SATURDAY'S SCORES
*Tennessee Tech 12, @Western Illinois 11
*Tennessee Tech 9, @Western Illinois 4
*@Tennessee State 2, Lindenwood 1
*@Tennessee State 5, Lindenwood 4 (8)
*@Southern Indiana 4, Morehead State 1
*@Southern Indiana 2, Morehead State 1 (9)
*Southeast Missouri 3, @SIUE 0
*Southeast Missouri 3, @SIUE 2
*@Eastern Illinois 2, UT Martin 1 (9)
*@Eastern Illinois 3, UT Martin 0
TENNESSEE TECH 12, WESTERN ILLINOS 11; TENNESSEE TECH 9, WESTERN ILLINOIS 4
MACOMB, Ill. - The Tennessee Tech softball team poured on the offense on Saturday as the Golden Eagles took both ends of the doubleheader at Western Illinois, scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh to take a 12-11 victory in the opener, then topping the Leathernecks 9-4 in the nightcap.
The Golden Eagles (12-8, 4-1 Ohio Valley Conference) return to action on Sunday as they look for the sweep against WIU, starting at 12 p.m. Tech currently stands in a tie for first place with Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State.
As a team Saturday, the Golden Eagles scored 21 runs on 28 hits, batting .412 at the plate. While the Golden Eagles only had one home run – credited to Faith Rush – Tech did have seven doubles on the day with Sydney Kirby collecting three of those.
Carmen Betts and Ella Bishop each went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the contest.
Emily York picked up her fourth win of the season in relief as she allowed two runs – one earned – on six hits in the final four innings of the contest, shutting the Leathernecks down to give the offense the opportunity to strike.
And that they did – after trailing 11-6, bolstered by a seven-run fourth inning – the Golden Eagles scored four runs in the fifth to trail 11-10, then scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to take the lead. York coaxed a fly ball, then struck out the next batter to get two quick outs. WIU challenged with a single to center field and an error in left field, but the final out was a popup to short to end the contest.
Tech scored first with two runs in the top of the first as Betts and Sofia Carroll each had RBI singles. WIU scored three in the bottom of the first, then one more in the second.
The Golden Eagles retook the lead in the third with a four-spot. Kirby scored on an error at short, then Bishop singled in Abby Buettner. Rush then unleashed her blast to put two more on the board.
WIU struck for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, collecting six hits and two errors. It was, however, the last runs the Leathernecks scored in the game.
Tech responded with four runs in the fifth as Bishop drove in Olivia Evans, S.J. Talley's sacrifice fly scored Carroll, Abby Shoulders pushed Bishop home with a single to left, then Betts drove in Mac Fitzgerald with a single.
The Golden Eagles tied the game in the sixth as Carroll scored from third on a wild pitch, then scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh as Shoulders came home on a Kirby sacrifice fly.
Payton Wagner threw the first frame, allowing three runs – one earned – on two hits as she walked three. Rush threw the next two innings, allowing six runs – five earned – on five hits with one walk and one struck out. York did not walk a batter and struck out four in her four-inning tenure.
In game two, Lennon Spicer picked up the victory as she threw the first four innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking four and striking out two. Wagner collected the save – her first – as she threw the final three innings, yielding two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out one.
Kirby went 4-for-4 in the nightcap, driving in two, while Carroll was 3-for-4 from the plate.
Tech never trailed in the second game, collecting two runs in the top of the first. Kirby had an RBI double to score Fitzgerald, then Buettner drove Kirby in with a single to short.
WIU chipped away with a single run in the second, but the Golden Eagles got it right back in the third as Carroll drove in Betts with a base hit. The Leathernecks added a run in the bottom of the third, then the Golden Eagles added two in the fifth as Betts and Kirby hit back-to-back RBI doubles to score Shoulders and pinch-runner Bailee Stack.
Leading 5-2, Western Illinois added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Tech got a run back in the top of the sixth with a Shoulders RBI single. The Leathernecks added one more run in the home half of the inning.
Tech got three insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Bishop had an RBI single, then an error on a ball hit to second base by Alina Schlageter allowed Bishop and Carroll to score. In the bottom of the seventh, Wagner shut down the WIU offense as she coaxed a fly ball to left, a liner to first, then a fly ball to center field to end the game.
TENNESSEE STATE 2, LINDENWOOD 1; TENNESSEE STATE 5, LINDENWOOD 4 (8)
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State softball team picked up a two-game sweep of Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon to win its second straight Ohio Valley Conference Series. TSU made quick work in game one's 2-1 victory, while the Tigers need eight innings to pull out the win in game two. The two wins move TSU to 13-11, 4-1 OVC.
The Tennessee State Tigers rallied from down 1-0 in the fifth inning to knock off the Lindenwood Lions 2-1 Saturday in game one of the double-header.
Caitlyn Manus (5-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for TSU (11-11, 2-1). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing no walks and striking out six.
Anayah Baker-Rowell led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a triple and an RBI. Rylie Giddens put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with a double. Laila Armstrong also helped out, going 2-for-3 for the Tigers.
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers first put runs on the board in the sixth inning. Tennessee State put up two runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI triple off the bat of Baker-Rowell. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.
TSU needed eight innings to finish the job in game two, but secured the 5-4 extra-innings win, walking it off on Peyton Fointno's double to claim victory over the Lindenwood Lions Saturday.
Manus (6-5) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Tennessee State. The right-hander went one shutout inning without giving up a hit, allowing no walks and striking out one.
Fointno led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double, two walks and an RBI. Nahtali Simpson compiled a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Giddens also helped out, going 2-for-3 for Tennessee State with a triple, while also scoring the game-winning run.
The Tigers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Tennessee State got on the board thanks to Baker-Rowell's RBI double with one out.
TSU lost the lead they built in the first but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 2-1. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run triple from Simpson, which brought the score to 4-2 in favor of the Tigers. Lindenwood then rallied to tie the ballgame at 4-4 before Tennessee State walked it off in the bottom of the eighth on Fointno's two-out RBI double.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 4, MOREHEAD STATE 1; SOUTHERN INDIANA 2, MOREHEAD STATE 1 (9)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Softball opened its 2024 home schedule at USI Softball Field with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles won 4-1 in game 1 and 2-1 in nine innings in game 2 against Morehead State University.
In the first game, Southern Indiana (9-11, 3-2 OVC) struck first with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman third baseman Shelby Stivers (Louisville, Kentucky) started the scoring with a bases-loaded RBI single. USI then took advantage of a Morehead State (7-10, 1-4 OVC) error and a bases-loaded walk to score the other two runs in the second.
Meanwhile, junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was wheeling and dealing. Newman registered two strikeouts in each of the first four innings for eight total punchouts through four.
Then in the bottom of the sixth inning, Newman got involved in the offensive attack. Newman singled to centerfield to drive in an insurance run to give USI a 4-1 lead. The right-handed pitcher and the Screaming Eagles closed out the game from there.
Southern Indiana posted four runs on four hits in game 1. Senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) led USI with a 2-2 game at the plate. Morehead State tallied one run off one hit.
Newman improved to 7-5 with a complete game, striking out 12 in the one-hitter. Morehead State freshman pitcher Addie Stem dropped to 3-8 on the season, surrendering four runs – three earned – off four hits and four walks in six innings pitched.
In the second game, Southern Indiana pushed across the game's first run once again. Senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) singled home junior infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) from second base to put USI up early, 1-0. Morehead State answered to tie the game in the second frame.
The game settled into a pitcher's duel between USI junior pitcher Whitley Hunter (Nashville, Illinois) and Morehead State sophomore pitcher Jessie Begley. Begley took a no-decision, going 4.2 innings with one unearned run allowed before handing the ball off to freshman pitcher Cassiti Baroni.
With Hunter pitching a gem in her best start of the season for USI and Baroni not budging in relief for Morehead State, the game remained tied at one through seven innings to force the contest into extras.
In the top of the seventh and ninth innings, Hunter stranded a potential go-ahead runner at third base in each inning. Hunter's stellar performance was rewarded in the home half of the ninth inning. After three consecutive singles to load the bases, Fair punched a ball through the right side to score senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) from third to give USI a 2-1 win and its third walk-off victory of the season.
Southern Indiana recorded two runs on 10 hits, while Morehead State scored one run on seven hits. The two sides combined to leave 22 runners on base. Offensively, Fair and Gotshall had two-hit games in the second game of the twin bill.
With the sensational outing, Hunter moved to 2-3 in her first complete game this season. The right-hander struck out eight batters. For Morehead State, Baroni was charged with her first loss this season. Baroni went 3.1 innings of relief and was responsible for the game-winning run reaching base.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, SIUE 0; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, SIUE 2
EDWRADSVILLE, Ill. - Freshman Maddie Carney earned her first career win and first career save, and Marissa Peek hit two home runs to lead Southeast Missouri (8-17, 3-2) to a 3-0, 3-2, doubleheader sweep of SIU Edwardsville (9-16, 1-4) Saturday afternoon.
SEMO clinched its first series win of the season during its first road trip in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Peek hit both of her career-high home runs to key SEMO's first shutout of the year.
She hit a solo home run to grab the Redhawks a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
After SEMO added another run on a two-out RBI-single by Aubrie Shore in the fifth, Peek stepped in and hit her second round-tripper over the left field wall pushing SEMO's lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning.
Carney and fellow freshman Tegan Livesay on the shutout.
Livesay pitched the first three scoreless innings in her eighth start of the season.
Carney (1-3) then claimed the win in relief after going the final five innings without allowing a run. She got her only strikeout when she pitched around a two-out jam in the bottom of sixth where the Cougars stranded runners at second and third.
SEMO outhit SIUE, 8-7, with Shore paving the way with three hits. Peek followed close behind with two hits and two runs scored.
The Redhawks struck quickly by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning of the nightcap.
Abigail Rickermann led off the contest with an infield single and came around to score with the help of an error and a passed ball. Tori Bradley later singled home Zoe Schulte for another unearned run giving SEMO a 2-0 edge.
After SIUE pulled within a run, the Redhawks scored their decisive run on Bradley's RBI-infield single with two outs. Paige Halliwill touched home on the play making it a 3-1 ballgame.
Three-straight singles by the Cougars led to the game's final run in the bottom of the sixth.
SIUE stranded the tying run on base in the seventh where the game ended on Peek throwing out Kaylynn Salyers when she attempted to steal second.
Paytience Holman (4-6) nailed down the win working 6.1 innings with just two runs allowed on six hits. Holman struck out one and did not give up a walk, as well.
Carney recorded the last two outs of the contest en route to her save.
SEMO outhit SIUE, 7-6, with Rickermann, Bradley and Halliwill getting two hits apiece.
Additionally, the Redhawks did not commit an error in both contests and have now gone error free in five-straight games.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 2, UT MARTIN 1 (9); EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, UT MARTIN 0
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois received timely hitting and two strong pitching performances as the Panthers won their second straight Ohio Valley Conference softball series of the season sweeping a Saturday doubleheader against UT Martin. EIU won the opener 2-1 in extra innings before coming back with a 3-0 shutout win in the nightcap.
EIU improved to 16-8 overall, 4-1 in the OVC. UTM is now 14-11 overall, 2-3 in the OVC.
For the second straight OVC series Eastern Illinois needed extra innings to pull out the series opening win. Last week it took 12 innings to beat Southeast Missouri. This week it took nine innings for the Panthers to beat UT Martin 2-1.
Kendall Grover had a walk-off double to end the game as she went 2-for-5 in the series opener. Her double to the left center gap scored McKenzie Oslanzi with the winning run.
Oslanzi opened the ninth drawing her second walk of the game. She advanced to second as pinch hitter Sophia Olman beat out an infield bunt to place runners at second and third. Two batters later Grover drove in the winning run.
Oslanzi benefitted from scoring the winning run as she was the Panthers starting pitcher improving to 10-1 on the season with the complete game win. Oslanzi struck out ten allowing eight hits and one run while walking no UT Martin batters.
The Skyhawks tied the game in the top of the seventh on a Annie Gutierrez pinch-hit sacrifice fly to left scoring pinch-runner Carly Ward.
UT Martin tried to build off that momentum in the eighth placing runners at second and third with one out after Alli Robinson singled and Katie Dreiling followed with a double for her second hit of the game. Oslanzi would get the next batters out with a ground ball to the pitcher and pop-up in the infield.
EIU's first run came in the fourth inning as Karson Davey singled up the middle to score Grover. Rachel Kaufman joined Grover as the only Panthers with two hits.
Maddie Long had three hits to lead UT Martin. Kiersten Nixon took the loss in relief falling to 1-3.
Olivia Price looked much like last year's Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year as the senior tossed a four-hit complete game shutout to give the Panthers a 3-0 win in game two.
UT Martin placed two runners on base in the opening inning with one out only to see Price set one Skyhawks batter down on strikes and induce a pop-up to end the frame.
The Skyhawks threatened again in the third putting runners at first and second with one out before Price had the defense step up behind her turning a double play as Sophie Cerveny made a running catch on a ball in the gap and doubled off the runner at second base.
In the bottom of the third EIU provided Price the offense she needed. Jadin Justman hit a two-run blast to left field for her third home run this season. Justman was 2-for-3 in the game, one of three Panthers with two hits.
EIU added an insurance run in the fourth with Rachel Kaufman lacing a ball to right field that scored Cerveny with Kyla Harley throwing the trailing EIU runner out at the plate.
Kaufman had two hits as did Briana Gonzalez. Price struck out five improving to 5-6 on the season.
Anna Hazelwood took the loss falling to 1-1. Brooklynn Linneman came in with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.