WEDNESDAY'S GAMES
UT Martin 4, @Mississippi 1
@Mississippi 4,
UT Martin 2
Southeast Missouri 1, @#11 Missouri 0
Lindenwood 7, @Saint Louis 5
UT MARTIN 4, MISSISSIPPI 1; MISSISSIPPI 4, UT MARTIN 2
OXFORD, Miss. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball program went on the road and knocked off its first Southeastern Conference opponent since 2016 with a 4-1 victory over Ole Miss before splitting the midweek doubleheader.
The Skyhawks (20-15) led from start to finish in the first game of the brief series, scoring three runs in the opening inning and never looking back en route to the 4-1 victory. Then in the second half of the twinbill, the Skyhawks took a lead in the second inning before Ole Miss answered with three runs down the stretch to split the series with a 4-2 setback.
Senior Kiersten Nixon posted a big day in the batter's box as she went 4-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs over the two games. Fellow senior Kaci Fuller also had a big day with three hits and a stole base while freshman Kyla Harley and senior Katie Dreiling recorded a pair of base knocks.
In the pitching circle, senior Brooklynn Linneman (7-3) earned her 26th career victory after keeping Ole Miss off-balance with just three hits and one run allowed over 5.1 innings of work. Freshman Ashtyn Green was also impressive in limited action, stranding two runners on base in the sixth inning before finishing her appearance with 1.2 perfect innings for the save.
Then in the second game, Katie Dreiling earned the start and allowed two runs in 3.2 innings of work before Nixon (3-4) was hit with the loss after giving up two runs in relief. Anna Hazlewood rounded out the pitching effort with a scoreless sixth inning.
UT Martin jumped out to an early lead in the series opener and never looked back after capitalizing on a pair of errors and scoring three runs. Fuller led off the game by reaching on a fielding error before later moving all the way to third on a passed ball and a stolen base. A pair of walks to Kennedy Brown and Alli Robinson would load the bases for the Skyhawks before a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dreiling and a single to right field by Nixon each led to runs for the visitors. The squad was not done however, as a fielder's choice off the bat of Avry Blume saw Robinson score the team's third run just seconds before Nixon was tagged out.
The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fifth when Ole Miss finally got on the board. A leadoff walk followed by a sacrifice bunt and double down the left field line paced two runners in scoring position. Needing to get in the scoring column, Jalia Lassiter got the Rebels on the board with a sacrifice fly on a diving play by Blume which saved another run.
The Skyhawks immediately responded in the next half inning to get their run back and keep the advantage at three scores. An opposite field single by Dreiling got the inning started before Harley entered as a pinch runner and motored around third on a double to left center by Nixon to give UT Martin a 4-1 lead – which it would not give back.
After being upset in the opener, Ole Miss responded quickly by jumping to a lead in the first inning of the second game. A double by Paige Smith kicked off the frame before she came home to score two batters later on a single by Aynslie Furbush to take a 1-0 advantage.
UT Martin charged back with two runs in the top of the second inning to take another lead for the day. A leadoff single by Dreiling started the scoring inning before she rounded third and came home with a double by Nixon to tie the game. Then later in the frame, a sacrifice fly by Blume plated the team's second run to take a one-run lead.
The lead would be short-lived however as Ole Mis found the game's equalizer in the bottom of the third when Lexie Brady homered to right center. Then a few innings later in the bottom of the fifth, the Rebels found their eventual game-winning hit as Angelina DeLeon laced a two-run single through the left side to give the home team a 4-2 advantage.
The Skyhawks found base runners in both the fifth and sixth innings, but could not complete the comeback attempt nor the sweep, ultimately settling for a series split against the SEC program.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1, #11 MISSOURI 0
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (13-20) claimed the biggest win of its NCAA Division I era when it upset #11 Missouri (29-8), 1-0, Wednesday afternoon at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
Wednesday's win marked SEMO's second over a ranked opponent since it moved to the Division I ranks in 1992. This year's #11 Missouri team is the highest ranked opponent the Redhawks have ever beaten.
Prior to today, the Redhawks 6-1 victory over then-#12 Arkansas on Feb. 22, 2019, stood as SEMO's lone win over a ranked foe. Now, the program's only two wins over nationally-ranked SEC opponents belong to Head Coach Mark Redburn.
SEMO upended MU in Columbia for the first time since 1998, ironically shutting out the Tigers then too.
The Redhawks put it all together with timely hitting, excellent pitching and great defense to end MU's four-game winning streak and hand the Tigers their eighth loss in 37 games this season.
MU's biggest threat came in the bottom of the third inning when the Tigers had the bases loaded with one out. After Paytience Holman struck out cleanup hitter Katie Chester, shortstop Sydney Dennis made a diving catch on a pop up by Mya Dodge to keep MU off the board.
Holman was lights out after pitching out of the jam retiring the final 14 hitters she faced as the Tigers didn't get another runner on base for the remainder of the contest.
In the top of the fourth inning, Zoe Schulte reached on a leadoff error and moved into scoring position on an ensuing sacrifice bunt by Kynzie Wrigley. With two outs after Dennis flied out, Brittany Affolter doubled to left field and Schulte scored the game's only run.
The huge two-out hit extended Affolter's hitting streak to five games.
Holman (8-8) was outstanding in the circle going the distance for her team-high fourth complete game and first shutout this year. She allowed only three hits (all singles), struck out three and walked one in seven innings. Holman recorded 16 fly ball outs, as well.
Offensively, SEMO edged MU, 5-3, in the hit column.
Abigail Rickermann went 2-for-3 at the top of the Redhawks lineup, while Kat Sackett, Aubrie Shore and Affolter followed with one hit apiece. Additionally, SEMO got its leadoff hitter on base in each of the first four innings of the game.
SEMO played its ninth game of the season against a Power Four team and posted its 10th Power Four win with Redburn at the helm. The Redhawks picked up a Power Four win in four-straight seasons and have two in 2024 (vs. Maryland; at Missouri).
LINDENWOOD 7, SAINT LOUIS 5
ST. LOUIS - Lindenwood softball (18-16, 6-6 OVC) picked up a 7-5 non-conference win over Saint Louis (18-13, 6-3 A-10) on Wednesday evening at the Billikens Sports Center. The Lions took the season series after sweeping the Billikens and tying the all-time series at 2-2.
Avery Wapp (W, 6-6) picked up the win for the Lions on the mound after tossing 4.1 innings allowing five runs on five hits while striking out five. Amanda Weyh (S, 2) shut down the Billikens offense in the final 2.2 innings of play allowing just one hit while striking out three.
The bats were on today for the Lions as they collected 10 hits in route to a seven run performance. Mya Bethany went 3-3 on the day while scoring a run. Chloe Honchar and Tori Hatton drove in two RBI each to help Lindenwood pick up their final win in the non-conference.
Lindenwood got things started early in the first inning after Honchar capitalized with Dallis Darnell and Izzy Wilcox on second and third with a two RBI single into left field to post the game's first runs.
Saint Louis responded in the bottom half of the first with three runs of there own including a two-run home run by Abby Mallo. Lindenwood kept their offense going scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the second. Irelynn West had an RBI single to score the third run of the inning.
After the Billikens hit another home run in the bottom of the second, Lindenwood led 5-4. SLU's leading hitting Cami Newbanks tied the game at five with an RBI double in the third.
Both starting pitchers had a quiet fourth inning before the Lions stole back the lead in the fifth with Tori Hatton's two-run home run giving Lindenwood a 7-5 advantage. Hatton is now in a three-way tie for the team lead in home runs.
Weyh entered the game shortly after slamming the door on the Billikens who only had one hit in the final 2.2 innings in St. Louis. It marked the second save for Weyh this season and improved Lindenwood's overall record to 18-16.