Ohio Valley Conference

STATESBORO, Ga. - For a long time, Tennessee Tech and Eastern Kentucky were rivals on the softball field in the Ohio Valley Conference. Over the years, it was one of the premier matchups in the league and created a lot of legendary games for both programs.

On Saturday, as the two teams met once more – this time on the neutral field of Georgia Southern's GATA Challenge – the Golden Eagles unloaded, striking for nine unanswered runs as Tech shut out the Colonels 9-0.

Rain hampered the rest of the day though as Tech's later game against Rhode Island was wiped out.

Sofia Carroll and Ella Bishop both went 2-for-3, while Carroll had the game's biggest blast – a three-run home run in the sixth inning.

Addison Abell picked up the victory – her first of the season – as she went the run-ruled distance, shutting out EKU and allowing just five hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Tech collected 10 total hits in the contest and stranded just three. The Golden Eagle defense forced EKU to strand seven runners in all.

The Golden Eagles dented the scoreboard early as Jailynn Paderez took a two-out walk and advanced to second. Ashley Capelouto drove her in with a double to left center.

After a 1-2-3 second, Tech came through again. Carroll led off with a double, then a fielding error on an Olivia Evans bunt momentarily put runners on the corners until Evans swiped second. Both runners stayed put on a grounder back to the circle, but Paderez brought them home with a double to right center.

Bella Ochoa came in to run at second, then Bishop brought the pinch runner in with a double to left center to make it a 4-0 Tech lead.

The fourth and the fifth innings were quiet, but the Golden Eagles broke the game open in the top of the sixth. Bishop led off with a single to left, then took second on Abbee Klinefelter's sacrifice bunt. Ella Grace Harvey picked up the RBI with a single to right center as Bishop scored.

Makayli Harris singled through short, then, with two on, Carroll sent the ball on a long-distance trip – a three-run blast.

The inning wasn't over though – Olivia Evans hit a triple to left, then Bailee Stack drove her in with a grounder to short.

With the potential run-rule staring EKU in the eye, Tech's defense came up strong. First was a foul out to the third-base side. A double was quickly erased with a grounder to short, then evolving into a 1-5 takedown at third for two to end the game.

BELLARMINE 6, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 1, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
LOUISVILLE - The Western Illinois softball team closed out play at the Bellarmine Round Robin in Louisville with a 2-2 showing. The Leathernecks fell 0-6 against Bellarmine and 0-1 against Northern Kentucky.

Western Illinois was held to just two hits as Bellarmine secured a 6–0 victory Saturday.

The Leathernecks threatened early when Payton Brown singled and stole second in the opening frame, but Bellarmine starter Bennett settled in and kept Western Illinois off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Bennett tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits while striking out three.

Bellarmine broke through in the third inning when Manning delivered an RBI triple down the left-field line before an error allowed another run to score. The Knights added four runs in the fourth, highlighted by Guthrie's two-run single and an RBI double from Jones, stretching the lead to 6–0.

Western Illinois collected its only hits from Payton Brown and Maria Luna, but could not generate sustained offense.

On the mound, Audrey Clark took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) over 3.2 innings. Lillie Wools provided relief, surrendering one run across 2.1 innings.

Western Illinois dropped a tightly contested pitcher's duel, falling 1–0 to Northern Kentucky later Saturday.

The Norse scored the game's only run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from DiMemmo, bringing home Brow after a pair of early singles.

From there, both pitchers controlled the game. Western Illinois starter Libby Spaulding delivered a strong complete-game effort, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out two and keeping the Leathernecks within striking distance throughout.

Western Illinois' best scoring chance came in the first inning when Angie Ortiz doubled and advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt, but the Leathernecks were unable to push the run across. Ortiz finished with two of the team's three hits, while Sophia Sanchez added the other.

Northern Kentucky's Flores earned the shutout victory, limiting Western Illinois to three hits and no walks across seven innings.

BOWLING GREEN 12, TENNESSEE STATE 0  (6)
EAST TENNESSEE 8, TENNESSEE STATE 7
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Tennessee State softball wrapped up play Saturday at Betty Basler Field with a pair of contests against Bowling Green and East Tennessee State, showing flashes of power, speed, and late-inning resilience.

In the opener, TSU faced a strong Bowling Green squad and fell 12–0. The Tigers collected two hits on the day, highlighted by doubles from Mariyah Brown and Jace Jackson. Brown finished 1-for-2, while Jackson went 1-for-3.

TSU threatened in the fifth inning when Brown advanced to third base with one out, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize. In the circle, Kristian Holder, Courtney Richardson, and Miriam Gordon combined to face 34 hitters. The pitching staff generated nine ground-ball outs and seven fly-ball outs while working through Bowling Green's offensive pressure.

In the second game of the day, Tennessee State responded with one of its strongest offensive performances of the season in a narrow 8–7 loss to East Tennessee State.

The Tigers came out aggressive, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Jakeyla McDaniel set the tone on the base paths, swiping three bases in the game to spark the early rally. Tennessee State added another run in the second to build a 3–0 advantage.

Jace Jackson led the offense, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, and an RBI. Jasmine Blackburn added a hit, two walks, and an RBI, while Mariyah Brown drove in two runs. The Tigers were active offensively throughout, stealing five bases as a team and drawing seven walks. TSU also went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

After ETSU battled back to take the lead, the Tigers refused to fold. Trailing 8–4 entering the seventh inning, Tennessee State mounted a three-run rally. Brown delivered a two-RBI single to bring the Tigers within one, and the tying run moved into scoring position before the comeback attempt came up just short.

In the circle, Tianna Salcido made the start, and the TSU pitching staff limited ETSU to 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position. Defensively and offensively, the Tigers showed continued fight and determination throughout the day, highlighted by the late-inning surge in game two.

NORTHWESTERN 12, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1  (6)
#7 ARKANSAS 16, SOUTHEAST MISSSOURI 2  (5)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Southeast Missouri dropped two games at the Razorback Invitational Saturday falling to Northwestern, 12-1, and #7 Arkansas, 16-2.
 
Marina Mason threw a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and Northwestern scored eight runs in the sixth inning to key its victory.
 
Mason, who allowed her only hit on a solo home run to Madison Winkler, retired 15 in a row before giving way to Renae Cunningham in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Winkler's first career home run gave SEMO an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before the Wildcats scored 12 unanswered runs.
 
Ahead, 4-1, NU scored eight runs on four hits, three of which went for extra bases, in the top of the sixth. 
 
Grace Neito knocked in a run on a ground out. Kayle Avvisato hit a grand slam and Teagan McCue followed with an RBI-double. Then, Bridget Dohse knocked in two more on a double of her own to finish off the 12-1 win.
 
Mason (2-4) picked up her second win of the season.
 
Elliott Stinson (1-1), in her second start of the year, struck out two and walked one in 5.1 innings. 
 
Freshman Summer Branch allowed four runs and four walks in two-thirds of an inning.
 
NU had 10 hits with seven hits, seven runs and eight RBI coming from the first four hitters in its lineup.
 
LillieFaye McWhorter carried a no-hitter through 4.1 innings before Addisyn Martinie wrecked the bid with a single to left center in the top of the fifth inning against Arkansas.
 
After Marty Tutwiler and Kinley Wilkins walked to load the bases, Martinie scored on single by Kamden Hutton for the Redhawks two runs.
 
Ahead, 7-0, the Razorbacks scored nine more in the bottom of the fourth.
 
McWhorter (1-0) earned her first win of the season, while Maddie Carney (1-4) took the loss.

SIUE 10, SOUTHERN 4
SIUE 10, NORTH TEXAS 6
COMMERCE, Texas - The magic number today for SIUE softball was 10.

SIUE improved to 6-8 for the season with a pair of victories at Day Two of the Lion Classic. The Cougars bested Southern University 10-4 early in the day and North Texas 10-6 in game two. SIUE has now won four straight games.

The Cougars face North Texas in a 9 a.m. rematch Sunday in what will be the tournament finale.

In SIUE's game against Southern, the first inning was a lesson in patience as the Cougars loaded the bases and then scored on bases-loaded walks by Jesslyn Stairs, Arissah Garza and Kaylin Fahy. Aidyn Barrera provided a sarifice fly. Garza would score on a double steal, and Gretchen Trello's RBI single made it 6-0.

Abby Harvell extended the lead to 7-0 in the second inning when she doubles, advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on a bad infield throw from Southern.

Southern's only offense came in the four-run fourth, but SIUE countered with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Fahy drove home two runs with a double to the gap in right center. Elle van Breusegen added an infield hit that brought home Fahy.

SIUE collected 11 hits, including two each from Harvell, Fahy, and Raegan Duncan.

Kiana Villa picked up the pitching win for the Cougars. She is now 2-0.

In the North Texas contest, SIUE fell behind 6-0 after two innings and didn't must its offense until the fourth when Duncan singled home Juztyne Torres.

The game was more than interesting for Cougar fans in the fifth when SIUE put up a seven-spot in the inning.

After the Cougars managed to get bases loaded with no one out, Harley Limberger drew a four-pitch walk that scored Fahy. Torres added an RBI single to right field that plated Barrera.

North Texas thought it forced out a runner at home on a infield play by Harvell. But the umpire ruled Kaylie Frydenlund safe because UNT catcher Elizabeth Moffitt was off the plate when receiving the ball. The play was reviewed by the umpires and upheld as the correct call on the field.

SIUE would then tied the game 6-6 as Jesslyn Stairs ripped an opposite field double to the wall in left field. That brought home Torres and Harvell. Duncan had moved to third on that play and scored on a heads-up play. She tagged up as Arissah Garza's short fly ball was caught in foul territory. Stairs also moved to third on the play.

The Cougars added a well-executed squeeze bunt as Fahy brought home Stairs. Fahy's bunt left no play at either home or first base for North Texas.

SIUE scored 10 unanswered runs with two more in the sixth. Duncan added two more RBIs on a double.

Mia Volpert was the winning pitcher in relief of Stairs. She is now 4-3 for the season.

SOUTHERN INDIANA 4, MASSACHUSETTS 2
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 7, SOUTHERN INDIANA 1
BOCA RATON, Fla. - University of Southern Indiana Softball split its two games on day two of the Florida Atlantic University Joan Joyce Classic on Saturday, earning a 4-2 win against the University of Massachusetts before a 7-1 loss in a rematch against Florida Atlantic.
 
USI Softball (2-9) started the day quickly with a first-inning run in the bottom of the first inning against UMass (6-8), thanks to a sac fly by sophomore first baseman Grace Huffman. Massachusetts equalized in the top of the second.
 
The Screaming Eagles grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third on RBI singles by junior infielder Sydney Long and junior outfielder Kate Satkoski before a sacrifice RBI from freshman infielder Abbey Booher. The combination led to a 4-1 advantage for USI.
 
Outside of one more run for the Minutewomen in the fifth inning, USI freshman pitcher Elly Robbins (1-3) hurled a complete game to record her first career win.
 
At the plate, Satkoski and senior outfielder Caroline Stapleton collected two hits apiece, as USI totaled seven in the contest.
 
UMass also totaled seven hits, and starting pitcher Olivia Cutuli (1-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering all four USI runs and lasting two innings.
 
In the second game of the day against Florida Atlantic (11-5), USI got off to another positive start with a run in the top of the first inning to claim a fast 1-0 lead. However, the Owls answered right away with three runs in the home half of the first to jump in front.
 
As things settled for the next three innings with zeroes on the board, Florida Atlantic eventually added three more runs in the fifth and an extra tally in the sixth to create the six-run difference.
 
Stapleton, freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx, and freshman infielder Jadyn Tinsley were responsible for USI's three hits at the plate. Meanwhile, sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus (0-3) took the loss and pitched 3.1 innings before handing the ball off to freshman pitcher Anna Kemp for the final 2.2 innings.
 
Florida Atlantic's Jaden Martinez (1-0) got the win behind 4.2 innings of work and one run allowed in the start, while the Owls' Ainsley Lambert tossed the last 2.1 innings for her third save of the year.

UT MARTIN 3, WEST GEORGIA 2
SOUTH ALABAMA 8, UT MARTIN 3
MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team split a pair of games Saturday on the second day of the South Alabama Invitational at Jaguar Field in Mobile. The Skyhawks edged West Georgia in game one, 3-2, but fell to the host Jaguars in game two, 8-3.

In game one, the bats were relatively quiet for the Skyhawks, but they were able to make up for it on the base paths by taking advantage of four West Georgia errors.

Karena Recrosio led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After the wild pitch, Kyrsten Brown brought her home to give the Skyhawks a 1-0 lead. In the top of the fourth, the Wolves tied the game on an RBI single from Jenna Samuel that scored Ella Oswalt, who reached on a double to lead off the inning.

In the fifth, West Georgia committed three straight errors that allowed Teagan Hayes and Ava Scott to score, with Hayes' run aided by an RBI sacrifice bunt from Jordyn Hustey. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, West Georgia's Megan Waites scored on an error by the Skyhawks, inching closer to the lead at 3-2. However, the next batter for the Wolves fouled out, ending the game and giving UT Martin the win.

Kyrsten Brown and Karena Recrosio had the Skyhawks' two hits in the game, while Hustey and Kyrsten Brown each had an RBI. Sami Scholtz moved to 2-1 in the circle in the game by pitching the final 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs and striking out two.

In the second game, South Alabama was all over the Skyhawks, scoring eight runs on seven hits and two UT Martin errors. The Jaguars erupted for four runs in the first, one in the second and three in the fifth.

UT Martin's runs in the nightcap came from what has been a signature move for the Skyhawks this season and the power of Avary Makarewicz. In the third, after Dylan Scott struck out and UT Martin went for something they've done often this season, the double steal, with Karena Recrosio stealing second and Kennedy Brown stealing home. For her part, Makarewicz went yard twice in the game in the fourth and sixth innings, each a solo shot, for her third and fourth home runs of the season. Along with the two home runs by Makarewicz, Karena Recrosio and Kennedy Brown also had hits in the game, with Brown's going for a double.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 11, MOREHEAD STATE 3  (6)
INDIANA STATE 11, MOREHEAD STATE 3  (5)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Recap coming soon.