Ohio Valley Conference

CLINTON, S.C. - An outstanding offensive output was not enough for Morehead State on Friday. The Eagles scored five runs, but could not hold the George Washington Revolutionaries at bay, and were bested 9-5.

Kylie Burney (0-1) got the ball to start for Morehead State (0-1) and took the loss.

The Eagles were trailing 4-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Ilencia Lightbody came across to score the lone run of the inning for Morehead State and get them on the board.

The Revolutionaries expanded their lead to 6-1 before the Eagles offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the fourth. Sela Pickford came across to score the lone run of the inning for Morehead State, which tightened the Revolutionaries lead to 6-2.

George Washington expanded its lead to 9-2 before the Morehead State offense got back in action, reducing that lead to 9-3 in the fifth. The Eagles scored once on an RBI single off the bat of .

Morehead State kept the Revolutionaries off the board before narrowing the gap further in the sixth. Lightbody crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, tightening the George Washington lead to 9-4.

The Eagles kept the Revolutionaries off the board before getting within 9-5 in the seventh. Morehead State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Spencer. The Eagles were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame

For the second straight game, Morehead State fought back from an early hole to challenge its opposition. However, although it had plenty of opportunities, MSU had a hard time cashing them in, leaving 13 Eagles on base in a 6-4 defeat at the hands of the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Friday.

Alivia Parks (0-1) started and took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (0-2). Rylie Burney was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 5.1 innings, surrendering one run on six hits, walking two and striking out one.

Trailing 5-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the fourth inning. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Taikibrea Campbell.

The Eagles kept the Blue Hose off the board before narrowing the gap further in the sixth. Morehead State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Victoria Spencer, which tightened the Blue Hose lead to 5-4. The Eagles were unable to get any closer, as Presbyterian added one run to their tally on the way to a 6-4 final.

EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 3
INCARNATE WORD 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Eastern Illinois softball opened the 2025 season with a Friday split on the first day of the Incarnate Word Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.

The Panthers had a dramatic win in game one of the season beating Prairie View A&M 4-3 in nine innings before falling 6-3 to host Incarnate Word in the second game.

Relief pitcher Bryanna French (1-0) forced a double play to end the ninth inning after starter McKenzie Oslanzi worked out of a jam in the eighth stranding a Prairie View runner at third base to end the frame.

In the bottom of the ninth Kendall Grover reached to open the inning on a hit-by-pitch.  Karson Davey laid down a sacrifice bunt but the throw hit her in the back running down the line with the ball bouncing away.  Grover advanced to third and eventually scored as Davey got in a run-down between first and second.

The inning capped a rally that saw EIU trailing 2-0 and then 3-1.  Prairie View took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run double by Janaiya Thomas.  They extended the lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by Isabella Rodriguez.    Thomas had two of Prairie View's six hits in the game.

EIU scored in the third on an RBI single by Abbi Hatton.  The Panthers tied the game in the sixth with a pair of unearned runs on a two-run double by Davey who was 2-for-4 in the game.

In the second game EIU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first before Incarnate Word scored in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take the lead.

In the first Kendall Grover and Karson Davey reached and both eventually came around to score on consecutive passed balls by UIW.  Grover got on base via a walk while Davey had a single to center.  She finished 2-for-3, one of two Panthers with two hits in the game.  Abbey Crain was 2-for-4 scoring the EIU run in the fifth.

Incarnate Word scored three in the third to take the lead loading the bases with the middle of the order before two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly by the six, seven and eight batters in the order. 

Victoria Altamirano led off the fourth with a solo home run as she was the lone Incarnate Word player with multiple hits going 3-for-4 with two RBI in the game.  UIW tacked on two unearned runs in the fifth, Altamirano driving in one of the two.

Bella Mitchell (1-0) had nine strike outs to pick up the win.  Karlie McKenzie (0-1) took the loss for EIU.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 2
STONEHILL 5, TENNESSEE TECH 3
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The season started well enough for the Tennessee Tech softball team as the Golden Eagles were poised to take the campaign opener against South Carolina State, but the Lady Bulldogs rallied and walked the game off in the bottom of the seventh in a 3-2 defeat to start the new year.

Tech then fell 5-3 to Stonehill in the second game of the day.

The Golden Eagles (0-2) return to action in the Furman Paladin Invitational on Saturday as they get a rematch with South Carolina State at 8:30 a.m., then will take on Evansville at 1:30 p.m. Tech closes out the tournament on Sunday at 9:50 a.m. against Evansville.

Emily York took the tough-luck loss in the day's opener as she struck out eight to one walk. She allowed three runs – but just one earned – as she went 6 1/3 innings.

After a leadoff double for Abby Shoulders to begin the contest, Alina Schlageter drove in Tech's first run of the year with a single to center field to give Shoulders room to score. The score held until the Golden Eagles extended its lead as Sydney Kirby doubled in Sofia Carroll with a ball into right field.

S.C. State grabbed a run in the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field.

Tech led 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. After a leadoff single and a strikeout, a dropped fly ball allowed runners to advance to second and third.

After York's day ended in favor of Lainey Fitzgerald, Jamaria Charley singled up the middle to tie the game, then stole the next bag to put runners at second and third. Kaylah Leslie hit a grounder back to second, but the play allowed Mikenna Williams to score the walk-off run.

Tech collected five hits in the game as Shoulders, Ashley Capelouto and Ella Bishop had singles and Schlageter and Kirby doubles.

In game two, Shoulders and Kirby both collected two hits, while Kirby and Ashlyn Riggs each had a double. Schlageter and Bishop also had singles.

Carroll gave Tech the early lead in the first inning as her grounder to short gave Shoulders room to score for the 1-0 advantage, but Stonehill scored two unearned runs in the second to take the lead, then three RBI singles in the third to extend the lead to 5-1.

The Golden Eagles added a run in the fourth inning as Ella Bishop came home to score as Julie Martin was thrown out stealing second. Schlageter ended Tech's day in the same fashion as the day started as she hit a single to center field in the bottom of the seventh to plate Shoulders.

Payton Wagner took the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – on six hits over two innings. Addison Abell threw five frames of scoreless ball with seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

TENNESSEE STATE 11, NORTH TEXAS 5
TROY 8, TENNESSEE STATE 2
TROY, Ala. - The Tennessee State softball team rallied from down 5-3 in the sixth inning to win in thrilling fashion, tallying eight runs in the seventh to secure an 11-5 victory over the North Texas on Friday in the 2025 season opener at the Troy Invitational.

Freshman Reina Castillo (1-0) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State (1-0). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up five runs, all of them earned, on seven hits, allowing three walks and striking out three.

The Tigers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Freshman Kyra Taylor drove in two runs for Tennessee State with a single, that scored freshman Kailyn Jean-Baptiste and freshman Alexis Woods.

The Tigers lost the lead they built in the second, but got back on the board in the third trailing 3-2. Freshman Mikayla Duke came across to score the lone run of the inning for Tennessee State, which brought the score level at 3-3.

North Texas busted up the tie and grabbed a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh, when Tennessee State grabbed the advantage at 11-5. The Tigers bats heated up in the inning, scoring eight runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Taylor and a two-run single from freshman Anayah Baker-Rowell. The score remained 11-5 for the rest of the game, as Tennessee State coasted to the win.

Anayah Baker-Rowell notched two extra base hits, but the Tennessee State softball team fell to the Troy 8-2 on Friday.

Tianna Salcido (0-1) started and took the loss in the circle for Tennessee State (1-1).

Baker-Rowell's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-3 day, and included two doubles. Jace Jackson compiled a noteworthy effort as well, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Tigers were trailing 7-0 in the sixth inning when they first put runs on the board. Onnika Spencer came across to score the lone run of the inning for Tennessee State and get them on the board.

The Trojans expanded their lead to 8-1 before the Tigers offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the seventh. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Jackson, which tightened the Trojans lead to 8-2. The ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.

UT MARTIN 8, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 0 (6 inn)
FURMAN 2, UT MARTIN 1 (8 inn)
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The UT Martin Softball team began its 2025 season by splitting a pair of games Friday at the 2025 Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman at Pepsi Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina. The Skyhawks began their day with a convincing six-inning, 8-0 win over South Carolina State, before falling to the host Paladins, 2-1, in extra innings in the final game of the day.

In game one, it was all UT Martin. The Skyhawks scored eight runs on 12 hits over the course of six innings. Jordyn Hustey and Kennedy Brown each tallied three hits in the game with Hustey driving in two runs and Brown driving in one.

Dylan Scott was 2-for-3 in the game with a triple, 2 RBIs and two runs scored. Alli Robinson also had two hits in the season opener, to go along with a run and an RBI. The Skyhawks were a perfect 4-for-4 on the base paths against the Bulldogs with Brown, Scott, Kyla Harley and Josie Sanders all swiping a base.

In the circle, UT Martin put up a combined shutout through the work of Ashtyn Green and Natalie Kreuziger. Green picked up the win by allowing no runs on five hits with seven strikeouts over 4.0 inning of work, while Kreuziger allowed just one hit with five strikeouts over the final two frames.

In game two, the Paladins struck first when Ansley Chiang scored on a wild pitch to make 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning. After being held scoreless for five innings, the Skyhawks evened things up in the top of the sixth on single from Robinson that scored Harley.

UT Martin had a chance to put the game away in the top of the seventh when Scott drove a one-out triple to right centerfield. However, after a walk and a steal from Brown, both runners ended up stranded as Furman retired the final batter of the inning. The same fate awaited Hustey in the top of the eight after she was left on base after a single with one out.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kreuziger struck of the first batter of the inning, but a walk and a single in consecutive at bats gave the Paladins multiple base runners with just one out. With two runners on, Kate Stoltzfus won the game for Furman with a walk-off double, leaving the Skyhawks on the wrong side of a 2-1 decision.

Harley, Hustey, Robinson and Dylan Scott had the lone hits for UT Martin in the game, with Scott tallying a triple in back-to-back games. The Skyhawks once again stole four bases in the contest, this time with Kennedy Brown, Kyrsten Brown, Harley and Ava Scott doing the honors.

LINDENWOOD 2, HAMPTON 1
MEMPHIS 8, LINDENWOOD 2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Lindenwood softball (1-1, OVC) split their first two games of the 2025 season on Friday at the 901 Classic Tournament in Memphis, Tenn. The Lions opened up the year with a 2-1 victory over Hampton before losing to the host school Memphis by a final score of 8-2.

Lindenwood softball opened up their 2025 season with a 2-1 win over Hampton University at the 901 Classic Tournament hosted by Memphis University. In a defensive battle, Lindenwood only needed three hits to get the season opening win.
 
Avery Wapp (W, 1-0) in her first start of the season got the win on the mound after throwing the first 5.1 innings of the game allowing one run on three hits while striking out four. She was relieved by junior transfer Ryleigh Owens who picked up the save after throwing the final 1.2 innings allowing no hits and getting her first Lindenwood strikeout.
 
Lindenwood's offense only had three hits in the ball-game, including from 2024 All-OVC first team selection Irelynn West who went 1-3 at the plate. Joey Meyer and Izzy Wilcox also had hits in the win. Madisen Noll had the lone RBI of the game for LU in the fifth inning with a sac fly to center field.
 
The Lions left two base runners stranded in the first inning after two walks. Hampton was able to get the scoring underway in the first after an RBI single by Kylie Hill put the Pirates up 1-0.
 
Wapp would allow her only three hits of the game in the first two innings before shutting down the Pirates, allowing just two base runners through the next 3.1 innings both on errors. Both teams committed three errors in the game.
 
In the fifth inning, Wilcox broke up the no-hit bid with a single up the middle followed by a single by West to get runners on the corners with one out. Noll then hit a sac fly to center field to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Hampton's defense in the sixth inning allowed Tori Hatton to reach on an error followed by a throwing error which later scored Hatton as the Lions to a 2-1 lead. Owens would shut down the Pirates' offense to secure the opening win of the season.

Lindenwood went 1-1 during their opening day at the 901 Classic Tournament with a loss to host school Memphis (2-0, 0-0 AAC) by a final score of 8-2. Lindenwood was held to three hits during their second game while stranding five runners.
 
Owens got her first start in a Lindenwood uniform after throwing the first 3.0 innings of the ball game allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one. Lucy Pratt (L, 0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three in 2.2 innings.
 
Noll, Hatton and Jolie McMinn were the three Lions to have hits in the ball game with McMinn registering the only RBI. Lindenwood's defense was charged with only one error while Memphis had three.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Memphis struck first in the second with an RBI single by McKaylee Polk which scored one. Owens was able to get out of the inning with two runners in scoring position.
 
West started the third inning off getting on base by a fielding error by the shortstop. After stealing second, Mya Bethany was walked and the two advanced on a wild pitch. West would score two batters later off a wild pitch to tie the game. McMinn the delivered and RBI single through the infield giving the Lions the 2-1 advantage.
 
Memphis tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom half of the third and the game was tied through the top half of the six inning. The Tigers' offense exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the sixth on three hits including a lead-off home run by Zoe Adebayo. Lindenwood would go three-up three-down to end the game..

SIUE 5, UMASS-LOWELL 0
UTSA 5, SIUE 4 (8 inn)
SAN ANTONIO - Emma Henderson tossed six innings of shutout softball and hit SIUE's first home run of the 2025 season Friday as the Cougars began the UTSA Tournament with a 5-0 victory over UMass Lowell.

The Cougars finished the day with a 5-4 loss in eight innings against host UTSA.

In game one Friday, SIUE freshman McKayla Anderson threw the seventh inning for the Cougars and clinched the shutout. Henderson and Anderson combined on a two-hitter.

Emma Henderson blasted a two-run home run in the four-run fourth innings for the Cougars. Her home run broke a scoreless tie with no one out in the fourth.

Kaylynn Salyars continued the fourth inning with an RBI single that drove home pinch runner Abby Harvell. Arissah Garza later added an RBI single that drove home Salyars.

Yslava would score an insurance run in the fifth, scoring on a bases-loaded wild pitch.

SIUE collected 10 hits in its season debut with two each from Emma Henderson, Yslava and Carle Bachman.

In Friday's second game, SIUE and UTSA battled back and forth,

Emma Henderson got the Cougars started with an infield RBI that scored Yslava in the first inning.

UTSA jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second inning on RBI singles from Skylar Rucker and Sabrina Wick.

A second home run in as many games by Emma Henderson, another two-run homer made it 3-3 in the third.

UTSA jumped ahead once again in the fifth on an RBI double by Makayla Madrid.

SIUE picked up a clutch hit in the seventh by Anna Henderson. She gapped a double to right center than allowed Yslava to score yet another key run for the day.

Avery Arwood threw seven innings for the Cougars and took the loss. UTSA put the first two runners on base against Arwood. After Kiana Villa entered the game to pitch for SIUE, UTSA moved a runner over and then scored on a infield grounder by Rucker. 

SANTA CLARA 9, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
HAWAI'I 7, SOUTHERN INDIANA 2
HONOLULU - University of Southern Indiana Softball had a tough second day at the Hawai'i Paradise Classic on Friday, as the Screaming Eagles suffered a pair of losses against Santa Clara University, 9-0, and the University of Hawai'i, 7-2.
 
The first two innings went by scoreless in the day's first game against Santa Clara (1-2). The Broncos tallied the game's first runs in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs on four hits including two extra-base hits.
 
Santa Clara added to its lead with a single run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth frames. The Broncos generated extra insurance with another three-run inning in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Southern Indiana (1-2) scattered four hits in the game, including a first-career hit by freshman Jinnis Gerth. Senior pitcher Whitley Hunter (0-1) was dealt the loss in the pitching circle after giving up four runs in four innings pitched. Freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus and junior pitcher Maddison Depencier made their USI debuts and combined to finish the last three innings in relief.
 
Santa Clara registered nine runs off 12 hits. Junior pitcher Hazyl Gray (1-0) was awarded the win after hurling 4.2 shutout innings.
 
USI later faced tournament host Hawai'i (3-0) in the nightcap of Friday's slate of games. The Rainbow Wahine opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run triple.
 
Southern Indiana got the two runs back in the third. Following two singles in the frame, senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley put a ball in play and an error in centerfield allowed the two USI baserunners to score and tie the game, 2-2. A Hawai'i sac fly in the home half of the third put the host back ahead, 3-2.
 
Meanwhile, senior pitcher Josie Newman was utilizing her strikeout stuff. Through four innings, the right-hander had 11 strikeouts and struck out the side in three of the four innings.
 
Newman added two more strikeouts in the fifth but ran into some trouble in the sixth inning. Hawai'i tacked onto its lead with a four-run inning, including a two-run home run, and went on to close out the game.
 
USI scored two runs on three hits. Junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton had two of the three hits. Newman (1-1) was charged with the loss, surrendering seven runs and striking out 13 batters in a complete game of six innings pitched.
 
Hawai'i scored seven runs on nine hits. Redshirt senior pitcher Addison Kostrencich (2-0) went the distance, giving up two unearned runs and striking out seven.