SUNDAY'S SCORES
*Southern Indiana 2, @SIUE 1
*Tennessee Tech 7, @Eastern Illinois 1
*@Tennessee State 8, Western Illinois 2
*@UT Martin 8, Morehead State 0 (6)
*@Southeast Missouri 1, Lindenwood 0
SOUTHERN INDIANA 2, SIUE 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Recap coming soon.
TENNESSEE TECH 7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Sydney Kirby had a big day in the finale as she drove in four of Tennessee Tech's seven runs on Sunday as the Golden Eagles put together a strong offensive effort in the finale to take a 7-1 victory over Eastern Illinois.
Kirby ended the game 2-for-3, while Mac Fitzgerald also had a multi-hit game with an RBI and Carmen Betts drove in two.
Emily York put together a gem as the freshman held the league's top offense to just three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts, allowing one run in the bottom of the first. She improved to 7-4 on the season with the victory.
All of the scoring came in the first two innings. Tech struck first as Fitzgerald led off with a single through the left side, then advanced to second on a grounder to short. Betts drew a walk on five pitches, then Kirby struck with a home run down the left field line to make it 3-0.
In the home half of the opening frame, Karson Davey reached on a fielding error at third, then stole second. Rachel Kaufman singled to left center to drive the run across.
Moving into the second inning, Abbee Klinefelter led off with a full-count walk, then moved over to second on S.J. Talley's sacrifice bunt to the circle. A passed ball gave Klinefelter room to take third, then an error allowed Olivia Evans to reach, but Klinefelter was held at third.
Fitzgerald eyed a single through the left side, bringing Klinefelter home and putting runners on first and second. They moved up on Abby Shoulders' grounder to short, then Betts brought them home with a double to center. After a pitching change, Kirby picked up another RBI with a single to center field.
York settled in after allowing a hit in each of the first and second innings, then only allowed one base runner from the third to the sixth with an error allowing Kaufman to take a base in the third inning, then collecting three straight 1-2-3 frames.
EIU broke the string in the bottom of the seventh as Aryn Henke led off by reaching on an error at short, but York continued her collected effort, striking out Mia Mazzola and Hanna Taylor before Sophie Cerveny collected a hit to put runners at the corners for the Panthers' third hit of the day.
TENNESSEE STATE 8, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2
NASHVILLE - Tennessee State received contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Tigers put eight runs on the board and defeat the Western Illinois Leathernecks 8-2 Sunday. The win marks TSU's sixth straight OVC victory as they have now earned back-to-back series sweeps.
Holly Ayala (6-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State (23-19, 14-7). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on 10 hits.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Tennessee State's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a one-run single off the bat of Ryla Traylor.
The Tigers then lost some of their lead, expanding on their advantage in the fifth inning after the Leathernecks cut it to 4-1. The Tennessee State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Mikayla Duke, which brought the score to 8-1 in favor of the Tigers. Western Illinois put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Tennessee State still coasted to the 8-2 win.
UT MARTIN 8, MOREHEAD STATE 0 (5)
MARTIN, Tenn. - Recap coming soon.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1, LINDENWOOD 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Sydney Dennis scored the game-winning run on an error with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Southeast Missouri (21-21, 15-6) a 1-0 walk-off victory over Lindenwood (24-19, 12-9) Sunday.
SEMO completed a series sweep of the Lions with three shutout victories. For the Redhawks, it was their third-straight series win and third series sweep this season.
Runs were tough to get in a well-pitched game by both teams.
The Redhawks, however, executed with small ball to set up their decisive run late.
Dennis started the bottom half of the seventh with a bunt single and went to second when Brooklyn Saysoff slapped a single to second. After Tatum Gerwits flied out, Brittany Affolter laid down a bunt back to pitcher Avery Wapp. Wapp scooped up the ball but overthrew first baseman Tori Hatton and Dennis touched home on the error giving the Redhawks their 21st win.
Freshmen Tegan Livesay and Maddie Carney combined on the six-hit shutout. Livesay worked three scoreless innings with one strikeout and allowed three hits.
Carney (5-4) relieved Livesay in the fourth inning and scattered just three hits in the final four frames to get the win.
Kat Sackett went 2-for-3 to lead SEMO, which outhit LU, 7-6.
Abigail Rickermann, Paige Halliwill, Dennis, Saysoff and Affolter added one hit each.
SEMO, now in sole possession of second place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, is on a season-best six-game winning streak. The Redhawks heated up to win eight of their last nine contests.