SATURDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 6, Georgetown 4
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7,
UT Martin 2
Toledo 3,
Western Illinois 2
Western Illinois 3, IUPUI 2
SIUE 4, DePaul 3
SIUE 5, Memphis 4 (8)
Lindenwood 4, Hampton 1
Lindenwood 7, Gardner-Webb 2
Troy 8,
Morehead State 0 (5)
Mercer 10,
Morehead State 4
Northern Iowa 5,
Southeast Missouri 3
#24 Auburn 13,
Southeast Missouri 5 (5)
Eastern Illinois 8, Saint Louis 0 (5)
Western Kentucky 12,
Eastern Illinois 1 (5)
Howard 7,
Tennessee State 4
Tennessee State 8, Alabama State 1
Jacksonville State 12,
Southern Indiana 4 (5)
Belmont 12,
Southern Indiana 4 (5)
DePaul 10,
Tennessee Tech 5
Tennessee Tech 8, Indiana State 5
UT MARTIN 6, GEORGETOWN 4; TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 7, UT MARTIN 2
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team picked up a 6-4 victory over Georgetown before falling by a 7-2 margin to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on the second day of the Frost Classic.
The Skyhawks (6-7) scratched out eight runs on the day with sophomore Kyrsten Brown leading the way with two RBIs while the group of Alli Robinson, Avry Blume, Kaci Fuller, Katie Dreiling and Jordyn Hustey also got the squad on the board with RBIs. Robinson and Blume paced the squad with three hits each while Fuller, Dreiling and Annie Gutierrez also recorded a pair of base knocks in the twinbill.
Brooklynn Linneman (4-1) picked up her fourth win of the season after allowing two earned runs in three innings of work against Georgetown. She was relieved by Lindsay Kline who pitched a pair of innings while Dreiling struck out three and earned a save with a pair of scoreless frame. Kiersten Nixon was hit with the loss in the second game – despite striking out six batters in 4.1 innings.
UT Martin jumped out to a quick lead with five runs in the first inning. The Skyhawks scored in four consecutive at bats as Hustey (groundout), Robinson (single), Dylan Scott (single) and Brown (double) each drove in RBIs to taken an early 5-0 advantage.
Georgetown scratched back a pair of runs in the top of the second following a RBI-double by Emily Strittmatter. Then two innings later, the Hoyas cut their deficit down to one run as Gianna Sciullo (fielder's choice) and Brooke Rebhan (groundout) made the score 5-4.
The Skyhawks added their sixth and final run in the bottom of the fourth inning. An error off the bat of Fuller led to the speedster reaching third base before Blume drove in her outfield mate with a bunt single to bring the score to its final mark of 6-4.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi jumped out an early advantage in the second game of the day as T. Tyson cranked a two-run home run out of the three-hole. The Islanders added another run in the top of the second inning when A. Jasson singled to center to push the team's advantage out to three runs.
After the first inning home run, Taniece Tyson once again came through with an extra base hit – this time with a double – to push out the team's lead to four runs. The squad wasn't done however as a triple by Kimane Rogron cleared the bases and gave the visitors on the scoreboard a 7-0 lead.
Following multiple opportunities in previous innings, the Skyhawks finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning as Fuller reached on an infield single to score MacKenzie Bowling before coming around to score herself on a RBI-double by Katie Dreiling. The later rally would not be enough though as the Skyhawks fell 7-2.
TOLEDO 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2; WESTERN ILLINOIS 3, IUPUI 2
MURRAY, Ky. - The Leathernecks split day two of action in the Velvet Milkman Classic, and much like day one, they lost game one to Toledo before picking up a win to end the day.
In game one against the Rockets, Western got on the board first, as Maria Luna started the inning with a single and a steal, and Bella Alvarez reached on an error. Both runners moved into scoring position via a wild pitch. Sophia Sanchez scored Luna with a single, and Alvarez came home on a foul out to give the Leathernecks a 2-0 lead.
Toledo cut the deficit in half with a solo home run in the bottom of the second. Raven Morrison was substituted for Lillie Wools in the second inning, and she ended up finishing the game for Western.
Gabriela Drager started the third inning with a double, before a walk from Luna put the Leathernecks in good position. A pitching change from Toledo swung momentum toward the Rockets, forcing three straight outs to end the inning. The Rockets tied up the game in the third inning.
The score of 2-2 held until the bottom of the sixth, when Toledo took the lead on a single up the middle. Western went down in order to end the game with a score of 3-2 in favor of the Rockets.
Game two was another low-scoring affair, as the Leathernecks took on IUPUI. Valerie Combs and Drager both collected first-inning hits, but Western did not find themselves with a score until the second inning. IUPUI scored a run in the first via RBI single. Bella Alvarez led off the frame, where she hit a bomb on a 2-2 count to center field, her first home run of the year.
Emily Price took down the Jaguars in order in the second frame and got through them in the third inning with no problems. Bella Alvarez led off the top of the fourth, and she belted another home run to give the Leathernecks a 2-1 lead. Her second home run gave the senior the first multi-home run game of her Western Illinois career.
Price shut down the Jaguars in the fourth, and in the following inning, WIU added another run when Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk for her third RBI of the game. Raven Morrison came in to pitch in the fifth and allowed an unearned run as the Jaguars cut the lead to one.
Kaylee Ketcherside added a pinch-hit insurance run in the seventh, bringing home Georgia Rea.
Morrison shut down IUPUI the rest of the way, only allowing a single and a walk in the sixth and seventh innings. WIU ended the day with a 4-2 victory over the Jaguars.
SIUE 4 DEPAUL 3; SIUE 5, MEMPHIS 4 (8)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - SIUE softball used some late heroics Saturday for a pair of victories at the Blues City Tournament.
The Cougars, 6-6, defeated DePaul 4-3 and Memphis 5-4 in eight innings.
Sorden picked up a "total team contribution all day long" from the Cougars.
Grace Lueke had a big day going 4 for 7. Piper Montgomery finished 3 for 5, and Paige Rocha was 4 for 8 with some key defensive plays.
In game one, SIUE fell behind 3-0 through six innings only to make a comeback in the seventh.
Lueke and Lauren Yslava singled to open the seventh. Maleah Blomenkamp, who was pinch running for Lueke, scored on a third straight single by Anna Henderson.
After a DePaul pitching change, Jenna Herron reached on an error as Yslava scored. Kaylynn Salyars then singled home a pair of runs that would prove to be the difference.
Ray picked up the win in relief, her third of the season.
In game two, SIUE and Memphis went to extra innings to decide their fate. With Jenna Little placed on second to start the top of the eighth inning, Jenna Herron sacrificed her to third base. Madison Kearns was credited with the game-winning RBI, a sacrifice fly to right field.
Rylie Pindel, 2-1, held Memphis, now 0-11, scoreless in the bottom of the eighth and earned the win in relief.
LINDENWOOD 4, HAMPTON 1; LINDENWODD 7, GARDNER-WEBB 2
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Lindenwood softball (5-9) went 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Red & Black Classic to finish off their trip in North Carolina. The Lions defeated Hampton (3-9) by a final score of 4-1 before defeating the host school Gardner-Webb (9-4) 7-2.
The Lions started Saturday afternoon with a 4-1 win over the Pirates of Hampton. Amanda Weyh (W, 3-4) picked up her second win of the tournament after throwing all seven innings for Lindenwood allowing just one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. She leads the team with 42 strikeouts this season.
At the plate, Mya Bethany continues her strong start to the 2024 season with two hits while Madisen Noll went 1-3 with a double and an RBI. Lindenwood was limited to just six hits but capitalized on the base pads.
After a scoreless first inning, Hampton jumped out in front in the second with an RBI single by Meagan Ramos off of Weyh. Weyh would get three straight outs with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Chlore Honchar helped the Lions get on the board with an RBI ground out to second base which scored Izzy Wilcox. Another scoreless inning by Weyh sent the Lions up to bat in the fourth where they scored two runs. Noll had an RBI double to score Annie Schimph then scored off an error by the catcher the following at-bat.
Irelynn West brought home one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the win for the Lions. It marked the second time this weekend that Weyh pitched all seven innings in a game.
Lindenwood was able to avenge their earlier loss to Gardner-Webb after picking up a 7-2 victory to close out the weekend. It also marked the first true road victory for the Lions in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Avery Wapp (W, 1-2) picked up the win against the Runnin' Bulldogs after throwing 5.2 innings. She was relived by Weyh who threw the final 1.2 innings striking out three of the six batters she faced.
Tori Hatton (2-3), Irelynn West (2-4) and Alli Tudor (2-4) all had multiple hits for the Lions as they helped LU score seven runs, their most of the weekend. Lindenwood had nine total hits during the game.
Tudor got the game going in the second inning after she reached safely by error which scored Jolie McMinn from third and Irelynn West. Lindenwood then tacked on three runs in the third as West, McMinn and Tudor went back-to-back-to-back RBI singles putting LU up 5-0.
Hatton got in on the action with an RBI single of her own extending the lead to six. Gardner-Webb scored two late runs in the bottom of the sixth innings after a double by Pesqueira off of Wapp. Weyh stepped in and shut down GWU after that.
Tudor's third RBI of the game in the seventh inning secured the 7-2 win for the Lions helped them to a 3-1 record on the weekend.
TROY 8, MOREHEAD STATE 0 (5); MERCER 10, MOREHEAD STATE 4
MACON, Ga. - The Morehead State Softball team allowed just one earned run against Troy Saturday, but four errors proved to be costly as the Trojans plated seven more runs off those mistakes and MSU fell 8-0 in five innings.
Sophomore Jessie Begley (2-1) started and took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (4-5). She walked only two batters and gave up just the one earned run.
In the batter's box, the Eagles were paced by junior Ilencia Lightbody with a double and a walk. Senior Peyton Jordan was 1-for-2 with a double.
Morehead State managed zero chances with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. The Eagles last got a runner on third in the fourth, when Jordan made it 60 feet away from scoring with two outs.
Troy scored three times in the first frame and added two more in the second. A two-run home run highlighted the Trojan's first inning outburst. Eagle errors in all three innings Troy scored led to the inflated final margin.
NORTHERN IOWA 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3; #23 AUBURN 13, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5 (5)
AUBURN, Ala. - Southeast Missouri (4-8) fell to Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Northern Iowa, 5-3, and #24 Auburn, 13-5, Saturday at the Plainsman Invitational.
Reigning MVC Pitcher of the Year Samantha Heyer had 14 strikeouts and re-entered the game to get the final out when Kat Sackett represented the go-ahead run at the plate in the early matchup of the day.
Down, 1-0, SEMO tied things up in the top of the sixth inning.
Aubrie Shore singled and went to second on an error. Pinch-runner Kinley Wilkins advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a double by freshman Gracie Luna making it a 1-1 ballgame.
UNI immediately answered during its at-bat in the sixth.
Pinch-hitter Ellie Owen drew a leadoff walk and Kate Lappe and Taylor Hogan (bunt) each singled to load the bases with no outs. Following a strikeout, Savanna Jemilo regained the lead for the Panthers with a two-RBI pinch-hit double. Daryn Lamprecht walked and Kylee Sanders doubled home two more runs to put UNI ahead, 5-1.
The Redhawks didn't go down without a fight in the top of the seventh.
Sophie Schupp walked and Paige Halliwill blasted a two-run home run with two outs cutting UNI's lead to 5-3.
Still not finished, Luna walked to give SEMO runners at first and second with pinch-hitter Sackett coming to the plate. Heyer got Sackett to foul out ending the threat.
Heyer (3-0) averaged two strikeouts per inning en route to her third win of the season pushing her strikeout total over 40 through four starts this year.
Paytience Holman (2-2) took the loss. Holman posted a season-high six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Holman also walked three and gave up five runs on seven hits.
Offensively, SEMO had seven hits against UNI. Shore and Luna each had two hits to lead the way. Halliwill hit her team-high third home run of the season.
Alexis Pupillo gave UNI its early lead with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
Four of UNI's eight hits in the game came in the sixth.
SEMO took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning against nationally-ranked AU in the top of the second inning.
Brittany Affolter scored Luna on a bunt single and later touched home on a wild pitch.
After pulling within a run in the bottom of the second, the Tigers scored eight in the third as the Redhawks pitching fell apart.
Four different pitchers were in the circle during an inning that resulted in six walks and two home runs, including a grand slam by Neila Peralta. Mariah Penta also homered to widen AU's lead to 9-2.
SEMO did get three runs back in the top half of the fourth when Marissa Peek knocked in Brooklyn Saysoff on a double down the left field line and Schupp brought home two runs on a double to right center trimming the Tigers margin to 9-5.
AU, however, answered with three more runs in the fourth and scored the game's final run on a fielding error to close out its five-inning victory.
Peek went 2-for-2 with a run scored to lead SEMO which had six hits.
Maddie Carney (0-1) suffered the loss in relief after allowing four runs and four walks in one-third of an inning.
Tegan Livesay started the game and gave way to Carney after working 3.2 innings. Livesay struck out six, walked two and allowed five runs on three hits.
Delaney Kell and Willow Van Haren each tossed one-third of an inning.
Three of AU's seven hits were home runs. Peralta was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, a grand slam and five RBI.
Annabelle Widra (2-0) threw two-thirds scoreless innings to get the win out of the bullpen.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, SAINT LOUIS 0 (5); WESTERN KENTUCKY 12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1 (5)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Eastern Illinois softball split its two games at the Western Kentucky Hilltopper Classic for the second straight day. EIU beat Saint Louis in the opener before falling to host WKU in the second game.
On Friday it was Saint Louis that exploded for early offense to post a five inning win over Eastern Illinois. Saturday morning the Panthers returned the favor with an 8-0 win over the Billikens in five innings.
Briana Gonzalez had the big shot of a six-run first inning as she hit EIU's second grand slam of the weekend. The Panthers built the early offense with a single by Rachel Kaufman and then walks by Jadin Justman and McKenzie Oslanzi. Gonzalez then cleared the bases with her first home run of the season.
EIU tacked on two more runs in the first on a two-run double by Avary Makarewicz.
The offense was all starting pitcher McKenzie Oslanzi would need as she tossed her second complete game shutout this season to improve to 5-0 in the circle. Oslanzi had five strikeouts and allowed just on Saint Louis hit by Kelsey Etling in the top of the fifth.
EIU added single runs in the second and fourth innings for the run-rule win, both RBI coming off the bat of Gonzalez who was 3-for-3 in the game with six RBI. She had an RBI double in the second and run scoring single in the fourth.
Lily Strand (1-2) took the loss for Saint Louis who fell to 4-4 on the season.
Western Kentucky had two big innings in the second and third frames to pull away from Eastern Illinois during a 12-1 win over the Panthers.
EIU had four hits in the loss off the bats of Jadin Justman, Briana Gonzalez, Marama Makea and Kendall Grover.
Grover's hit in the top of the fifth was an RBI double scoring Mia Mazzola.
After scoring an unearned run in the first inning, WKU scored four in the second. Brylee Hage started the scoring with a two-run double. Taylor Sanders added a two-run homer later in the second.
The Hilltoppers scored seven in the third, the big shot of the inning Sanders second home run of the day, a three-run shot.
EIU is now 8-6 on the season. Olivia Price (2-5) took the loss in the circle for EIU.
WKU improved to 9-3-1. Rylan Smith (4-1) picked up the win for the Hilltoppers.
HOWARD 7, TENNESSEE STATE 4; TENNESSEE STATE 9, ALABAMA STATE 1
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Tennessee State softball team finished the HBCU Celebration Classic with a 3-1 record after going 1-1 on Saturday afternoon. TSU fell in its first game of the day to Howard and ended its day with an 8-0 shutout win over Alabama State.
The Tigers put together an admirable effort in game one on Saturday, but ultimately came up short, losing to the Howard Bisons 7-4.
Caitlyn Manus (2-3) came out of the bullpen for TSU (5-6) and took the loss.
In the batter's box, the Tigers were led by Anayah Baker-Rowell, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a triple and an RBI. Sophomore Onn Spencer put together a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Nahtali Simpson also contributed, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
The Tigers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. TSU got an RBI single from Simpson, scoring Peyton Fointno from third base.
The Bison then rallied to score four runs and take a 4-1 lead before the Tigers got back on the board in the third. which evened the score at 4-4. Howard then scored three times over the remaining four innings to break the tie and grab the 7-4 win.
Junior Reina Castillo was dealing on Saturday, throwing a one-hit shutout to lead the Tennessee State Tigers over the Alabama State Hornets 8-0 in their second game of the day.
Castillo went the distance for Tennessee State (6-6), giving up one hit, walking none and striking out four. The win moves the junior RHP to 4-0 in the circle.
At the plate, the Tigers were paced by senior Anayah Baker-Rowell, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a triple and an RBI. Sophomore Onnika Spencer put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Senior Nahtali Simpson also chipped in for Tennessee State, putting together three hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double.
The Tigers took the lead for good in the first, scoring for the first time in the inning. Baker-Rowell came across to score the lone run of the inning for Tennessee State and get them on the board.
The Tigers then tacked on runs in the fourth and fifth innings, with their biggest output coming in the fourth when they scored six times. The big hit in that inning was a one-run single off the bat of Baker-Rowell.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 12, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4 (5); BELMONT 12, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4 (5)
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - University of Southern Indiana Softball suffered a pair of setbacks Saturday at the Cocky Classic. The Screaming Eagles fell to host Jacksonville State University, 12-4, in five innings in the opener, before falling, 12-4, in five innings to Belmont University in the second game.
In the opener, the Screaming Eagles had a promising start to the contest when freshman designated player Alyssa Mumaw (Greenfield, Indiana) hit an RBI-double in the top of the first inning to give USI a 1-0 advantage.
Junior second baseman Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) opened the second inning with a double and reached third with no outs as USI looked as if it might add to its lead.
Jax State (5-9), however, got out of the jam unscathed before tagging the Eagles with seven runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding six-run lead. The Gamecocks added two more in the bottom of the third and three in the last half of the fourth as their lead ballooned to 12-1 heading into the fifth.
USI made a run in the fifth, scoring three times in an attempt to keep the game from ending in a run rule. A lead-off triple by sophomore outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana) set up sophomore Olivia Money (Fort Branch, Indiana) for a pinch-hit RBI-single to right field.
The proceeded to load the bases with a single and a walk in the following at-bats, setting up freshman Kate Satkoski (Lanesville, Indiana) for a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly to bring in the second run.
Sophomore second baseman Julianna Hibbs (Henderson, Kentucky) drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI-single, but that's as close as USI would get as Jax State closed the door on the comeback attempt with a strikeout.
Junior pitcher Whitley Hunter (Nashville, Illinois) was charged with the loss after giving up five runs off four hits in a little over an inning of work. As a hole, Jax State finished with 11 hits on the morning.
Like the first game, the Eagles opened the second game with a 1-0 lead following a run-scoring single by senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) in the bottom of the first inning.
Belmont (6-4), however, answered with a tally in the top half of the second inning before erupting for five runs in the third frame and a commanding 6-1 advantage.
After loading the bases in the bottom of the third, the Eagles were able to get a run back to cut the deficit to 6-2; but a two-run fourth inning followed by a four-run fifth put the Bruins up 12-2.
An RBI-double by Money, followed by an RBI-single by junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) in the bottom of the fifth got the Eagles back to within 12-4, but that was as close as USI would get as a ground-out and a fly-out would strand two Eagles on base.
Newman (2-3) took the loss for the Eagles after giving up 12 runs, five earned, off eight hits. She also surrendered six walks while fanning five batters.
DEPAUL 10, TENNESSEE TECH 5; TENNESSEE TECH 8, INDIANA STATE 5
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Trailing 2-0 for the first five innings against Indiana State, Tennessee Tech just needed to find a time to strike. They found it in the sixth and seventh innings as the Golden Eagles scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to take an 8-5 win over the Sycamores to split the second day of the Blues City Tournament.
Faith Rush and S.J. Talley each drove in two runs, while Mac Fitzgerald went 3-for-5 in the nightcap, 5-for-9 on the day.
After ISU plated two runs against Peyton Wagner in the bottom of the first, Emily York came on and earned her second win of the season, going 6 2/3 frames and didn’t allow a run until the bottom of the seventh. York ended the game allowing three runs – one earned – on nine hits, striking out two.
A two-run double scored the Sycamores’ runs in the first inning, then it was nothing doing until the sixth inning as Sofia Carroll halved the deficit with an RBI single to left, driving in Meaghan Houk.
Olivia Evans led off the seventh inning with a bunt single, then Fitzgerald singled up the middle. With one down, a passed ball moved the runners up, then Carmen Betts loaded the bases with a walk. An error at short allowed Sydney Kirby to reach and Evans to score. Houk worked the count for a walk to squeeze another run across.
Rush had a two-run single to right as Betts and Kirby scored, then a two-base error on a ball hit by Talley allowed Houk and Rush to come home. As Evans was walked, Talley took home for the seventh run of the frame.
Indiana State made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh with a single, an error at short and a single scoring runs. The Sycamores had the bases loaded for the final two outs of the contest.
Mac Fitzgerald had three RBI in the day’s opener, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Jordan Key also had a 2-for-4 showing in the game.
DePaul struck for two runs in the first frame, then five in the third inning, chasing starter Lennon Spicer. She was tagged for seven runs – six earned – in 2 1/3 innings with seven hits yielded, two walks and no strikeouts.
The Golden Eagles chipped away at the deficit with a single run in the fourth. Abby Buettner singled, then was lifted for Bailee Stack as a pinch-runner. Sydney Kirby doubled into center field to push Stack to third, then Key dropped a single into left field to send Stack home for the first run.
Tech made it a 7-5 game in the sixth inning with four runs in the frame. Key hit a one-out single, then Alina Schlageter taking her place at first, then advancing on a passed ball. Ella Bishop reached on a 6-5 fielder’s choice as the Blue Demons erased the lead runner at third.
Faith Rush started the momentum back with a single to right, then Olivia Evans drew a full-count walk. Fitzgerald stepped up and sent the ball screaming over the left field wall for a three-run home run.
DePaul countered for three runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly.