Ohio Valley Conference

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech had the upper hand early, but the visitors from North Dakota got their bats going and struck often late in game one and throughout the second game as the Fighting Hawks lived up to their name and took both games in Tuesday's doubleheader, sweeping Tech 7-4 in the opener and 8-2 in game two.
 
The Golden Eagles (7-15) return to action this weekend as they continue Ohio Valley Conference play at SIUE.
 
Seven different Tech players collected a hit in the series opener, Makayli Harris put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard first with a triple to right center to plate Oliva Evans and Sydney Kirby, then a wild pitch allowed Harris to come home.
 
Tech then added its fourth run in the bottom of the second as Abbee Klinefelter scored on Abby Shoulders' grounder to third that became a fielder's choice. The North Dakota defense tried to erase Ella Bishop at second, but the play was unsuccessful, then the attempt at first was not in time allowing Bishop and Shoulders to stand safely after Klinefelter scored.
 
Emily York went scoreless in the first three innings, then Kyleigh Pitzer kept North Dakota (13-12) scoreless in the fourth, but the Fighting Hawks scored three runs – two on a sacrifice fly in right field as Makayli Harris collided with the wall trying to make the catch and the other on a single to left.
 
A pair of sacrifice flies driving in runs tied the game then gave the Fighting Hawks the win of of Addison Abell in the sixth inning. York came back in during the seventh inning, but another sacrifice fly and an RBI single extended the North Dakota lead.
 
York struck out three as she allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. Pitzer allowed three runs – two earned – with two walks and two strikeouts in two frames, while Abell, who was charged with the loss, allowed two runs on three hits in one inning.
 
Unity Nelson came on in relief and earned the victory as she went 4 1/3 innings of scoreless call, allowing three hits and striking out eight. Makaela Carr, who went on to pick up the complete game victory in game two, allowed one hit and struck out two in the final inning and two-thirds.
 
Carr allowed two runs on seven hits in the second game, walking three and striking out six.
 
Klinefelter drove in both Tech runs as she hit an RBI triple in the fifth inning, then hit a solo home run in the seventh.
 
Lainey Fitzgerald only allowed one run in the first three innings, but took the loss as Tech never tied the game. She yielded two hits, walking three and striking out three. Hannah Lange allowed five runs – four earned – with one walk and one strikeout. Payton Wagner threw the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs with two walks.
 
Callie Honig collected three RBI for the Fighting Hawks as she went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Katie Joten came home to score three times after going 2-for-4. North Dakota scored single runs in the first and fourth before striking for four runs in the top of the fifth. UND scored two more in the top of the sixth.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 9, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1 (5)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Sydney Dennis went 2-for-3 and extended her hitting streak to 13 games as Southeast Missouri (8-9) dropped a 9-1 decision to Central Arkansas (11-14) Tuesday in midweek action at Farris Field.
 
Dennis kept her career-long hitting streak alive when she doubled to left center in the third inning. She finished with multiple hits for the fourth-straight game and eighth time in nine contests.
 
UCA jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Kylie Griffin reached on a leadoff double and scored on an ensuing home run by Addie Graham. Lilly Hood hit a one-out bunt single and went to third on a double by Mya January. On the next play, Kaitlyn Graham flied out to left and Hood scored. LJ Smith singled home January on the next play putting UCA ahead, 4-0.
 
The Bears added three more runs during their at-bat in the second. Madi Young hit a two-RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch to push UCA's lead to 7-0.
 
Sydney Melton, ahead 1-0 in the count, launched a solo home run over the left field wall to get SEMO on the board in the top of the fourth. For Melton, it was her second home run in three games and third of her career. 
 
UCA tacked on two final runs in the bottom of the fifth to cap its five-inning victory.
 
The first four hitters in SEMO's lineup, including Dennis (2), Madison Winkler (1), Brooklyn Saysoff (1) and Melton (1) combined for the Redhawks five hits.
 
Delaney Kell (3-2) took the loss. Kell gave up seven runs on nine hits in one inning. Maddie Carney struck out three and allowed two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings.
 
Madge Layfield (3-1) picked up the win for UCA. Layfield struck out one and gave up one run on five hits in five innings.

UCA tallied 12 hits, seven of which went for extra bases.

SIUE 9, MISSOURI STATE 5
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE softball rallied for seven runs in the fourth inning Tuesday as the Cougars rolled over Missouri State 9-5 in the home opener at Cougar Field.

SIUE improved to 11-9 and next heads to Kansas City for a noon nonconference doubleheader Thursday.

Missouri State, 1-19, led the contest early on an RBI single by Halle Studer in the first inning. McKenzie Vaughn would make it 4-0 Bears in the top of the fourth on a three-run homer to left.

Vaughn, the starting pitcher, held the Cougars scoreless until the fourth when SIUE started its charge.

Anna Henderson led off the inning with a single down the right field line. After Abby Harvell pinch ran, Raegan Duncan doubled to the fence in right field, scoring Harvell. Vaughn was lifted for Mackenzie Chacon, who was unable to gain an out against the Cougars.

Duncan moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Juztyne Torres. Kaylin Fahy reached on an infield error. Danielle Shuey singled through the right side of the infield, driving home Torres. When the trying to catch Shuey heading to second on the throw home, Fahy turned the corner at third and scored. Lauren Yslava added an RBI single that brought home Shuey.

Mackenzi Swick then entered as the third Missouri State pitcher in the inning. After Yslava stole third, Kaylynn Salyars blasted a home run to left field. It was her second home run of the season. She now leads the Cougar offense with a .371 batting average.

Salyars finished with a team-leading three hits for the game and even flashed her glove in the fifth, gaining an infield out from her knees.

Anna Henderson, who had two hits, added a two-run single in the sixth inning.

Kiana Villa picked up the win in relief of Emma Henderson. Villa threw the final 3 2/3 innings and improved to 2-0. Chacon was charged with the loss and is now 0-5.