Ohio Valley Conference

STATESBORO, Ga. - Tennessee Tech started off with a close battle to open the Georgia Southern GATA Challenge on Friday, taking Rhode Island to extra innings in the opener, but the hosts were able to collect some big hits to run-rule the Golden Eagles in the second game of the day.

Rhode Island scored the walk-off run in the eighth inning to claim a 2-1 victory, while Georgia Southern won 11-0.

Tech (1-9) returns to action Saturday in Statesboro as it takes on Eastern Kentucky at 8 AM, then gets a rematch with Rhode Island at 3:30 PM. With wet weather in the forecast in Statesboro, the games are weather permitting and the schedule subject to change.

Makayli Harris collected two hits in the contest against the Rams to lead the Golden Eagles, while also coming across to score Tech's lone run in the fourth inning. Harris reached on a single back to the circle, then was able to come all the way around as Ella Bishop's fly ball to center field was dropped, putting the Golden Eagles up 1-0.

The Rams tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single.

Neither team scored again in regulation, sending the game to extra innings. Tech was able to get ghost runner Skylar Gooden moved over to third, but was unable to get her home. The Rams were able to collect the walk-off run as a wild pitch allowed the ghost runner to move to third, then a sacrifice fly to left field ended the game.

Addison Abell went 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits as she walked one and struck out one. Emily York was tagged with the tough-luck loss, allowing the final unearned run on four hits over four innings, striking out two.

Against the host Eagles, Tech was held to three hits as Ashley Capelouto, Gooden and Ella Wampler each collected safeties in the contest as the Golden Eagles stranded five in all.

A sacrifice fly and a single up the middle put Georgia Southern up 2-0 in the first, then the Eagles broke things open in the third with a three-run home run. GSU hit another homer – a two run shot – in the third, then collected a three-run double and had another run score on a wild pitch in the fourth inning.

Lainey Fitzgerald took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits over an inning and a third, walking two and striking out one. Hannah Lange worked the next two-thirds, allowing two runs on three hits, then Wampler wrapped up the game with four runs – three earned – on three hits, walking one.

LINDENWOOD 1, LONGWOOD 0
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 5, LINDENWOOD 1
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Lindenwood Softball team (6-4, 0-0 OVC) went 1-1 on day one of the University of Florida Tournament with a 1-0 win over Longwood and 5-1 loss to Middle Tennessee. Avery Wapp pitched a gem in the win for the Lions, tossing a complete game shutout and striking out six batters to pick up her team-leading third win of the 2026 season. 

After three quick innings on both sides, the top of the fourth inning saw Longwood load the bases with nobody out after two straight singles and an error by the Lions defense. Avery Wapp kept her composure in the circle however and retired the next three batters in a row on one fly out and two foul outs to end the threat and kept the game scoreless heading to the bottom of the fourth. Wapp limited the Longwood offense for the remainder of the game, as she allowed two base runners over the next three innings to give the Lions a chance at a walkoff in the bottom of the last inning. After a leadoff walk by Jolie McMinn in the bottom of the seventh and Lucy Pratt entering as a pinch runner, Anna Sanders executed a SAC bunt to advance Pratt to second base to put the winning run in scoring position with one out. Danielle Franz then followed the Sanders at bat with a single to the shortstop putting more pressure on Longwood. After a flyout made it two outs in the inning and runners on first and second, Madisen Noll came through by doubling to left center to score Pratt and lifted Lindenwood to their sixth win of the season in walk-off fashion. The Lions recorded four hits in the contest with Franz, McMinn, Noll, and Teryn Brown each adding a hit to their season total. 

Middle Tennessee grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two run home run to left field, but Lindenwood responded in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 2-1. Karter Skillman and Jolie McMinn started the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles and advanced to second and third on a SAC bunt laid down by Anna Sanders. Dallis Darnell delivered for Lindenwood by singling to center field with two outs to drive in the first run of the game for LU. Middle Tennessee responded in the bottom of the fifth inning with a three run home run to left field to take a 5-1 lead and that lead held for the remainder of the game as the Lions would split their first two games of the Florida Tournament. Madisen Noll collected two more hits in the game against MTSU to lead the Lions with three hits on the day.

LOYOLA CHICAGO 6, UT MARTIN 3
UT MARTIN 11, WEST GEORGIA 1  (5)
MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team split a pair of games Friday on the opening day of the South Alabama Invitational at Jaguar Field in Mobile. The Skyhawks dropped game one to Loyola Chicago, 6-3, but bounced back in game two with an 11-1, five-inning win over West Georgia.

Despite seven hits in the opener, the Skyhawks had trouble getting timely hits to plate runners. Loyola took a 2-0 lead in the third, but UT Martin cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning on a bunt single from Karena Recrosio that plated Carly Ward, who tripled in the previous at-bat.

The Ramblers would go on to add a run in the fourth and three in the third, on a base-clearing double, to give them a 6-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Avary Makarewicz and Addie Roberts both had RBI-doubles to cut the lead to 6-3, headed to the seventh.

In the seventh, relief pitcher Natalie Kreuziger retired the side, in order, to give her team a chance at a comeback. With one out, Kennedy Brown singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch and Ward walked to bring the tying run to the plate. However, it was not to be, as Karena Recrosio lined into an inning-ending double play, preserving the 6-3 win for Loyola.

Dylan Scott and Ava Scott also had doubles in the game, to round out the seven different Skyhawks to tally a hit in the game. Kreuziger was impressive in her relief outing, going 1.1 innings and not allowing any runs, hits or walks, while striking out one.

The Skyhawks bounced back in game two by scoring 11 runs on nine hits, while limiting West Georgia to just one run on only two hits.

Four different Skyhawks tallied two hits in the game with Kennedy Brown leading the way at 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs and a triple. Avary Makarewicz was also 2-for-3 in the game with two runs, two RBIs and a walk. Carly Ward and Jordyn Hustey were both 2-for-3 in game two, with Hustey driving in two runs and Ward driving in one. Ava Scott also had a solid day at the plate, scoring three runs, going 1-for-2 with a RBI and two walks.

In the circle, Natalie Kreuziger improved to 2-0 by allowing no runs on one hit with four strikeouts over the first three innings. Payton Harris finished the game for UT Martin, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts over the final two frames.

SIUE 3, ST. THOMAS 0
SIUE 4, EAST TEXAS A&M 3
COMMERCE, Texas - SIUE softball swept a pair of games Friday at the Lion Classic, defeating St. Thomas (Minn.) 3-0 and host East Texas A&M 4-3.

SIUE improved to 4-8 for the season and next meets Southern and North Texas in Saturday's play.

Mia Volpert and Avery Arwood combined on a five-hit shutout in SIUE softball's opener. Volpert improved to 3-3 with 5 1/3 innings of work, fanning four in the process. Arwood took over in the sixth out of the bullpen and struck out two for her first save of the season.

Abby Harvell picked up the eventual game-winning RBI in the fourth inning, driving home Juztyne Torres. Raegan Duncan also would scored later on the play as Harvell avoided being thrown out advancing to second.

In the fifth inning, Torres added an insurance run as she drove home Aidyn Barrerra with a bases-loaded single.

SIUE finished with seven hits overall.

In the nightcap, SIUE upended East Texas A&M with single tallies in the first, second, fourth and the sixth innings.

Kiana Villa earned the victory for the Cougars in relief of Arwood. Villa struck out three in 2 2/3 innings and did not give up a run. Volpert threw a full inning in the seventh and earned her first career save on the same day she collected her third victory.

Duncan opened the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Torres. East Texas A&M countered in the bottom of the first with an RBI double by KK Cosek.

Haley Strain put the Cougars ahead once again in the second with a single through the right side of the infield, driving home Gretchen Trello. Arissah Garza's aggressive play put SIUE ahead 3-1 in the fourth as she scored on a wild pitch from losing hurler Madison Kloepper.

East Texas A&M once again tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-RBI single by Aaliyah Wilcox.

In the sixth inning, Arissah Garza successfully stole home on an attempted double steal. Garza scored before Gretchen Trello, who was on first, was caught stealing at first base. Trello was originally called safe but the call was overturned by video review. Nevertheless, Garza's run proved to be the difference in the game.

WESTERN ILLINOIS 17, BELLARMINE 3  (5)
WESTERN ILLINOIS 5, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 2
LOUISVILLE - The Western Illinois rolled past Bellarmine 17-3 before closing the day with a 5-2 victory over Northern Kentucky.

The Leathernecks' offense exploded early and often in the opener, scoring in each of the five innings to cruise to a 17–3 win. Western Illinois tallied 14 hits and took advantage of five Bellarmine errors while showing patience at the plate with six walks.

Payton Brown drove in four runs and finished 3-for-5, while Angie Ortiz added three RBIs, including a two-run triple. Maria Luna went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Kam Utendorf scored three runs.

On the mound, Libby Spaulding picked up the win after working three innings, allowing three runs while striking out two. Lillie Wools followed with two scoreless innings to close out the game.

In a tighter contest later in the day, Western Illinois used timely hitting and strong pitching to secure a 5–2 win over Northern Kentucky. After trailing 0–1 in the fifth inning, the Leathernecks broke through with a two-run double from Ruby Tarr to take the lead. They added three more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a two run RBI single from Payton Brown.

Addie McLaughlin went 3-for-4 and scored a run, while Kam Utendorf also posted a multi-hit game.

Kaitlyn Green earned the win on the mound, throwing five innings and allowing two unearned runs. Libby Spaulding recorded the save with two shutout innings, striking out three.

NORTHWESTERN 4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
#7 ARKANSAS 6, SOUTHEAST MISSSOURI 0
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Southeast Missouri (3-8) fell to Big Ten Conference member Northwestern (5-6) by a score of 4-1 and #7 Arkansas (9-1), 6-0, in the opening day of the Razorback Invitational Friday.
 
NU took a 3-0 lead after scoring twice in the first and once in the second innings during the opening game of the tournament.
 
Emma Raye drew a bases loaded walk and Kelsey Rader scored on a groundout for the Wildcats' first runs. Ainsley Muno reached on an infield single. Pinch-runner Kate Renschen stole second and touched home on a double by Bridget Donahey in the bottom of the second.
 
SEMO loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning and got on the board when Kinley Wilkins scored Addisyn Martinie on a groundout to short to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
 
NU answered during its turn in the fifth with a RBI-double by Raye giving the Wildcats a 4-1 advantage.
 
Riley Grudzielanek (2-2) picked up the win. Grudzielanek allowed just one run on two hits, struck out six and walked six in five innings.
 
Emma Blea worked the final two innings with three strikeouts to earn her first save of the season.
 
Maddie Carney (1-3) took the loss. Carney gave up four runs, six hits, struck out four and walked one in five innings. 
 
Kamden Hutton and Kinley Wilkins each had a hit for the Redhawks.
 
In the second contest, Saylor Timmermann tossed a two-hit two shutout with 11 strikeouts to lead #7 Arkansas.
 
The Razorbacks gave Timmerman a two-run lead in the bottom of the second inning when Atalyia Rojo hit a two-RBI single.
 
UA added three more runs in the third inning with the bases loaded.
 
The Razorbacks' final run came on a two-out RBI-single by Tianna Bell in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Timmerman (2-0) also walked three in her complete game shutout.
 
Willow Van Haren (0-4) allowed five runs, scattered four hits and walked five in 2.1 innings. 
 
Elliott Stinson relieved Van Haren and pitched the last 3.2 innings giving up one run on two hits and striking out three along the way.
 
Hutton and Madison Winkler both had a single at the top of the Redhawks lineup.
 
Kaylie Wyckoff went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to pace the Razorbacks.

BRADLEY 7, MOREHEAD STATE 6  (8)
INDIANA STATE 5, MOREHEAD STATE 0
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Morehead State softball team continues to see progress but the wins remain elusive as the Eagles dropped a pair of games on Friday in Day 1 of the Blues City Invitational in Memphis, Tenn.
 
MSU used a five-hit, four-run rally in the seventh inning of game one against Bradley, before eventually falling in the eighth inning, 7-6. In game two, the Blue and Gold played toe-to-toe with Indiana State, before surrendering four runs in the final three frames to fall 5-0.
 
In both cases, Eagle coach Megan Griffith saw positives from her pitching staff.
 
In both outings, the Eagles struggled out of the gate.
 
The visitors on the scoreboard, Bradley (4-7) scored four times on two hits, two errors and a wild pitch, forcing Morehead State (0-6) to have to play catchup the rest of the afternoon.
 
After the opening stanza, the Eagles retired 15 of the next 22 batters, including going three-up, three-down in the second and fifth.
 
MSU put runners on base in the bottom of the first four innings but could not get anyone across the plate. The team's best chance to get on the board came when it had two runners in scoring position in the second.
 
Both teams scored once in the third. Olivia Turner had an RBI single in the top of the frame, while junior catcher Sydney Farmer countered with a sacrifice fly to right field to score junior center fielder Maddy Christopher in the bottom of the inning.
 
The score remained 5-1 until the bottom of the sixth when Farmer led off with a walk and advanced to third on senior first baseman Jordan Donato's single. Sophomore Nyla Doiron came in to pinch hit and plated Farmer on a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
The Braves led off the seventh benefitting from a single, wild pitch and walk, before the Eagles retired the next two batters. However, a throwing error on the ensuing play allowed BU to tack on another run.
 
Morehead State rallied in the seventh. With one out, the Blue and Gold recorded five singles and a sac fly on consecutive at bats to draw the score even.

 
Bradley's Ella Shafer led off the eighth with a single down the left-field line. A fielder's choice put Shafer out, but the batter, Kierston McCoy eventually reached second on a wild pitch. Morgan Scholosser followed with an RBI double to put the Braves back in front.
 
The Eagles hit three balls to the outfield in the bottom of the eighth, but none of them fell to the ground.
 
Bradley finished with 11 hits and one error. Morehead State tallied nine hits and made three errors. The Eagles also set are what is believed to be a pair of records, with three sacrifice flies as a team, including two from Farmer, which ties a mark held by two players, including Doiron.
 
Christopher extended her team-best hitting streak to five, before finishing 2-for-5, with two runs. Three other Eagles had two hits. VanDemark went 2-for-3, with a run. Donato and Spencer also were 2-for-3, with Donato adding a run and RBI; while Spencer had an RBI. Pickford contributed a hit, run and RBI. Farmer had two RBI and scored, and Doiron had an RBI.
 
All nine Bradley batters had at least one hit, with Schlosser and Shafer tallying two apiece. McCoy, Austin Comstock and Ashley Breeding each scored twice. Four players drove in a run.
 
Stubbs pitched six innings before yielding to Burney. Stubbs allowed three earned runs (six total) on nine hits, with five strikeouts and three walks. Burney (0-2) took the loss after throwing two innings. She surrendered two hits and a run. She did not have a strikeout or walk.
 
Gianna Hillegonds (1-1) picked up the win. She went the distance allowing six runs on nine hits. She had two strikeouts and walked four.
 
In game two, Indiana State (6-5) scored in the opening inning after getting its first three batters on base. A bases-loaded wild pitch gave the Sycamores the lead.
 
ISU only put two runners on base over the next three innings, while MSU had three hits over that stretch, including having runners on first and third with two outs in the fourth.
 
The Sycamores stretched out their advantage by scoring twice in the fifth courtesy of two hits, two stolen bases and an error.
 
Indiana State added a run in both the sixth and seventh, recording the first on a Hannah Welch home run to begin the sixth.
 
Farmer singled to left field with two outs in the sixth, redshirt sophomore left fielder Marie Perdew was hit by a pitch with one out in the seventh and the next batter, Doiron, followed with a single through the right side, but that was the extent of the Eagles' rally.
 
ISU scored its five runs on seven hits, while the Blue and Gold mustered just four. Both teams committed one error.
 
Pickford, Farmer, Spencer and Doiron each had singles to pace MSU's offense.
 
Morgan Goodrich finished 2-for-2 with three runs, and Mallory Chavez went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead Indiana State.
 
Harris (0-2) pitched five and two-thirds innings for the Eagles. She surrendered six hits, four runs, three earned runs, with three strikeouts and two walks. Senior Emma Solis entered for two-thirds of an inning and yielded one run on two walks and a wild pitch. She also had one strikeout. Stubbs recorded the final two outs, giving up one hit, while striking out one.
 
Lauren Sackett (4-2) earned the complete-game win. She pitched a four-hit shutout, striking out eight and walking one.

INCARNATE WORD 10, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
FLORIDA INTERNATINAL 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
MIAMI, Fla. - Eastern Illinois softball lost its opening two games on Friday at the FIU Softball Classic falling 10-5 to Incarnate Word in the opener before a 3-0 loss to host Florida International in the night cap.  EIU falls to 4-8 on the season.

In the tournament opener for Eastern Illinois the Panthers stole a run to tie the game at 1-1 in the third before Incarnate Word answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning as part of an eventual 10-5 win.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the third inning.  Chloe Wambdoldt and Mo Hance were part of a double steal with Hance swiping home after leading off the inning with an infield single.  Hance moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maddux Marshall and third on a Wamboldt single to set up the steal.  Wamboldt led EIU with three of the Panthers ten hits.

Dominique Guerra put the Cardinals back up with an RBI in the bottom of the third before UIW tacked on two unearned runs.  Three home runs later in the game helped give UIW a cushion with two home runs by Victoria Altamiran.

EIU had a homer of its own with a solo shot by Marshall in the fifth.  Marybeth Dyson and Lexie Griffin added the other two RBI for the Panthers offense.  Dyson had two hits. 

Bryanna French suffered the loss falling to 2-3.

Bella Mitchell picked up the win improving to 3-1 as UIW moved to 9-4.

Florida International scored in the bottom of the first and that run proved to be enough offense for FIU as they beat Eastern Illinois 3-0.

EIU put together four hits against FIU starter Brooke McNichols (3-0) moving a runner to second base in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings but never able to find the run producing hit.

McNichols threw the complete game as FIU improved to 11-2.

EIU's hits, all singles, in the game came from Chloe Wamboldt, Marybeth Dyson, Mo Hance and Maddux Marshall.

FIU scored in the first on an RBI single to right by Janelle Martinez.  They would tack on a second run in the second inning against EIU starter Karlie McKenzie (0-4).  Kendall Catherwoo had the RBI single in the second.

FIU's final run came in the sixth on an RBI single by Kally Meredith who was one of two FIU players with two hits in the game.

KANSAS 9, SOUTHERN INDIANA 1  (6)
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 11, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0  (5)
BOCA RATON, Fla. - University of Southern Indiana Softball fell in its first two games of the FAU Joan Joyce Classic on Friday, opening the weekend with a 9-1 loss against the University of Kansas before an 11-0 loss against Florida Atlantic University.
 
USI Softball (1-8) started the day well in a competitive battle through three innings against Kansas (9-5). After the Jayhawks scratched across a run in the bottom of the third inning to take a one-run lead, Kansas posted a crooked number in the fourth inning with six runs to surge ahead 7-0.
 
The Screaming Eagles got a run back in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by freshman infielder Abbey Booher, but the Jayhawks scored two more in the next frame to end the game in six innings.
 
USI totaled five hits against Kansas, with two coming off the bat of junior infielder Sydney Long. On the pitching side, sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus (0-2) was charged with the loss after going 3.2 innings before handing the ball off to freshman pitcher Elly Robbins for 1.2 innings in relief.
 
Kansas racked up 13 hits offensively, and Jayhawks starting pitcher Lizzy Ludwig (1-0) got the win with four shutout innings.
 
Florida Atlantic (9-5) got off to a fast start in USI's second game of the day. The Owls struck for four runs in the bottom of the first inning, tacked on another in the second frame, and tallied a six-spot in the third inning to lead 11-0. Meanwhile, USI could not generate much momentum on the offensive side, as the Owls ended the game in five innings.
 
Freshman pitcher Anna Kemp (1-3) was dealt the loss, totaling 1.2 innings of work. Witthaus and Robbins combined for 2.1 innings in relief.
 
Florida Atlantic starter Makenna Lee (3-0) recorded the win after three innings pitched. Lee was one of three FAU pitchers to combine no-hit USI in the evening contest.