Ohio Valley Conference

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Softball kicked off the start of a six-game homestand Friday with a doubleheader sweep to clinch a series win against Tennessee Tech University, winning 5-1 and 3-0 from USI Softball Field.
 
Southern Indiana (8-17, 5-5 OVC), who had been on the road for the previous six games in the last couple of weeks, came out with a bang in the bottom of the first inning in Friday's first game. After a pair of free passes, senior infielder Whitley Hunter barreled up a three-run home run to left field to put the Screaming Eagles up early, 3-0. It was Hunter's first career home run in a USI uniform.
 
USI tacked onto its lead in the bottom of the fourth. After three consecutive singles to load the bases, sophomore infielder Sydney Long shot a pitch back up the middle to drive in a pair of runs and push the Screaming Eagles' advantage up to 5-0.
 
Tennessee Tech (10-22, 4-7 OVC) tallied an unearned run in the sixth, but senior pitcher Josie Newman sealed the deal with her 11th complete game this season.
 
Newman (5-10) struck out six and gave up only two hits and the unearned run. Offensively, USI totaled nine hits in game one with freshman first baseman Lilly Brown recording two hits and sophomore outfielder Kate Satkoski going 3-3 at the plate.
 
For the Golden Eagles, sophomore starting pitcher Emily York (4-6) was dealt the loss after surrendering all five runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Senior pitcher Payton Wagner tossed the last 2.2 innings.
 
The second game of the twin bill started out in a pitcher's duel between Tennessee Tech's freshman pitcher Lainey Fitzgerald and USI's freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus. There were only four combined singles allowed through the first three and a half innings.
 
USI ended the scoreless battle in the home half of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton delivered a two-out RBI single to give the Screaming Eagles a 1-0 lead. Stapleton registered two hits in the game.
 
After Witthaus kept the shutout intact in the fifth and sixth innings, Southern Indiana added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth with a run on an RBI triple by Satkoski who later came home to score on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 lead for USI.
 
Witthaus finished the game to improve to 3-6 on the season, notched her fifth complete game this season, and also pitched her first career shutout and first of the season for USI. Witthaus struck out four and allowed only four hits in the outing.
 
Tennessee Tech's Fitzgerald also went the distance, dropping to 3-6 after surrendering three runs with eight strikeouts in six innings of work.

WESTERN ILLINOIS 7, UT MARTIN 0
UT MARTIN 10, WESTEREN ILLINOIS 8
MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois softball delivered a strong performance in their latest doubleheader, securing a victory in the first game before falling short in the second. The Leathernecks showcased their offensive power and solid pitching, demonstrating their ability to compete at a high level.

In Game 1, Western Illinois dominated at the plate, led by Ruby Tarr, who went 3-4 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Malia Robertson added to the offensive explosion with a crucial double to center field in the 5th, giving the Leathernecks a comfortable lead. The team finished with 13 hits, capitalizing on scoring opportunities throughout the game.

On the mound, Lillie Wools was stellar, pitching 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits. The defense backed up their pitcher with key plays, including a clutch double play in the fifth inning that kept the opponent from mounting a comeback. Western Illinois secured the win with a final score of 7-0.

The second game was a tougher battle, as Western Illinois fought hard but ultimately fell short. Despite Payton Brown's continued hot streak at the plate, recording 3-5 with 3 RBI's the Leathernecks struggled to contain their opponent's offense.

LINDENWOOD 1, SIUE 0
SIUE 9, LINDENWOOD 1 (6)
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Emma Henderson blasted a third-inning, two-run homer Friday as SIUE defeated Lindenwood 9-1 in the nightcap in five innings.

SIUE, 18-13 overall and 9-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference, dropped game one of the series 1-0 to Lindenwood, now 14-16 overall and 5-6 in the OVC. The two teams will play the rubber game of the series Saturday at Cougar Field with first pitch set for 2 p.m.

It was Henderson's eighth home run of the season, now tops in the OVC. The Cougars put together 10 hits and scored in four of the five innings of game two.

McKayla Anderson tossed a complete game and picked up her fourth win of the season. She struck out one and scattered six hits.

Lindenwood scored only in the first inning off Anderson. From there, the offense was all SIUE in game two.

Raegan Duncan started the charge with a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning. SIUE never trailed past that. Henderson added her two-run home run to right center field in the third. SIUE scored two more in the third on RBI singles by Abby Harvell and Danielle Shuey.

Piper Montgomery put the Cougars up 7-1 with an RBI single in the fourth. Montgomery, with Jenna Little pinch running at third base, got caught in a rundown between first and second base. Although she was tagged out, it was enough to get Little across the plate to make it 8-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Juztyne Torres drew a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Harvell. Pinch hitter Gretchen Trello provided the eventual game-ending play, singling through the right side as Torres scored from second.

In game one, Lindenwood pitcher Ryleigh Owens and Avery Swapp combined for the victory, outdueling SIUE pitcher Avery Arwood.

The game's lone run came in the fifth inning, a solo home run by center fielder Kylee Crowder.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois split a pair of games with Southeast Missouri as the two schools opened a weekend OVC series on Friday at Williams Field in Charleston.
 
SEMO won the opener 3-0 while EIU bounced back to win 8-5 in the night cap.
 
EIU is now 16-16 overall, 8-3 in the OVC while SEMO moved to 14-12 overall, 7-4 in the OVC.
 
Southeast Missouri scored the only runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning as the Redhawks won the opener over Eastern Illinois 3-0.
 
Scoreless heading into the seventh, SEMO took advantage of an EIU error in the inning with Brooklyn Saysoff delivering a two-run double to right field to put the Redhawks on the board.  Gracie Luna followed with a single to right.
 
Those were two of the three hits that EIU starter McKenzie Oslanzi (9-9) allowed to SEMO batters taking the loss with three unearned runs.  Madison Winkler had the other hit for SEMO.
 
EIU had a couple of scoring chances but could not break through against starter Delaney Kell (5-2). 
 
The Panthers loaded the bases in the first inning with one out but could not score and then put runners at second and third in the fifth but could not find the big hit.
 
Alisha Frederick had two of the Panthers four hits in the game.  Marybeth Dyson and Morgan Hance had the others. 
 
In the second game it was unearned runs that cost Southeast Missouri as EIU scored seven of its eight runs unearned during an 8-5 win.
 
EIU put runners in scoring position in the first inning once again, but this time came through with a sacrifice fly by Alisha Frederick.
 
SEMO countered with one run in the second and three in the third to take a 4-1 lead.  Brooklyn Saysoff had another RBI hit with Kinley Wilkins connecting for a two-run double to close out the third.
 
In the bottom of the third, EIU took advantage of two SEMO errors to score six unearned runs and take a 7-4 lead.  Morgan Hance had a two-run single in the inning with Karson Davey driving home another run with a double to left center.
 
Kendrall Grover tacked on the final EIU run with a home run to straight away center.  The offense was enough for Karlie McKenzie (5-3) to pick up the win.  Bryanna French came in during the seventh to secure the save.
 
Mia Mazzola was the lone Panther with multiple hits in the game going 2-for-3.
 
SEMO made one final charge in the seventh scoring one run on a Tori Bradley RBI single before French coaxed a ground out to end a bases loaded threat and the game.
 
Saysoff had three hits for the Redhawks.  Willow Van Haren (2-2) suffered the loss.