Ohio Valley Conference

GREENVILLE, S.C. - After a tough first day at the Furman Paladin Invitational, the Tennessee Tech softball team rebounded and picked up a pair of victories, topping South Carolina State 5-1 and Evansville 2-0 on Saturday.
 
The Golden Eagles (2-2) conclude their first tournament of the 2025 season on Sunday morning, facing Evansville again at 9:50 AM Central.
 
Addison Abell hurled her way to the victory in the day's opener as she worked five full frames, allowing one run on three hits as she walked two and struck out five. Payton Wagner collected the save as she threw the final two innings – both scoreless – as she yielded three hits with a strikeout.
 
Tech had four players collect two hits as Abby Shoulders and Aline Schlageter both went 2-for-4, Ella Bishop 2-for-3 and Abbee Klinefelter 2-for-2.
 
The Golden Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Shoulders had a leadoff single to left, advanced to second, then reached third on Schlageter's bunt single in front of the plate. Sydney Kirby hit a grounder to short leading to a fielder's choice, but the ball was booted at short, allowing Shoulders to score, Schlageter to take third and Kirby to stand at first.
 
Jailynn Paderez drove in Schlageter with a single to short, then Ella Bishop roped a double into right center to drive in Kirby.
 
Tech added another run in the fourth inning as Klinefelter led off the frame with a solo home run -- the Golden Eagles' first of the season -- to left field. South Carolina State scored its lone run in the fifth on a double, a ground out to second and a wild pitch.
 
The Golden Eagles collected an insurance run in the sixth with Klinefelter and Makayli Harris delivering back-to-back doubles, then Shoulders' grounder allowed pinch-runner Olivia Evans to score.
 
Against Evansville, Emily York and Lainey Fitzgerald pulled together a complete-game shutout with York throwing five complete with a walk and four strikeouts, scattering five hits for the victory. Fitzgerald was credited with the save as she threw two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out two.
 
Fitzgerald also went 2-for-2 with an RBI to help out her cause in the contest. Shoulders, Schlageter and Klinefelter picked up hits for the Golden Eagles.
 
Tech scored the first run in the top of the second as Fitzgerald drove in Klinefelter on a sacrifice fly, then, in the third, Schlageter tripled and came home on Kirby's grounder to short.

GEORGE WASHINGTON 7, MOREHEAD STATE 3
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 10, MOREHEAD STATE 0 (5)
CLINTON, S.C. - The Morehead State Eagles got a boost from Maddy Christopher, who collected three hits in a 7-3 loss to the George Washington Revolutionaries Saturday.

Rylie Burney (0-2) took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (0-3).

Christopher's three-hit day led the Eagles offensively. Darlene Montoya put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Taikibrea Campbell also contributed for Morehead State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double.

The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Mont0ya's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for Morehead State.

The Revolutionaries failed to push any runs across before the Eagles offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Campbell came across to score the lone run of the inning for Morehead State, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of the Eagles. The Eagles were unable to hold the lead, as George Washington scored seven times over the remaining five innings to grab the 7-3 win

Morehead State and Northern Kentucky played to a 1-0 game through four innings, but a nine-run fifth inning led to a 10-0 Norse victory on Saturday.

Senior Alicia Flores and freshman Kyndall Ford combined to toss the shutout.

Rylie Burney (0-3) started and took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (0-4).

At the plate, the Eagles were led by Kendra Lewis, who went 1-for-1 on the day with a double and a walk. Sela Pickford compiled a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with a double.

Morehead State managed one chance with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Eagles last got a runner on third in the first, when Maddy Christopher made it 60 feet away from scoring with one out.

WESTERN ILLINOIS 8, DETROIT MERCY 6
GREEN BAY 5, WESTERN ILLINOIS 3
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Western Illinois softball opened their season with a strong showing at The Dome, splitting their two games on February 8, 2025. The Leathernecks secured a late-game victory against Detroit Mercy, 8-6, but fell to Green Bay in a tightly contested matchup, 5-3.

In the morning game, WIU battled Detroit Mercy in a back-and-forth contest. The Leathernecks took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning before adding another run in the fifth. The offense erupted in the final two innings, plating two runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to secure the win. Payton Brown led the charge, going 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and an RBI. Maria Luna delivered a clutch triple, driving in three runs. Pitcher Kaitlyn Green earned the save after closing out the seventh inning.

In the afternoon matchup, Western Illinois struggled to find timely hits against Green Bay's pitching. The Phoenix took an early lead and held WIU's offense in check. The Leathernecks managed to push across three runs, but a three-run seventh inning from Green Bay sealed the 5-3 defeat. Despite the loss, WIU saw strong performances from Malia Robertson, who reached base twice and stole two bases, and Ruby Tarr, who contributed two hits and an RBI.

Western Illinois (1-1) will look to build on their season-opening performance as they continue tournament play.

WEBER STATE 15, SIUE 5 (5)
WEBER STATE 11, SIUE 2 (5)
SAN ANTONIO - Recap coming soon.

EVANSVILLE 9, UT MARTIN 6
STONEHILL 2, UT MARTIN 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The University of Tennessee at Martin Softball team dropped a 9-6 decision to Evansville on Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina. The game was part of the second day of the 2025 Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman.

UT Martin took advantage of five errors by the Purple Aces in the game, scoring all six of its runs without a single RBI. The Skyhawks led the game, 6-4, when the Purple Aces reeled off five unanswered runs over the final two innings of the game for the comeback 9-6 win. Evansville pounded our four home runs in the contest including a two-run bomb by Keghan Pye in the seventh that put her team on top for good.

Kyla Harley was the only Skyhawks to tally multiple hits in the contest, as she went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Dylan Scott had the lone extra base hit of the day for UT Martin, a double in the bottom of the fifth, while Avary Makarewicz, Scott and Harley each had a stolen base on the day. Through the first three games of the season, the Skyhawks are averaging 3.7 stolen bases per game.

UT ARLINGTON 9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1 (5)
INCARNATE WORD 7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
SAN ANTONIO - Eastern Illinois softball dropped the first of two Saturday games falling to UT Arlington 9-1.  The Panthers lost the night cap 7-3 to host Incarnate Word.

The Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a RBI single by Sophie Cerveny which scored Kira Manganello.  

The Mavericks would keep the EIU offense off the board the remainder of the game taking the lead 4-1 with four runs in the bottom of the second.  Mia McNulty and Kailee Bautista each drove in runs in the inning.

UTA added an unearned run in the third to push their lead to 5-1.  Home runs in the fifth and sixth innings would carry the Mavericks to the win.  Elizabeth Baylor had a three-run homer in the fifth with Marley Neisis connecting for a solo shot in the sixth.

Kendall Grover picked up two hits for EIU as the Panthers dropped to 1-2. 

UT Arlington improved to 4-0.

In the second game of the day Eastern Illinois rallied from down 3-0 after two to tie the game at 3-3 before eventually dropping their second game of the tournament to host Incarnate Word losing 7-3.

UIW scored three in the second with the big hit coming on a two-run single by Prisais Quintero.

The Panthers cut into the lead with a single run in each of the next three innings.  Kendall Grover had an RBI double in the third and drove in a run in the fifth scoring Sophie Cerveny.

Sandwiched in between was a solo home run by Abbi Hatton in the fourth, the Panthers first long ball of the season.

UIW answered in the bottom of the fifth with a home run by Victoria Altamirano.  The Cardinals added an insurance run with an RBI double to left center by Jaisy Caceres.

In the bottom of the sixth UIW had two more runs improving to 2-2 on the season.  Jillian Gutierrez drove in one of the runs in the sixth leading UIW with three hits.  Bella Mitchell (2-0) picked up the win.

EIU fell to 1-3 on the year with Grover going 2-for-3.  Hatton, McKenzie Oslanzi and Cerveny all had hits in the game for EIU.  Oslanzi suffered the loss falling to 0-1 on the season.

LINDENWOOD 21, RUST 1
MEMPHIS 8, LINDENWOOD 2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Lindenwood softball (2-2, 0-0 OVC) split the second day of the 901 Classic Tournament in Memphis, Tenn. with a win over Rust College (0-4) and loss against the University of Memphis (4-0, 0-0 AAC).The Lions ended the opening weekend with a 2-2 record after their first non-conference tournament.

Lindenwood's offense was on fire during Saturday's first game scoring 21 runs, tying their most runs scored in a game in program history (March 2020 vs. UHSP). The Lions's scored 21 runs on 13 hits while being walked 13 times which marked the most walks in a single game in program history.

Danielle Franz in her first career start went 2-3 at the plate bringing home two runs while adding a double and three runs scored. Twelve different Lions posted a hit in the win including Anna Sanders who had an RBI triple. Nicole Henson and Madisen Noll also had a team-high three RBI each.

Lucy Pratt (W, 1-1) got her first win of the season on the mound after throwing the first two innings, allowing one run one four hits while striking out three. Samantha Roulanaitis pitched the final three innings allowing no hits, no runs and struck out five.

During the first inning of play, Lindenwood scored six runs one two hits, capitalizing on Rust's three errors. Dallis Darnell and Hanna Johanning had an RBI each in the inning as the Lions scored three of their runs on wild pitches.

After allowing a run in the second inning, Lindenwood's offense kept the gas going scoring three runs on three hits. Lauren Pelton had an RBI single up the middle and was followed by Frans with an two RBI single to right center field. Lindenwood led 10-1 after the third after Sanders added an RBI triple.

Lindenwood put the final touches on their second win of the second with 11 runs in the fourth inning. The Lions scored 11 runs on seven hits and have five different players post an RBI: Theresa Snaidauf (1), Henson (3), Noll (3), Teryn Brown (2) and Emily Geary (2). Roulanaitis closed out the game with a three-up three-down inning in the top of the fifth.

Lindenwood's offense was held in check in game two scoring just two runs on five hits while leaving 12 runners stranded. Memphis scored five runs on six hits while adding three errors. Tori Hatton was the only Lion with multiple hits (2) while hitting her first home run of the season.

Hatton went 2-3 while adding two RBI and was hit by a pitch. Noll, Sanders and Darnell all had hits in the loss. Avery Wapp (L, 1-1) suffered the loss on the mound after throwing the first 4.2 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out five. Ryleigh Owens closed out the game with a flawless 1.1 innings.

After the Lions stranded two runners in the first inning, Memphis added two RBI singles in the bottom half of the inning off Wapp to open up the game with a 2-0 lead. Both runs were unearned for Wapp after the Lions committed an error.

It was two scoreless innings for both teams before Memphis added another two runs in the bottom half of the fourth. They had two hits in the inning resulting in two runs. The Tigers also added one run in the fifth to increase their lead to 5-0.

Lindenwood had a chance to tie in the top of the seventh after Hatton got the Lions on the board with a two-run home run. Sanders and Darnell reached base with Joey Meyer up to bat but Memphis was able to get out of the inning to secure the win.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 8, TENNESSEE STATE 0 (5)
TROY, Ala. - The Tennessee State softball team were not able to notch a run against Central Michigan pitcher sophomore Mackenzie Langan on Saturday despite totaling six hits and were shut out 8-0 by the Chippewas.

Freshman Reina Castillo (1-1) started and took the loss in the circle for Tennessee State (2-1). The right-hander went five innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on five hits.

In the batter's box, the Tigers were led by freshman Anayah Baker-Rowell, who went 2-for-3 on the day.

Tennessee State managed one chance with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. The Tigers last got a runner on third in the second, when freshman Jasmine Blackburn made it 60 feet away from scoring with nobody out.

HAWAII 6, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
SAINT LOUIS 2, SOUTHERN INDIANA 1
HONOLULU - University of Southern Indiana Softball came up short in two competitive ballgames on the final day of the Hawai'i Paradise Classic on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles fell 6-0 against host University of Hawai'i and 2-1 against Saint Louis University.
 
The first four innings went scoreless in the first game against Hawai'i (4-0), as the starting pitchers limited the offenses and their ability to string together any hits. On Southern Indiana's (1-4) side, freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus made her first career start and impressed in the early going.
 
The Eagles had an opportunity to score with a runner at third and one out in the top of the fifth but could not scratch across the run. The Rainbow Wahine took advantage in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on a pair of RBI singles to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Meanwhile, Witthaus continued to pitch well but ran into some adversity after taking a lined single off the hand in the top of the sixth. Momentum then shifted in Hawai'i's favor, leading to four more runs and a 6-0 final score.
 
Senior Josie Newman and sophomore infielder Sydney Long accounted for USI's two hits in the game. Witthaus (0-1) was charged with the loss, going 5.1 innings with four strikeouts and five runs allowed.
 
Hawai'i tallied six runs on six hits. Sophomore pitcher Macy Brandl picked up her second win with the two-hit shutout and six strikeouts.
 
In the second game of the day against Saint Louis (2-3), Southern Indiana struck first with three consecutive singles. An RBI knock from senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley scored Long and gave USI a 1-0 lead.
 
Newman toed the pitching rubber in the second game for the Eagles and took control early. The right-hander did not allow a hit until the third inning and totaled nine strikeouts through three innings. Following Newman's 10th strikeout in the bottom of the fourth inning, Saint Louis tied the game at one in the next at-bat on a solo home run.
 
The Billikens scored once more and what proved to be the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning when a leadoff walk came around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch.
 
Despite getting leadoff singles in the sixth and seventh innings, the Screaming Eagles could not push across another run. The final out of the game was a highlight diving catch on a hit that threatened the right-center gap and possibly could have scored USI's leadoff baserunner if the ball had found the green grass in the alley.
 
Southern Indiana registered its one run on six hits. Junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton had two hits from the leadoff spot. Newman (1-2) took the hard-luck loss after striking out 14 and giving up just two runs on two hits in a complete six innings.
 
Saint Louis' senior pitcher Taylor Hochman was credited with her second win after allowing one run with five strikeouts in a complete-game effort.