FRIDAY'S SCORES
Ohio 3,
UT Martin 1
UT Martin 11, Valparaiso 2 (5)
Lindenwood 5, Marist 0
Gardner-Webb 9,
Lindenwood 1 (5)
Morehead State 6, Bryant 3
Mercer 4,
Morehead State 3
Eastern Illinois 8, Detroit Mercy 0 (6)
Saint Louis 12,
Eastern Illinois 0 (5)
DePaul 5,
SIUE 4
Indiana State 4,
SIUE 3
Southern Indiana 5, Southern Mississippi 4
Toledo 10,
Western Illinois 6
Western Illinois 6, Murray State 3
Tennessee Tech 8, DePaul 4
Indiana State 13,
Tennessee Tech 0 (5)
#24 Auburn 8,
Southeast Missouri 0 (5)
Tennessee State 7, Florida A&M 4
Tennessee State 9, Tuskegee 1 (5)
OHIO 3, UT MARTIN 1; UT MARTIN 11, VALPARAISO 2 (5)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team racked up 12 runs on the day – including 11 in a five-inning victory over Valpo – as the squad opened its stay at the Frost Classic with a split on Friday.
The Skyhawks improved to 5-6 on the season after overcoming a 3-1 setback to Ohio in the morning matchup and then rallying in the following game to outscore Valpo 11-2.
UT Martin posted a .283 batting average in the twinbill while Avry Blume and Kaci Fuller tallied three hits each. Joining in the action was Kyrsten Brown and Anna Blanton who also posted multiple hits on the day while Fuller and Annie Gutierrez paced the Skyhawks with three RBIs on the afternoon.
Katie Dreiling was hit with the loss after allowing three earned runs in seven innings of work while striking out six. In Game 2, Brooklynn Linneman earned the victory after striking out three in three innings of action while Kiersten Nixon tossed two shutout innings of relief.
UT Martin jumped out to an early lead after Fuller jump-started an impressive day with a solo home run to left field for her 16th homer of her career to take a 1-0 advantage.
Ohio responded in the following inning as a single by CiCi Keidel scored both Shelby Westl and Emma Hoffner to take a 2-1 advantage.
While the Skyhawks spoiled a prime scoring chance in the third inning as they stranded three players on base, Ohio came back in the top of the fourth and capitalized on its chance as Brenna Farme padded the Bobcat lead with a sacrifice fly.
Valpo was the first team to get on the scoreboard in the second game of the day as Carson Kuhlmann singled through the right side to score Lauren Sena and take a 1-0 advantage.
UT Martin charged back in the top of the third inning by scoring all 11 of its runs in the frame. Dreiling and Nixon drove in the team's first two runs to take the lead before Gutierrez cleared the bases with a double to left field to take a 5-0 lead. After a flurry of substitutions, Brown tripled down the right field line and drove in a pair. A sacrifice bunt from Dylan Scott scored the team's eighth run before Fuller tripled to center and pushed the team's advantage out to 10 run. The big scoring inning finally concluded as Blume lofted a sacrifice fly into right field to put the Skyhawks on top 11-1.
The Beacons scratched out another run in the third inning, but the Skyhawks kept their opponent at bay en route to a five-inning victory.
LINDENWOOD 5, MARIST 0; GARDNER-WEBB 9, LINDENWOOD 1 (5)
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Lindenwood softball (3-9) split their two games to start the Red & Black Classic hosted by Gardner-Webb. The Lions picked up their third win of the season after defeating Marist College (2-4) to start the day.
Amanda Weyh (W, 2-4) was stellar for the Lions on the mound pitching her first solo shutout of the season and her second combined one. Weyh pitched all seven innings for Lindenwood allowing just three hits while striking out six Marist Red Foxes.
Chloe Honchar came out swinging for LU after going 3-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Tori Hatton also helped Lindenwood their third third win after going 2-3 with two RBI and her first home run of the season.
Lindenwood jumped on Marist early in the first inning after Mya Bethany and Honchar both reached safely. Irelynn West hit into an error at second base scoring both runners to give LU the 2-0 lead.
Marist had a runner on third base in the third inning with two outs, but Weyh got the Lions out of the jam with a strikeout. Lindenwood then proceed to score on run in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings which included Hatton's home run and a sac fly by Morgan Gersch.
The Lions final line during their first game was five runs on eight hits with no errors while Marist had no runs on three hits with three errors.
Lindenwood was held to just one run during their second game at the Red & Black Classic after Gardner-Webb (8-3) defeated the Lions by a final score of 9-1 in five innings.
Molly Berkey (L, 1-2) suffered the loss for the Lions after throwing the entire 4.1 innings allowing nine runs on 10 hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Eight of the nine runs scored where earned.
Lauren Pelton went 2-2 during the second game against the Runnin' Bulldogs picking up two singles. Tori Hatton also continued her excellent start to the trip after hitting a double with an RBI.
Lindenwood scored their lone run in the top of the first inning after Hatton's double scored Mya Bethany. Gardner-Webb then proceed to tie the game in the bootom of the inning with an RBI double.
The Runnin' Bulldogs then scored six runs in the second inning all with two outs. Berkey walked in two straight runs before GWU scored on an RBI double and single. The Lions only had one hit past the third inning.
MOREHEAD STATE 6, BRYANT 3; MERCER 4, MOREHEAD STATE 3
MACON, Ga. - The Morehead State Softball Eagles fought back from down 2-1 in the fifth inning with a five-run rally to knock off the Bryant Bulldogs 6-3 Friday in their first game of the Mercer Bear Invitational. MSU handed Bryant its first loss of of the season after it started 4-0.
Offensively, the Eagles (4-2) were led by Trinity Spear, who went 1-for-3 on the day with her second home run of the year, a walk and two RBI. Freshman Sela Pickford connected on her first career home run. Junior Darlene Montoya also chipped in for Morehead State, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double - her sixth two-bagger of the young season. In six games, Montoya has an eye-opening .524 batting average.
Sophomore pitcher Jessie Begley (2-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Morehead State (4-2). The right-hander went four innings, giving up two runs, on four hits, allowing two walks and striking out a season-best five. Freshman Addie Stem also made an impact in the circle for the Eagles, starting the ballgame and throwing three innings, giving up just one hit, with three walks and three strikeouts.
Trailing 1-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Spear put Morehead State on the board with a two-out, solo home run.
The Bulldogs broke the tie and re-took the lead on a sacrifice fly heading into the sixth inning, when the Eagles got back on the scoreboard. The Morehead State offense exploded for five runs. Pickford led off with a game-tying home run on the first pitch of the inning. With the bases loaded, pinch hitter Emily Williams was plunked by a pitch, scoring Montoya with the go-ahead run. Maddy Christopher and Spear then patiently drew bases-loaded walks, and Sam Cervantes scored on a wild pitch to complete the five-run flurry.
Bryant put one run on the scoreboard in the sixth on a home run, but Begley worked a perfect seventh to preserve the Eagles' fourth win of 2024.
It was a nail biter on Friday night, as the Morehead State softball team was unable to push that tying run across, and came up one run short of victory, falling to the Mercer Bears 4-3.Just hours after having her five-game hitting streak snapped, Peyton Jordan drilled a game-tying two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to knot the score.
Mercer (5-3) led off the bottom of the seventh with the game-winning walk-off home run. Prior to that, all three of the Bears' runs scored via or as an indirect result of an error, passed ball or wild pitch. Two runs were aided by a dropped third strike.
Freshman Addie Stem (2-3) took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (4-3). Sophomore Jessie Begley started the ballgame and went five innings, surrendering two runs, one earned, on five hits, walking two and striking out four. Stem finished having thrown one inning, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, while striking out one. She did not give up a walk. Hannah PItts (1-0) picked up the win after going the distance, surrendering three runs on four hits, with nine strikeouts and one walk. For a stretch between the third and seventh innings, she retired 13 straight batters.
Jordan led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run and two RBI. Trinity Spear provided a standout effort as well, going 1-for-3 with her third home run of the season and second on the day (after homering in a win over Bryant this morning). Freshman Kendra Lewis also helped out, going 1-for-2 with a double.
The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Spear put Morehead State on the board with a lead off home run to center field.
The Bears answered in the bottom of the first courtesy of a two-base error in the outfield that allowed Alysaa Woods' lead off single to turn into three bases.She scored on Parris Wiggs' groundout.
The hosts then rallied to score the next two runs and take a 3-1 lead before the Eagles got back on the board in the seventh. Mercer got RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings following a couple of passed balls in the sixth. The Bears appeared to have three outs in the fifth, but a inning-ending strikeout was thwarted by the batter reaching on a wild pitch.
In the top of the seventh, Ilencia Lightbody drew a walk and then Jordan sent the next pitch out of Sikes Field for her third career long ball.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, DETROIT MERCY 0 (6); SAINT LOUIS 12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0 (5)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Eastern Illinois softball split its opening day of games at the Western Kentucky Hilltopper Classic on Friday. EIU posted a shutout win over Detroit Mercy before losing their second game of the day to Saint Louis.
Freshman McKenzie Oslanzi (4-0) continued her solid start to her collegiate career tossing five scoreless innings during an 8-0 Eastern Illinois win over Detroit Mercy.
Oslanzi issued four hits allowing one walk while striking out eight batters. Karlie McKenzie pitched a scoreless sixth for the Panthers with three strikeouts.
The offense came in the fourth for EIU as they scored six of their eight runs in the inning. Briana Gonzalez stated the big inning with an RBI single. Kendall Grover had a bases loaded walk to plate the second run before Rachel Kaufman cleared the bases with a grand slam, her second home run this season.
EIU had scored in the first on a Marama Makea RBI single with Jadin Justman driving in the final run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly.
Grover and Oslanzi each had two hits to lead EIU.
Olivia Warrington (0-1) took the loss for Detroit Mercy which was playing its season opener. Claire Borg reached base twice for the Titans with one hit and collecting the lone walk issued by EIU pitchers.
Eastern Illinois was limited to just two hits as the Panthers dropped the second of their two games on the opening day at Western Kentucky.
Saint Louis scored four runs in the opening inning and continued its offense in the second and third frames picking up a 12-0 win over the Panthers.
Jadin Justman had a one out double in the first but EIU could not capitalize after moving her to third with two outs.
EIU again threatened in the third loading the bases with two outs after drawing three walks in the inning. The Panthers other hit was by Aryn Henke in the second.
Saint Louis opened with a single and two walks to load the bases in the bottom of the first. Allie Marietta drove in the first run of the inning. Kelsey Etling and Chloe Rhine added RBI singles late in the first.
Saint Louis continued to be hot at the plate in the second with five hits and two drawn walks. Marietta had the big hit with a bases clearing double as she drove in four runs in the game.
Olivia Price (2-4) suffered the loss for EIU which is now 7-6.
Saint Louis improved to 4-2. Taylor Hochman (2-1) picked up the complete game win.
DEPAUL 5, SIUE 4; INDIANA STATE 4, SIUE 3
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - SIUE softball opened the Blues City Tournament Friday with a pair of one-run losses to DePaul and Indiana State.
SIUE fell to DePaul 5-4 and Indiana State 4-3 in eight innings.
Day two of the tournament includes a 9 a.m. rematch against DePaul and a 2 p.m. contest against host Memphis.
Sorden also pointed out a strong performance from left fielder Jenna Herron, who had four hits on the day, including three in game two. Herron is batting a team-leading .444 through 10 games this season.
In game one, SIUE's Paige Rocha homered to lead off the game. Her center field blast set the pace early.
SIUE added three runs in the third but fell late when DePaul rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh.
In game two, the Cougars and the Sycamores were tied 1-1 after seven innings.
Indiana State capitalized in the eighth on a hit by a pitch, a walk, a hit and an infield error to push three runs across the plate.
A eighth-inning, two-run home run by SIUE's Grace Lueke would pull the Cougars back within one run, but Indiana State's defense would halt the Cougars' rally.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 5, SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 4
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - University of Southern Indiana Softball began its weekend at the 2024 Cocky Classic in thrilling fashion, capturing a 5-4 walk-off victory against the University of Southern Mississippi on Friday afternoon.
Southern Miss (4-5) started the scoring on Friday with two runs in the top of the third inning, but Southern Indiana (2-4) responded in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. Following back-to-back singles from sophomore outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana) and senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana), USI earned its first run back on a fielder's choice. Then with runners at the corners and two outs, senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) belted a three-run home run to left field, her first of the season, to put the Screaming Eagles on top, 4-2.
The Golden Eagles fought back to even the contest at four runs apiece in the top of the seventh inning with a game-tying two-run home run. In the bottom of the seventh, USI freshman designated player Alyssa Mumaw (Greenfield, Indiana) led off with a walk, representing the potential game-winning run on base. After a single and a productive out moved Mumaw over to third base, junior infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) singled to centerfield to score Mumaw and give USI the walk-off win.
Offensively, Southern Indiana posted five runs on eight hits. Stapleton and Kihega each had two hits with Kihega tallying three RBIs on the home run. Gotshall had the walk-off RBI single, and senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) also had a hit and an RBI on the afternoon.
Junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) hurled her fourth complete game of the season. The right-hander fanned 11 batters and allowed four runs off six hits and three walks in the seven innings of work. With the win, Newman moved to 2-2 on the season.
Southern Miss scored its four runs on six hits. Hannah Borden led the Golden Eagles with two hits and four RBIs, including the game-tying home run in the top of the seventh inning. Southern Miss used three pitchers in the game.
TOLEDO 10, WESTERN ILLINOIS 6; WESTERN ILLINOIS 6, MURRAY STATE 3
MURRAY, Ky. - Western Illinois started the 2024 Velvet Milkman Classic on Friday, taking on Toledo and Murray State. Western took a 10-6 loss in the opener against the Rockets, before beating Murray State 6-3.
Game one started with the Rockets taking an early 1-0 lead, getting a pair of hits with zero outs. Leatherneck starter Emily Price forced three straight-outs to prevent the Rockets from doing more damage. Western got even in the bottom of the first, as Malia Robertson reached on an error. She then stole second base and came home on a sacrifice fly from Gabriela Drager to tie the game at one.
Price sent the Rockets back to the dugout in order in the second. Sophia Sanchez got the Leathernecks their first hit of the game in the bottom of the frame. Two hits from Abrianna Gracia and Raven Morrison were unproductive, ending the inning by getting thrown out on the basepaths.
A nightmare third inning saw Toledo hit six doubles and score seven runs. Morrison came into pitch for Price with one out, and she finished the game for Western. Ending the inning with a score of 8-1, the Leathernecks got a pair of singles in the third inning but were unable to trim the deficit.
Toledo made it a 9-1 ballgame in the fifth inning, threatening to run-rule the Leathernecks. Western quickly loaded the bases thanks to a walk, hit-by-pitch, and a single. Beth Pavy came in as a pinch-hitter and hit a double into left field that scored two runs. Maria Luna followed Pavy as another pinch-hitter, and she hit a three-run home run that cut the deficit in half. Luna's homer was the first one that has gone over the fence all season for Western Illinois.
Going into the sixth inning down 6-9, Western forced three quick outs, before a no-hit bottom of the sixth moved the game to the seventh. Toledo got an insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly. Western went down in order in the final frame to end the game at a score of 6-10. Morrison allowed two earned runs and five hits over four and two-thirds innings, and Rylee Boone and Sophia Sanchez finished the game with multiple hits.
In game two, Western Illinois took on the hosts, Murray State. Like in game one, Robertson started things off by getting on base and immediately stealing second. She scored to take a 1-0 lead on a Bella Alvarez RBI single. Gracia singled in another run, Gab Drager, as the Leathernecks ended the first inning with two runs on four hits.
Lillie Wools shut down the Murray State lineup in order in the bottom of the first and did the same in the second. WIU added a run in the third when Sophia Sanchez hit a double into right-center field that scored Georgia Rea, making it a 3-0 ballgame.
Murray State got one back on a sac bunt, reducing the Leatherneck lead to two. After a 1-2-3 inning from the Western Illinois offense, Murray State equalized in the fourth, bringing the score to 3-3.
Gabriela Drager singled to start the fifth, and then a double from Maria Luna brought Western Illinois closer to taking back the lead. Sophia Sanchez and Kayla DePoorter gave the Leathernecks a 5-3 advantage on a pair of singles, a lead they did not relinquish.
Emily Price was nails the rest of the way, shutting down the Murray State offense as she did not allow a run for the rest of the game. Valerie Combs added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI single, and Price shut down the Racers in the seventh, if not for a last-out review call that nearly extended the game, but ended in favor of the Leathernecks. Five Western Illinois players ended the game with multiple hits, as Robertson, Drager, Luna, Alvarez, and Sanchez all ended the game with a pair of hits. Price pitched three and two-thirds innings, only allowing three hits with no earned runs.
TENNESSEE TECH 8, DEPAUL 4; INDIANA STATE 13, TENNESSEE TECH 0 (5)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech split its action in the first day of the Blues City Tournament on Friday as the Golden Eagles defeated DePaul 8-4 in their opener, but fell to Indiana State 13-0 in five innings in the second game to break the five-game winning streak.
Tech (5-1) will take on the same two teams again on Saturday as the Golden Eagles take on DePaul at 11 a.m., then Indiana State at 7 p.m.
Payton Wagner earned the victory, her second of the season, as she allowed two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out two.
S.J. Talley went 2-for-3 for the Golden Eagles, while Abby Shoulders was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Sofia Carroll scored the first run as she drew a bases-loaded walk, then Meaghan Houk delivered a double to center field, plating Abby Buettner and Sydney Kirby.
After DePaul scored on a grounder to first to force across a run, the Blue Demons hit a solo home run in the fourth to make it a 3-2 game.
Tech added three runs in the home half of the fourth as Shoulders drove in Talley and Mac Fitzgerald with a single. Shoulders came in on a Carmen Betts single to right field.
The Golden Eagles plated two more in the fifth as Talley doubled in Houk, then pinch-runner Olivia Evans scored as Fitzgerald's batted ball to left led to an error.
DePaul scored two more runs with a home run in the sixth inning.
In the second game, it was a tough-luck outing for Lennon Spicer as Indiana State tagged the Tech starter for seven runs – three earned – in an inning-and-a-third on five hits, walking one and striking out none. Faith Rush threw the remaining 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs – one earned – on seven hits, walking five and striking out three.
Kirby had both Tech hits in the run-ruled contest.
#23 AUBURN 8, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0 (5)
AUBURN, Ala. - Shelby Lowe and Annabelle Widra teamed up to throw a no-hit shutout leading #24 Auburn (5-1-1) to an 8-0 win over Southeast Missouri (4-6) Friday at the Plainsman Invitational.
Lowe set the tone out of the gate by striking out seven of the 11 hitters she faced. Only two Redhawks reached base against her during her three innings of work.
Widra put up zeros the rest of the way to preserve the shutout.
Defensively, SEMO committed four errors, including two in AU's three-run second inning.
Already ahead, 4-0, the Tigers tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and ended the game with a walk-off home run by Widra in with two outs in the fifth.
Lowe improved to 2-0 this season.
Widra finished with two strikeouts and walked one in the final two innings.
AU had all nine of the game's hits with Widra paving the way going 3-for-3 with three runs two home runs and two RBI.
Brooklyn Saysoff and Paige Halliwill were the two Redhawks who reached base. Halliwill got on via a throwing error on a strikeout in the first and Saysoff walked on both the second and fifth innings.
Delaney Kell (1-2) took the loss. Kell gave up eight runs on nine hits, struck out one and walked one in 4.2 innings.
TENNESSEE STATE 7, FLORIDA A&M 4; TENNESSEE STATE 9, TUSKEGEE 1 (5)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Tennessee State softball team picked up two wins on the opening day of the HBCU Celebration Classic as they defeated Florida A&M 7-4, and Tuskegee 9-1 in five innings. The back-to-back wins give the Tigers four in a row.
TSU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 7-4 win against the Florida A&M Rattlerettes on Friday.
Sophomore Onnika Spencer led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run, a walk, and two RBI. Senior Anayah Baker-Rowell provided a noteworthy performance as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Junior Ryla Traylor also helped out, going 1-for-3 for Tennessee State with a double, a walk and two RBI.
Reina Castillo earned her third win of the season after pitching a complete game, allowing four runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
The Tigers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Tennessee State scored twice on a two-run double off the bat of Traylor.
After the Rattlerettes rallied to tie the ballgame at two, the Tigers came back to retake the lead in the second inning. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Baker-Row, which brought the Tigers lead to 5-2.
Tennessee State held Florida A&M scoreless before building their lead to 6-2 the following inning. The Tigers scored a run on Spencer's leadoff home run off junior L. Peppers.
The Rattlerettes gained ground, closing the gap to 6-4 until Tennessee State added some insurance in the sixth. The Tigers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Spencer, bringing the Tennessee State advantage to 7-4. The score remained 7-4 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.
Tennessee State took a 4-1 lead in the second inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 9-1 win over the Tuskegee Golden Tigers in game two of the HBCU Celebration Classic on Friday night.
Junior Caitlyn Manus (2-2) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State (5-5). The right-hander went five innings, giving up one run on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out six.
Senior Nahtali Simpson led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 2-for-2 in the ballgame with a double, a home run, and two RBI. Freshman Mariyah Brown compiled a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. Tonight was her first career start, and her home run came on the first pitch of her first collegiate at bat. Junior Mikayla Duke also contributed, going 1-for-1 for Tennessee State with a double, a walk, and two RBI.
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers first put runs on the board in the second inning. Tennessee State's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of Brown and a two-run double from Duke.
The Tigers then held the Golden Tigers scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Senior Anayah Baker-Rowell came across to score the lone run of the inning for Tennessee State, which brought the score to 5-1 in favor of the Tigers.
Tennessee State held Tuskegee scoreless before building their lead to 9-1 the following inning. The Tigers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run home run off the bat of Simpson. The score remained 9-1 for the rest of the game, as Tennessee State coasted to the win.