Ohio Valley Conference

MOREHEAD, Ky. - University of Southern Indiana Softball split its road doubleheader against Morehead State University on Saturday, capturing a big 14-4 win in the series finale after a 5-1 setback to start the day that gave Morehead State the Ohio Valley Conference series win.
 
In game one, Southern Indiana quickly got on the scoreboard after a bunt single from junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton and a throwing error by Morehead State that allowed Stapleton to come all the way around to lead off the game and give USI a 1-0 lead.
 
Just like Friday's game, Morehead State recorded another crooked number on the scoreboard in the third inning. Morehead State struck for five runs, including three on a bases-clearing double, to surge ahead 5-1 through the bottom of the third.
 
The Screaming Eagles got runners to second and third in the fifth and sixth innings, but Morehead State kept those runners on base and went on to close out the game.
 
Stapleton finished with two hits to lead USI, which totaled six hits in the game. Freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus (2-6) took the loss after a complete game with three strikeouts and allowing five runs – only two earned.
 
Morehead State tallied five hits. Junior pitcher Rylie Burney (2-12), who recorded Friday's win in the series opener, went the distance and surrendered only one run.
 
In the series finale and second game of the day, Southern Indiana wasted no time getting on the scoreboard again. Following a leadoff hit by Stapleton, freshman third baseman Jordan Mackey crushed a pitch to straightaway center for a two-run home run to give USI a 2-0 advantage.
 
Mackey was not done there, as the Evansville, Indiana native belted another two-run shot in the top of the third inning for her first career multi-home run game and the second such game by a USI player this season. Ahead 4-0, the Screaming Eagles were the ones who got their big third inning by totaling six runs in the frame to carry an 8-0 lead to the fourth.
 
USI put up another six-spot in the fourth inning to skyrocket ahead 14-0. The fourth inning was highlighted by a two-run double from senior pitcher Josie Newman and a pinch-hit two-RBI single by junior Julianna Hibbs.
 
Morehead State scored four unanswered in the last two home innings, but Southern Indiana sealed the game in five innings to secure a win in the series finale and avoid the series sweep.
 
USI registered 10 total hits with multi-hit games from Mackey and Newman. Mackey paced the Screaming Eagles with four RBIs off the two home runs. Mackey's performance propelled the freshman into the team lead with four home runs and 15 RBIs on the season. Newman accounted for three RBIs in the game. Newman (4-10) also got the winning decision after pitching the five-inning complete with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Morehead State posted four runs on seven hits. Burney (2-13) suffered the loss after bookending the game for Morehead State. Burney hurled two total innings with two runs allowed. Morehead State used four pitchers in the contest.

TENNESSEE STATE 8, LINDENWOOD 7 (9)
TENNESSEE STATE 8, lINDENWOOD 5
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Tennessee State softball team won games two and three on the road at Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Lions 8-7 in nine innings and 8-5 in the finale.

The Tennessee State Tigers needed nine innings to finish the job, but earned the 8-7 extra-innings victory over the Lindenwood Lions Saturday.

Reina Castillo (11-3) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State (13-9, 4-3). The right-hander went nine innings, giving up seven runs, three earned, on 13 hits, allowing two walks and striking out two.

Offensively, the Tigers were paced by Onnika Spencer, who went 2-for-5 on the day with a triple, a home run and three RBI. Anayah Baker-Rowell put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Alexis Woods also chipped in for Tennessee State, putting together one hit in five trips to the plate while adding two RBI.

Trailing 1-0, the Tigers first put runs on the board in the second inning. Tennessee State got an RBI single from Hailey Hunt, scoring Baker-Rowell from second base.

The Lions then scored one run to retake their advantage heading into the third inning, when the Tigers responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Spencer, which brought the Tigers lead to 4-2.

Tennessee State's lead had disappeared once the fifth inning came around and turned into a 5-4 Lindenwood advantage, when the Tigers evened up the game at five.

The game stayed tied until the ninth inning, when Tennessee State got rolling again on offense. bringing the Tennessee State advantage to 8-5. Lindenwood put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Tigers still held on for the 8-7 win.

The Tennessee State Tigers broke through after a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning to beat the Lindenwood Lions 8-5 Saturday.

Kristian Holder (2-2) got the win out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (14-9, 5-3). The right-hander went four shutout innings, giving up two hits, two walks and striking out one.

The Tigers were trailing 2-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Tennessee State's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a three-run double off the bat of Jace Jackson.

The Tigers lost the lead they built in the third, but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 5-4. JaKeyla McDaniel came across to score the lone run of the inning for Tennessee State, which brought the score level at 5-5.

That 5-5 tie turned into a 7-5 Tennessee State lead in the sixth.

Tennessee State kept the Lions without a run before their offense got back in action the next inning. The Tigers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Hailey Hunt, bringing the score to 8-5 in favor of Tennessee State. The score remained 8-5 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.

SIUE 7, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4, SIUE 1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (13-11, 6-3) split a doubleheader with SIU Edwardsville (17-11, 8-1) Saturday. SEMO dropped game one, 7-2, before battling back to win the nightcap, 2-1. 
 
Tied, 1-1, after three-and-a-half innings, SEMO took a one-run lead on a two-out pinch-hit single by Brooklyn Saysoff. Sophie Schupp, who previously reached on a double, scored on Saysoff's hit to give the Redhawks a 2-1 edge.
 
Saysoff's RBI was enough run support for Delaney Kell who earned her second complete game victory of the season.
 
Kell struck out three and allowed just one run on four hits. She sat the Cougars down in order during her final two frames en route to her 20th career win. Kell improved to 4-2 this year.
 
SIUE got ahead in the top of the first inning when Kaylynn Salyars doubled to left center and scored on an ensuing base hit by Emma Henderson.
 
SEMO answered with a run of its own to tie the game during its at-bat in the bottom of the first.
 
Sydney Dennis singled, stole second and scored with the help of back-to-back singles by Sydney Melton and Gracie Luna.
 
Sydney Melton led the Redhawks with two hits in game two.
 
In the first game, SEMO and SIUE each scored twice in the first inning.
 
The Cougars took the game's first lead on a two-run home run by Emma Henderson.
 
Tatum Gerwitz led off the home half of the first with a single to left and went to second on a one-out walk by Dennis. Kinley Wilkins scored Gerwitz on a two-out single and Luna followed with a RBI-double to tie the game at 2-2.
 
SIUE regained the lead in the lead when Juztyne Torres doubled and scored on an ensuing base hit by Kaylin Fahy to pull ahead, 3-2.
 
The Cougars tacked on two more runs in each of the third and sixth innings.
 
Piper Montgomery hit a two-run home run in the third. Fahy then scored on an error and Danielle Shuey hit a RBI-single to widen SIUE's margin to 7-2 in the sixth.

SIUE outhit SEMO, 13-9.
 
Avery Arwood (6-5) picked up the win. Arwood allowed two runs on nine hits in her complete game victory. She did not allow a run in the final six innings of the contest.
 
Tegan Livesay (3-2) was credited with the loss. Livesay struck out three and gave up five runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings.
 
Wilkins went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Redhawks.

TENNESSEE TECH 5, WESTERN ILLINOIS 4
TENNESSEE TECH 14, WESTERN ILLINOIS 6 (5)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The offense came through in a big way for the Tennessee Tech softball team as the Golden Eagles claimed a pair of victories over Western Illinois on Saturday, rallying to tie the day's first game in the bottom of the seventh, then won in the ninth 5-4. Tech then run-ruled the visitors in game two 14-6.
 
The Golden Eagles (9-19, 3-5 Ohio Valley Conference) will close out the series against the Leathernecks on Sunday. First pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m. with rain in the forecast. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
 
Tech collected 11 hits in game one and 14 in game two, hitting .439 on the day with Abbee Klinefelter driving in four runs on the day on a 4-for-6 effort, Sydney Kirby collected four hits and Makayli Harris three. Ashley Capelouto also drove in three in the twinbill.
 
Emily York allowed a single run in four of the first five innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on 11 hits, walking one and striking out five as she went all nine frames. She improved to 4-5 on the win.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Kirby hit a one-out double to right center, then Harris was hit by a pitch. Ella Bishop advanced the runners on a grounder to short and Capelouto came up with the clutch hit with a two-run single to right center, knotting the game up and sending it to extra innings.
 
Both teams went quiet in the eighth and the Leathernecks were retired in the top of the ninth. In the home half, Klinefelter drew a walk and Bella Ochoa came on to pinch run. After Kirby grounded out to second with Ochoa advancing, Harris put a single into left center field, giving the runner plenty of room to score and walk off the game.
 
In game two, it appeared that the Leathernecks were going to put together an offensive onslaught, scoring five runs in the top of the first off of Lainey Fitzgerald as the freshman went two-thirds of an inning allowing three walks and four hits with one strikeout.
 
Addison Abell put out the fire and dominated the rest of the way as she pitched the final 4 1/3 innings allowing just a single unearned run in the third on five hits and two walks with a strikeout.
 
Tech countered as six players had two hits in the contest, rallying almost immediately with three runs in both the bottoms of the first and second. Klinefelter drove in Abby Shoulders with a single down the right field line, then Oliva Evans scored on a sacrifice to center field. Capelouto singled to right for the third run of the inning as Klinefelter touched home. 
 
In the second, Alina Schlageter and Shoulder picked up back-to-back walks with the runners advancing to second and third on Evans' sacrifice bunt. A passed ball allowed Schlageter to score, then Klinefelter drove in Shoulders with a single to left. Klinefelter later came around on a passed ball.
 
The Golden Eagles plated two more in the third as Shoulders hit a double to right center for one RBI, driving in Schlageter. Using heads-up baserunning, Brooklyn Stewart was able to catch Western Illinois' defense napping to collect a second run on the play.
 
Tech opened the flood gates in the fourth inning. After Kirby led off with a single through the right side, pinch runner Julie Martin moved up twice on wild pitches. Harris brought her home with a single, then Capelouto doubled to right center. Ella Bishop brought those two home with a single up the middle.

Bishop stole second, then Stewart pushed a single through the left side. Pinch runner Bailee Stack stole second, then Bishop scored on a fielder's choice on Schlageter's grounder to short as the Leathernecks erased Stack at third. Shoulders singled between first and second, then stole second. A passed ball allowed Schlageter to score and Shoulders to take third. After Evans hit a single to third base and stole second, Klinefelter drove in the final Tech run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Tech's defense held after allowing a leadoff double, but the lead runner was taken out at second, then a flyout to right and a ground out back to the circle completed the run-ruled contest

EASTERN ILLINOIS 6, UT MARTIN 2
EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, UT MARTIN 3
MARTIN, Tenn. - Alisha Frederick came up big at the plate in both games of Saturday's doubleheader for Eastern Illinois as the Panthers swept UT Martin to win the weekend series at Bettye Giles Field.
 
EIU won the opener 6-2 and then hung on for a 4-3 win in the final game to clinch the series.
 
EIU improved to 15-14 overall, 7-2 in the OVC.  UT Martin fell to 11-17 overall, 3-6 in the OVC.
 
Eastern Illinois won the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader scoring all six of its runs over the final three innings during a 6- 2 win.
 
UT Martin took the lead in the fourth on a solo home run by Alli Robinson, her second home run of the weekend.   The Skyhawks only other run of the game came in the fifth on a solo home run by former EIU player Avary Makarewicz that tied the game at 2-2 at the time.
 
Alisha Frederick continued her big weekend at the plate for EIU in the sixth with a solo home run.  Abbi Hatton added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give the Panthers a 4-2 lead.
 
EIU tacked on two additional runs in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Kendall Grover and based loaded walk by Karson Davey.
 
Karlie McKenzie (4-3) struck out seven to pick up the win with five innings in the circle.  McKenzie Oslanzi closed out the game with the save.
 
Ashtyn Green (7-5) suffered the loss for UT Martin in relief.  Kennedy Brown was the lone Skyhawks player with multiple hits going 2-for-4.
 
Frederick had two hits to lead EIU.   Sophia Olman, Marybeth Dyson and Davey all had doubles.  Davey and Dyson had doubles in the fifth with both coming home to score in the inning.
 
Alisha Frederick came up big at the plate in the second game as she connected for her second home run of the day in the 4-3 win.
 
Frederick delivered a three-run home run in the third as starter McKenzie Oslanzi was sharp most of the game improving to 9-8 in the circle.
 
Frederick's shot scored Briana Gonzalez and Abbey Crain.
 
EIU tacked on a much-needed insurance run in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Morgan Hance that scored Karson Davey.
 
The run was needed as the Skyhawks scored three in the bottom of the sixth taking advantage of an EIU error in the frame.  Dylan Scott drove in the first UTM run with a ground out RBI.  The next two runs scored on a throwing error.
 
Karlie McKenzie closed out the seventh with three strike outs for her third save of the season.  Kendall Grover had two hits as the lone EIU player with multiple hits in the game.
 
Kyla Harley had two hits as the lone UTM player with multiple hits.  Payton Harris (0-2) took the loss in the circle.