SATURDAY'S SCORES
*Lindenwood 9, @Tennessee Tech 8 (8)
*@Southern Indiana 5, Southeast Missouri 4
*UT Martin 10, @Tennessee State 5
*@SIUE 12, Eastern Illinois 2 (5)
*@SIUE 5, Eastern Illinois 4
*Morehead State 5, @Western Illinois 1
*@Western Illinois 3, Morehead State 2
LINDENWOOD 9, TENNESSEE TECH 8 (8)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Lindenwood softball (17-16, 6-6 OVC) completed the weekend sweep on Saturday with a 9-8 eight inning victory over Ohio Valley Conference opponent Tennessee Tech (15-14, 6-6 OVC). Lindenwood improves to 6-6 in conference play this season.
The Lions used three pitchers on Saturday with Avery Wapp (W, 5-6) getting the victory after throwing the final 1.1 innings in relief. Molly Berkey started the game allowing six runs on six hits. Amanda Weyh also tossed 5.2 innings allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out two.
At the plate, Lindenwood posted seven hits scoring nine runs including eight in the second inning alone. Izzy Wilcox and Irelynn West both went 2-4 at the plate and both had an RBI to help the Lions past the Golden Eagles.
Tech struck early in the first inning scoring two runs off of Berkey. Abby Shoulders and Sofia Carroll both picked up an RBI in the first giving TTU the early advantage.
Lindenwood responded with an eight run second inning off of five hits. The Lions jumped on starting pitcher Lennon Spicer putting the first three batters on base for West who singled up the middle scoring one. Madisen Noll followed with an RBI single to tie the game.
After a pitching change, Weyh scored on a wild pitch to take the games first lead. Mya Bethany and Dallis Darnell both walked with the bases loaded to bring in two more runs. Wilcox and Chloe Honchar added RBI singles in the second with the final run coming off a hit by pitch against Weyh to put LU in front 8-2.
TTU cut into the lead in the bottom half of the second with four runs including a bases clearing three RBI double by Carmer Betts. Weyh would get the Lions out of the inning with an 8-6 lead. The Golden Eagles then added a run in the third and sixth inning to tie the game to force extra innings.
After a leadoff double by West in the top of the eighth inning, Morgan Gersch stepped up with a big RBI double to give Lindenwood a 9-8 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. Wapp went three up three down to complete the Lions' first OVC sweep of the season.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Softball had a fast start to Saturday's series finale against Southeast Missouri State University, but the Screaming Eagles had to fight off a late charge by the visiting Redhawks to claim a 5-4 victory at USI Softball Field.
With Saturday's win, Southern Indiana (14-13) captured its third consecutive series win in Ohio Valley Conference play to maintain a top-two spot in the standings with an 8-4 OVC record. Southeast Missouri (12-20) dropped to 7-5 in OVC action.
Southern Indiana came out with a flying start in the bottom of the first inning on Saturday. Following a leadoff single by senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana), Bedrick came around to score in the next at-bat by sophomore outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana) with an RBI double. Stapleton would be thrown out trying to advance an extra base, but junior infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) stepped up to the plate next with her first home run of the season, a solo shot, to put USI ahead 2-0. The fast start by the Screaming Eagles forced Southeast Missouri to make a pitching change with only out in the bottom of the first.
The Screaming Eagles added three more runs in the second inning, including one on an RBI single from Stapleton, to take a 3-0 lead. Before the end of the second frame, SEMO went to its third pitcher of the game, as USI had claimed a 5-0 advantage.
Later on, Southeast Missouri made a push. With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fifth inning, the Redhawks scored two runs back on a two-RBI double. SEMO cut the deficit down to one, 5-4, with another pair of runs in the sixth inning off an RBI single and a sac fly. From there, the Screaming Eagles slammed the door on the Redhawks' rally in the sixth inning and closed out the win in the seventh.
Southern Indiana scored five runs on nine hits. The top three in USI's lineup – Bedrick, Stapleton, and Gotshall – each had two hits for six of USI's total hits. Stapleton and Gotshall each had two RBIs. Southeast Missouri totaled four runs on 11 hits.
In the pitching circle, junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) picked up the win, improving to 12-5 this season. Newman struck out seven in the complete-game effort.
Southeast Missouri used four pitchers in the game with senior starting pitcher Paytience Holman dropping to 7-8 on the season with the loss.
UT MARTIN 10, TENNESSEE STATE 5
NASHVILLE - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team continued its offensive onslaught en route to a series victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee State after posting a 10-5 win in Saturday's rubber match.
The Skyhawks (19-14, 6-6 OVC) posted the team's third series victory in four opportunities this weekend while featuring an offense which averaged 8.3 runs per game. For the series, UT Martin boasted a .340 batting average while tallying 10 extra base hits – including seven doubles – in addition to 25 runs scored.
Today's contest saw another familiar name pace the Skyhawks offensively as senior Kaci Fuller recorded her 12th multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 afternoon while matching her previous career-high with five RBIs in the win. Fuller wasn't the only big performer on the day however, as three other Skyhawks tallied a pair of base knocks as Kiersten Nixon, Maddi Long and Avry Blume also recorded two hits each while combining for three RBIs.
On the pitching side, Anna Hazlewood got the start and lasted two innings before being relieved after allowing two earned runs. Appearing in relief was Nixon (3-3) who was electric in the circle as she allowed just one hit in five shutout innings on the way to her third win of the season.
Tennessee State (16-16, 7-5 OVC) jumped out to an early advantage after an uncharacteristic defensive inning which saw a pair of Skyhawk errors. Both errors led to runs before as a sacrifice fly by Onnika Spencer, a single up the middle by Mikayla Duke and a double to left field from Alexis Woods gave the Tigers a quick four-run advantage.
While the visitors faced an early deficit, UT Martin quickly responded in the top of the second inning. A leadoff home run by Kiersten Nixon kicked off a three-run inning before a single up the middle by Fuller plated a pair of runs and cut the margin down to one run.
A sacrifice fly led to TSU's fifth run of the game before the Skyhawks took control with a seven-run fifth inning. Back-to-back walks led to the Skyhawks fourth run as Katie Dreiling singled up the middle for the team's fourth run before a single to left center by Long put UT Martin up by a one-score advantage. With the game's first lead, the Skyhawks never looked back as they continued their big offensive frame with a RBI-single by Anna Blanton before a base-loaded triple from Fuller cleared the bases and broke the game open with the team's 10th run.
SIUE 12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2 (5); SIUE 5, EASTERNN ILLINOIS 4
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE softball won its first Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader of the season, taking two games Saturday from first-place Eastern Illinois.
The Cougars won game one 12-2 in five innings and 5-4 in the nightcap on a walkoff sacrifice fly by Anna Henderson that scored Paige Rocha from third base.
SIUE, 12-22 overall and 4-8 in the OVC, left little doubt in game one, scoring in all four innings on offense while holding EIU to five hits.
The Cougars scored six runs in the opening frame behind four singles and four Eastern Illinois errors.
Grace Lueke unleashed a three-run homer in the fourth inning and finished with three runs scored and four RBIs. Emma Henderson rapped a pair of hits and drove in three runs. Kaylynn Salyars provided a big two-run single in the first inning that knocked out EIU starter/loser Olivia Price.
Sydney Baalman went the distance and earned the win. The Cougar senior also won game two coming in late relief.
Eastern Illinois, now 23-11 overall and 9-3 in the OVC, appeared to be in control in game two, scoring in three of the first four innings and grabbing a 4-0 lead.
The Cougars began their comeback in the fourth. Anna Henderson singled home Jenna Herron with a shot to right field. Lueke also scored on the play after a fielding error by right fielder Aryn Henke.
Lauren Yslava would score in the sixth on a single by Emma Henderson, cutting the led to 4-3.
In the seventh, Danielle Shuey opened the inning by drawing a walk off EIU starter McKenzie Oslanzi. EIU went to the bullpen for Rachel Kaufman, but the Cougars found their countermove.
Paige Rocha, who tied the school record with her 27th straight game with a hit, laced her third hit of the game to right field. Jenna Herron tied up the game with an RBI single to right field, scoring Shuey. After an intentional walk to Grace Lueke that would load the bases, Anna Henderson hit a fly ball to center field that would enable Rocha to score from third.
MOREHEAD STATE 5, WESTERN ILLINOIS 1; WESTERN ILLINOIS 3, MOREHEAD STATE 2
MACOMB, Ill. - The Morehead State Eagles broke through after a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning to defeat the Western Illinois Leathernecks 5-1 Saturday. It was MSU's second straight victory and guaranteed the series win for the Blue and Gold.
Sophomore Jessie Begley (5-4) got the win for Morehead State (10-14, 4-7). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.
Western Illinois jumped out to the early lead by scoring in the first inning. The Leathernecks put two runners on base and a Valerie Combs sacrifice fly to right field drove in Malia Robertson.
Trailing 1-0, the Eagles first put a run on the board in the fifth inning. Freshman Sela Pickford tripled to right center with one out and came across to score on a squeeze bunt by senior Peyton Jordan.
The next inning, the Morehead State offense exploded for four runs on five hits, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of senior Kaytlyn Cripps, which brought the Eagles lead to 5-1. WIU committed two errors to aid the cause. Senior Trinity Spear and junior Darlene Montoya each reached on infield singles to start the inning, with both stealing a base. Junior Ilencia Lightbody reached on error, which scored Cripps, and PIckford singled and moved up on another error, which allowed Lightbody to score.
The score remained 5-1 for the rest of the game, as Morehead State coasted to the win.
The Morehead State softball team built an early lead, but could not hold off host Western Illinois as the Leathernecks won the third game of the series 3-2 on Saturday at the Mary Ellen McKee Stadium in Macomb, Ill.
Morehead State (10-15/4-8) won the first game of the day to capture the overall series, but Western Illinois (13-21/3-9) scored twice in the fourth and once in the seventh to claim the Ohio Valley Conference win in the nightcap. It was MSU's third contest of a six-game road trip. WIU's win snapped a six-game skid.
The series now sits 2-2-1.
Morehead State had a chance to take the lead in the first inning. Junior center fielder Darlane Montoya drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball and then was part of a double steal with junior shortstop Samantha Cervantez. But the Leathernecks were able to get the final out and squash the threat.
The hosts also fell just short of getting on the board in the bottom of the frame. Freshman center fielder Malia Robertson singled to lead off the inning. However, she was called out trying to steal second after leaving early. Two batters later, senior third baseman Bella Alvarez doubled to right center, but the visitors were able to induce a ground out to end the inning.
The Eagles began the scoring in the second. Freshman third baseman Sela Pickford drew a lead off walk and senior second baseman Peyton Jordan doubled to left-center field. Fifth-year designated player Trinity Spear flew out to center field, but it was deep enough to allow Pickford to score. However, Jordan was thrown out on the play to end the inning.
Western Illinois continued the trend in the bottom of the second. Freshman shortstop Sophia Sanchez reached on an error and junior second baseman Beth Pavy walked. The pair was able to move up a base after a fly out to right field, but the inning ended with them stranded.
WIU led off the third with a single and then added another hit with one out, but the Eagles turned a double play (Pickford to freshman first baseman Kendra Lewis) to end the threat.
MSU added its second run in the fourth. Junior left fielder Ilencia Lightbody reached on an error, stole second and advanced to third. Pickford flied out, but the hit was deep enough to score Lightbody.
The Leathernecks tied the score in their half of the fourth. The first two batters reached base on a walk and hit by pitch. Pavy then loaded the bases with a bunt and senior first baseman Gabriela Drager singled to center field to drive in the first run. Another walk led to the second run, but the Eagles stopped the bleeding after getting the next two batters to ground out to freshman pitcher Addie Stem, who threw the ball home for the force out.
Only 16 batters came to the plate from the fifth to the top of the seventh. But that pattern ended in the top of the seventh as Robertson led off with a single. She stole second, and after an Alvarez walk, both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. With one out, Combs then hit a sharp ground ball to Cervantez at short, but Robertson beat the throw home, sliding under the tag for the game-ending run.
MSU finished with four hits, while the hosts tallied seven. Senior catcher Kaytlyn Cripps was 2-for-3, with Jordan and sophomore right fielder Taikibrea Campbell recording the other hits. Pickford had the lone RBI, while Pickford and Lightbody each scored.
Robertson led Western Illinois at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance. Alvarez added two hits. The Leathernecks sent 31 batters to the plate and finished the afternoon without striking out.
Stem picked up the loss to drop to 5-9. She pitched six and a third innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and four walks.
Junior Raven Morrison started the game but was pulled after four innings. Senior Emily Price came in to finish it out and pick up the win to improve to 5-10. Morrison gave up three hits, two earned runs, with three walks and a strikeout. Price surrendered one hit, no runs and no walks, while striking out three in three innings of work.