Ohio Valley Conference

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State softball team split Friday's doubleheader with Southern Indiana taking the first game 6-5 before falling in the second game 9-2. 
 
The Tigers took a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to victory over the Screaming Eagles in game one. 

Reina Castillo (10-3) got the win for Tennessee State (12-7, 3-1 OVC). The right-hander went 6.1 innings, giving up five runs, all of them earned, on 12 hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.

At the plate, the Tigers were led by Onnika Spencer, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a home run and three RBI. Mikayla Duke put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Hailey Hunt also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.

The Tigers got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Tennessee State's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of Spencer.

The Tigers then lost some of their lead, expanding on their advantage in the fourth inning after the Screaming Eagles cut it to 4-3. Tennessee State put up two runs in the frame, punctuated with an RBI triple off the bat of Duke, which brought the score to 6-3 in favor of the Tigers. Southern Indiana put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Tennessee State still held on for the 6-5 win.

Though they had plenty of opportunities, TSU had a hard time cashing them in, leaving 10 Tigers on base in a 9-2 loss in Friday's finale. 

Kristian Holder (1-2) got the ball to start for Tennessee State (12-7, 3-2 OVC) and took the loss. Reina Castillo was a bright spot for the Tigers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing three shutout innings, allowing no hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.

The Tigers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Tennessee State scratched across a run off Kylie Witthaus when Anayah Baker-Rowell tripled in Mikayla Duke.

The Tigers lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 5-1. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Alexis Woods, which brought the score to 5-2 in favor of the Screaming Eagles. The Tigers were unable to get any closer, as Southern Indiana added four runs to their tally on the way to a 9-2 final.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 16, WESTERN ILLINOIS 5
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 15, WESTERN ILLINOIS 4 (5)
MACOMB, Ill. - Southeast Missouri (11-9, 4-1) scored 31 runs and pounded out 31 hits, including six home runs in a 16-5, 15-4, doubleheader sweep of Western Illinois (6-16, 2-3) Friday.
 
SEMO claimed its second-straight Ohio Valley Conference series win.
 
The Redhawks hit a season-high four home runs to key its game one victory.
 
Tied, 1-1, Kinley Wilkins hit a three-run home run for the first round-tripper of her career as part of a four-run third inning. Hailey Burnett and Gracie Luna scored on the play to widen SEMO's lead to 5-1.
 
SEMO tacked on five more runs two innings later.
 
Wilkins led off the fifth inning with a walk and Addisyn Martinie reached on an error. Tatum Gerwitz followed with a single to load the bases. Madison Winkler flied out to center and Wilkins scored. 
 
After WIU made a pitching change, Sydney Dennis walked to load the bases again. Brooklyn Saysoff then smacked her first career grand slam to put SEMO ahead, 10-1.
 
The Leathernecks answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth before Burnett started the sixth inning with her first career home run. Dennis later drove in Wilkins on a two-out single to center giving the Redhawks a 12-4 advantage.
 
Another leadoff home run, this time by Sydney Melton, added to SEMO's lead in the top of the seventh. Winkler drew a two-out bases loaded walk to bring in Wilkins and Dennis followed with a two-RBI double to left center to finish off the 16-5 win.
 
The Redhawks' 16 runs marked their most in a game since they beat Tennessee State, 16-8, on Apr. 28, 2018.
 
SEMO matched a season-high 15 hits with Dennis going 3-for-5 with career-high four RBI. She stretched her hitting streak to 15 games.
 
Melton, Burnett, Wilkins and Gerwitz followed with two hits apiece. Wilkins also scored a career-best four runs and established a new career-high three RBI. Gerwitz had three runs scored, as well.
 
Maddie Carney (2-4) picked up the win. Carney worked five innings with three strikeouts.
 
Down, 2-0, SEMO scored eight runs in the top of the third inning to blow the game open in the nightcap.
 
The Redhawks strung together five-straight hits to ignite their big inning.
 
Gerwitz and Winkler reached on back-to-back singles and Dennis knocked in Gerwitz on a double to center. Saysoff singled and stole second before Melton stepped in and hit a three-run home run for her second homer of the doubleheader. Gerwitz came up again,  drove in two runs and later scored on a triple by Winkler to put SEMO up, 8-2.
 
SEMO continued to pick apart the Leathernecks with six more runs in the fourth.
 
Gracie Luna hit a three-run home run before Winkler knocked in two runs on a two-out double and Dennis followed with a RBI-single to make it a 14-3 ballgame.
 
Addisyn Martinie's two-out single scored Brittany Affolter for SEMO's final run in the top of the fifth.
 
SEMO finished with a season-high 16 hits in game two.
 
Dennis, Melton, Martinie, Gerwitz and Winkler all had multiple hits. Winkler went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI to lead the way. Gerwitz finished at 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI, as well.
 
Tegan Livesay (3-1) earned the win. Livesay struck out five and allowed four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings.
 
The Redhawks have won six of their last eight games.
 
SEMO goes for the sweep of WIU Saturday.