 3-0 score held until the fourth inning, when the Golden Lions tacked on another to make. In the sixth, Western Illinois got their first hit of the game, when Megan Leonard singled up the middle to break up the no-hitter.
Emily Price, who entered for Wools in the fourth, would go on to pitch a great three innings, striking out four while allowing just two hits and a walk.
Maria Luna came in in the seventh and smacked a pinch-hit double into left-center, and a two-out single would bring in Georgia Rea, who pinch ran for Luna. 4-1 would be the final score, with the Golden Lions coming out on top in game three.
#11 ALABAMA 2, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Southern Indiana Softball battled No. 11 University of Alabama to the final inning on Sunday to conclude the Easton Bama Bash, but the Screaming Eagles came up just short in a 2-0 final against the Crimson Tide.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning against ranked Southeastern Conference power Alabama (10-0), Southern Indiana (1-4) gave itself a chance by bringing the tying run to the plate and potential go-ahead run to the on-deck circle. Following a leadoff single up the middle by junior infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana), senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) stepped up to the dish. Unfortunately, for the Screaming Eagles, a groundball right to the second baseman led to a 4-3 double play, preceding a game-ending strikeout.
Runs were at a premium on Sunday with only five combined hits. The game's only two runs were scored in the bottom of the first inning. The Crimson Tide scored their first run on a bases-loaded walk and the second run in the next at-bat with a bases-loaded sac fly. From there, USI junior starting pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) settled into a pitcher's duel against the Alabama pitching staff.
Newman backed up her first complete-game win of the season on Saturday with another strong effort in the circle on Sunday against Alabama. The right-hander went the entire way, allowing only two runs off two hits, three walks, and one hit-by-pitch. Newman struck out three in six innings of work. Newman finished the outing with three consecutive 1-2-3 innings, holding the Crimson Tide hitless after the third inning. The hard-luck loss moved Newman's record to 1-2 in 2024.
For Alabama, right-handed pitcher Alea Johnson picked up her first win, hurling 5.1 innings of relief. Johnson struck out six and surrendered three hits.
Offensively, for the Screaming Eagles, senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) and sophomore Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana) tallied USI's other two hits next to Gotshall's single in the seventh.
At the Easton Bama Bash, the Screaming Eagles faced their first Power 5 opponents against Alabama and the University of Virginia since USI made the jump to D-I last season. Plus, Sunday marked the first game for USI Softball against a Division I top-25 team since reclassifying.
SIUE 8, TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE 4
COMMERCE, Texas - SIUE softball collected double-digit hits for the third straight game and won its third straight contest Sunday, defeating host Texas A&M Commerce 8-4.
The Cougars, now 4-4, next head to the Blues City Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee. SIUE faces two games against DePaul, two against Indiana State and one against host Memphis beginning Friday.
Eight different positions in the lineup record hits, including two each from Paige Rocha and Lauren Yslava.
Jenna Little and Grace Lueke each had two RBIs. Jenna Herron and Madison Kearns both scored two runs.
Harley Limberger came off the bench for an RBI single in the seventh, adding a key insurance run.
Kelsey Ray earned the victory while Rylie Pindel added her second save in as many days.