Ohio Valley Conference

MUREFREESBORO, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball split day two of the Blue Raider Classic at Blue Raider Softball Field in Murfreesboro Saturday, with the same results as Friday. The Skyhawks fell in the opener to Middle Tennessee, but walked off with a win against Akron in game two,

In game one, the Skyhawks struck first again against Middle Tennessee when Avary Makarewicz doubled down the left field line to score Kennedy Brown and make it 1-0. Gia Recrosio extended the lead in the second when she drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0.

In the third, Middle Tennessee had another big inning and scored four runs to take the lead. In the top of the fifth, the Skyhawks tied the game when Karena Recrosio and Gia Recrosio scored on a Blue Raider error.

However, in the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Raiders retook the lead on a two-RBI double from Adaeze Nwogbo and then padded their lead in the sixth on a RBI-double from Jana Want to make it 7-4. In the bottom of the seventh, Makarewicz and Ava Scott each hit singles to send the tying run to the plate with two out, but Middle Tennessee retired the next Skyhawk to hold on for the win.

Makarewicz finished the game at 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Ava Scott had two RBIs.

In game two, Payton Harris carried a no-hitter through five innings for the Skyhawks while striking out three. However, in the top of the sixth, Sophia Wygast doubled off Natalie Kreuziger and then scored on a wild pitch to give Akron the lead. However, Kreuziger composed herself and struck out three of the four batters she faced in the seventh, after striking out two in the sixth, to give her team the chance at the win.

Dylan Scott began the bottom of the seventh with a walk, while Carly Ward moved her to second on a single. In the next at-bat, Kennedy Brown grounded out but advanced both runners in the process.

Following Kennedy Brown, Karena Recrosio singled and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Scott to tie the game and put the winning run, Ward, at third base. In the next at-bat, Gia Recrosio ended the game when Akron misplayed a ball to the shortstop, allowing Ward to score for the walk-off win.

Karena Recrosio was 2-for-4 in the game with an RBI, while Ava Scott was 2-for-3 with a double. Kennedy Brown also had an impressive day at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two walks.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 0
TULSA 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4
TULSA, Okla. - Southeast Missouri (4-13) split two games beating South Dakota State, 6-0, and falling, 5-4, to Tulsa Saturday.
 
Maddie Carney pitched a complete game shutout, and Kamden Hutton went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and one RBI to lead SEMO to its win over South Dakota State.
 
SEMO got off to a strong start loading the bases on a leadoff walk by Hutton and singles by Lily Delmain and Madison Winkler. 
 
Addisyn Martinie followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Hutton for the game's first run. Delmain later scored on a passed ball and Winkler touched home on a wild pitch to give the Redhawks a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
 
SEMO tacked on two more runs in the third and another in the fourth.
 
Hutton led off the third with a double to left center and scored on a single by Winkler. Winkler scored when Lilly Blagoue delivered a two-out single pushing the Redhawks lead to 5-0.
 
Hutton doubled again in the bottom of the fourth, this time scoring Brooklyn Saysoff all the way from first base to polish off the shutout.
 
Carney (2-5) picked up her second win of the year. She allowed nine hits, struck out three and walked three in seven scoreless innings. It was the second shutout of Carney's career.
 
Akayla Barnard (2-2) suffered the loss. Barnard gave up five runs on five hits, struck out three and walked one in three innings of work.
 
Both teams finished with nine hits and the Jackrabbits left 14 runners on base.
 
Winkler also went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI for the Redhawks.
 
SEMO trailed, 3-0, when Winkler hit a two-run home run to make it a one-run game against Tulsa in the top of the third inning.
 
An inning later, Aubrie Shore tied the game on a solo home run.
 
The Hurricane regained a 4-3 cushion in the bottom half of the fourth inning.
 
Then, with two outs in the top of the seventh, Brittany Affolter scored the tying run on a two-out error.
 
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Emma Vickrey ended the game with a walk-off home run.
 
SEMO outhit Tulsa, 7-6, with Shore finishing at 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the way.

UNLV 9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0  (6)
#22 GRAND CANYON 8, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0  (5)
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Eastern Illinois softball faced a pair of teams from the Mountain West Conference on Saturday for the second day of the ASU/GCU Tournament.   EIU lost in the early afternoon 9-0 to UNLV before an early evening 8-0 loss to No. 22 Grand Canyon.   EIU is now 5-15.

UNLV scored the runs it would need in the third inning before tacking on insurance runs in the fifth and sixth during a 9-0 win over Eastern Illinois.

Natalie Turner started the scoring in the third with a solo home run followed by a Keyannah Chavez two run double to close the Rebels scoring in the inning against EIU starter Karlie McKenzie (0-7).

Sophia Olman picked up the first hit of the game for the Panthers in the third inning as EIU finished the game with five hits against UNLV stater Emma Wardlaw (2-2).

In the fourth Lexie Griffin led off with a single with pinch runner Emily Konkel advancing to second.  The Panthers would get runners in scoring position in the fifth as well with hits by Mo Hance and Marybeth Dyson but could not push across a run.  Abbi Hatton had the final EIU hit of the day.

Chavez and Bri Williams each had two hits to lead UNLV's offense.  Williams hit a two-run homer in the fifth.  The Rebels scored three unearned runs in the sixth.
 
Eastern Illinois faced its third ranked team in three days as the Panthers closed Saturday play with a 8-0 loss at No. 22 Grand Canyon (20-0).

GCU scored an unearned run to begin the scoring in the first before adding a sacrifice fly in the second against EIU starter Grace Lemke (1-2).  Sydney McCray followed later in the inning with a two-run homer to lift the Lopes to a 4-0 lead.

EIU threatened in the fourth as Lexie Griffin reached on an error with one out.  The Panthers loaded the bases as Abbi Hatton and Mo Hance each collected hits.  EIU was unable to deliver with two outs as Abi Jones entered in relief to get the next two outs.  Jones closed the game to pick up the win and improve to 2-0.

Lizzie Stiverson added the third hit of the game for EIU's offense.

Haley Wilkinson and Addison Shifflett each had two hits to lead Grand Canyon.

INDIANA STATE 10, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0  (5)
VALPARAISO 4, WESTERN ILLINOIS 3
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Western Illinois fell in both contests Saturday at the Lindenwood Invite, dropping a 10-0 decision to Indiana State Sycamores softball before coming up just short in a 4-3 battle with Valparaiso. 

Indiana State used a four-run second and a five-run third to pull away early in the opener.

The Sycamores broke through in the second inning with a two-run triple from Goodrich before adding two more RBI hits to make it 4-0. A five-run third inning, aided by a pair of Western Illinois errors, stretched the lead to 9-0. Indiana State added one more in the fourth to secure the run-rule victory.

Western Illinois was limited to one hit in the contest, a single by Sophia Sanchez. Angie Ortiz was hit by a pitch for the only other Leatherneck baserunner as Indiana State's Sackett tossed four scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Kaitlyn Green received the loss, allowing four earned runs in 1.1 innings. Lillie Wools and Kathryn McChristy combined to cover the final 2.2 innings, with Wools surrendering five runs, none earned.

The Leathernecks responded with a competitive effort in the late game but were unable to complete the comeback.

Valparaiso scored twice in the first inning highlighted by an RBI double from Hollopete and an RBI single from Gallagher. The Beacons added runs in the second and third innings to build a 4-0 lead.

Western Illinois broke through in the fourth when Payton Brown launched a solo home run to left field to make it 4-1. Brown finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

The Leathernecks cut the deficit to one in the sixth inning. After Brown and Kam Utendorf reached base, Sophia Sanchez delivered a two-RBI single through the left side to bring Western Illinois within 4-3.

Western Illinois put the tying run on base but could not push across the equalizer. Valparaiso's Lopez closed the door in the seventh to earn the save.

Libby Spaulding went the distance on the mound, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out three across seven innings.

SIUE 8, SAINT LOUIS 3
BRADLEY 4, SIUE 1
RICHMOND, Ky. - Avery Arwood went the distance Saturday for her first win of the season as SIUE softball defeated Saint Louis 8-3 in day two of the Colonel Classic.

The Cougars later dropped a 4-1 contest to Bradley. SIUE, now 7-11, next faces host Eastern Kentucky in the tournament finale Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.

Arwood struck out eight and gave up just three hits against the Billikens. The Cougar sophomore improved to 1-1.

Raegan Duncan opened the scoring in the first inning with a double that drove home Ashley Duran.

SLU scored its three runs in the fourth and fifth inning before SIUE launched a late comeback.

Abby Harvell launched a solo home run in the sixth to cut the lead to 3-2.

The sixth inning as well was all Cougars. SIUE erupted for six runs, including RBIs by Jesslyn Stairs, Duran, Kaylin Fahy as well as a three-run double by Betsy Woodard.

SIUE's offense later collected four hits against Bradley. The biggest hit was a third-inning triple by Justyne Torres.

Kiana Villa took the loss in game two for the Cougars. Abby Rusher earned a complete-game victory for the Braves.

PRESBYTERIAN 4, TENNESSEE STATE 0
MERCER 2, TENNESSEE STATE 1
MACON, Ga. - The Tennessee State softball team opened play at the MUSB Invitational II with a pair of tightly contested matchups against Presbyterian and Mercer. The Tigers fell 4-0 to the Blue Hose and 2-1 to the Bears, moving to 0-8 on the season.

Kristian Holder made her fourth start of the season, working 3.0 innings and recording a strikeout. Tianna Salcido entered in relief and tossed the final 3.0 innings, striking out two while allowing four runs on four hits.

Kailyn Jean-Baptiste anchored the defense with 12 putouts and one assist. Alexis Woods and Hailey Hunt each recorded a hit, while Jace Jackson, Hunt, and Jean-Baptiste drew walks to generate scoring opportunities for the Tigers.

Jackson was hit by a pitch to open the top of the first, helping Tennessee State create early momentum before Presbyterian closed the inning with the third out. The Blue Hose threatened in the bottom half, placing two runners aboard, but a double play and a putout by Jean-Baptiste kept the game scoreless.

After six scoreless frames, Presbyterian broke through with four runs late to secure the 4-0 decision, as three quick outs in the seventh sealed the game.

Holder earned the start in the circle in game two, pitching 3.0 strong innings while allowing just one run on one hit and striking out one. Chelsi Ervin made her collegiate debut in relief, throwing 3.0 innings and surrendering one run on three hits while striking out three.

Jasmine Blackburn drove in the Tigers' lone run, plating Jackson with a double to right field. Hunt and Jean-Baptiste each added a hit and a walk, while Woods and Jackson reached base via walks.

Jackson ignited a two-out rally in the top of the first with a seven-pitch walk. Hunt followed with a single to third, advancing Jackson into scoring position. Blackburn then delivered a double to right field to score Jackson and give Tennessee State a 1-0 advantage.

After three scoreless innings, Mercer responded with two runs in the fourth to take the lead. The Bears held off the Tigers down the stretch to claim a 2-1 victory.

BELMONT 8, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4
BELMONT 5, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
NASHVILLE - University of Southern Indiana Softball dropped both games of a road doubleheader against Belmont University on Saturday, falling 8-4 and 5-0.
 
USI Softball (3-13) made the short trip on Saturday to Belmont (12-5) from Clarksville, Tennessee, as part of the Austin Peay State University Governors Classic.
 
The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 start in the first inning of game one before the Screaming Eagles answered with a pair in the top of the third inning to tie the game. Junior outfielder Kate Satkoski recorded a sac fly, and sophomore designated player Grace Huffman singled in a run in the inning.
 
Belmont responded quickly with three runs in the bottom of the third and later added three more runs in the fifth inning, including two on a home run, to take an 8-2 lead.
 
While USI scored once in the sixth and another in the seventh on an RBI knock by junior infielder Sydney Long, the Eagles ran out of outs to complete a comeback bid.
 
Offensively, USI totaled nine hits with Long and Huffman registering a pair of hits. Freshman infielder Jadyn Tinsley also had two hits alongside freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx, who also scored two runs.
 
On the pitching side, sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus (1-4) took the loss after 4.2 innings pitched with two strikeouts, allowing eight runs with five earned. Freshman pitcher Anna Kemp came on in relief with 1.1 innings and no runs surrendered.
 
Belmont pitcher Hannah Leierer (2-4) gave up four runs – three earned – in the complete-game win.
 
In game two, Belmont went ahead early again with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With a 3-0 lead, the Bruins added an unearned run in the second frame and another unearned run in the home half of the fourth before being shut out in the late innings.
 
Freshman pitcher Elly Robbins (1-5) suffered a loss in the start. Kemp took the ball again in relief in the second game and was solid, going 5.1 innings and allowing two unearned runs on only two hits and striking out a pair. Overall, on the day, Kemp pitched 6.2 innings of relief and did not allow a single earned run.
 
For the Bruins, Mackenzie Willis (2-0) got the win in the backend of the twin bill after striking out 11 and giving up only one hit in six shutout innings.

JACKSONVILLE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 1
JACKSONVILLE 7, TENNESSEE TECH 1
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Tennessee Tech had chances on Saturday, but the Golden Eagles fell twice to Jacksonville to continue the UNF-JU Classic, falling 3-1 and 7-1 to the Dolphins.

The Golden Eagles (2-13) return to action on Sunday as they close out the event with one last contest against North Florida at 11 AM.

Jailynn Paderez drove in Tech's lone run in the first game and had one of the Golden Eagles' three hits, while Olivia Evans and Ella Grace Harvey each had hits.

Paderez put Tech on the scoreboard first in the top of the first as she drove in Evans with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Dolphins tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, then took the lead in the fifth with a two-bagger to center field. JU added an insurance run with a single in the sixth.

Lainey Fitzgerald took the loss, going 5 2/3 innings as she allowed three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five. Addison Abell threw the final third, retiring the lone batter faced.

In the second game, Tech was held to two hits as Evans and Ella Wampler collected the safeties. While only collecting two hits, the Golden Eagles stranded eight runners in the contest and fifteen total on the day.

Evans scored in the top of the first as Ashley Capelouto's ball to center field was misplayed.

Jacksonville tied the game with a leadoff home run to left center, then made it 2-1 with another solo home run to the same location. The Dolphins got a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth, then the final run scored on a fielder's choice.

Emily York took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits over five innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Abell threw the final inning, allowing an unearned run with no hits, walking one and striking out one.

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 4, MOREHEAD STATE 3  (10)
CHATTANOOGA 11, MOREHEAD STATE 10  (8)

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Recap coming soon.

LINDENWOOD 10, GREEN BAY 3
VALPARAISO 4, LINDENWOOD 2
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Softball team (8-10, 0-0 OVC) ended the Lindenwood Invite with two wins over Green Bay and Valparaiso to snap their seven game losing streak. 

After the Phoenix scored two runs in the top of the first inning, the Lions responded with four runs in the bottom of the second inning behind an Emily Geary RBI sacrifice fly and RBI singles from Teryn Brown and Madisen Noll to grab a 3-2 lead. Lindenwood got their fourth run of the inning on a fielder's choice that scored Dallis Darnell. Lindenwood added on to their lead in the bottom of the third after Geary reached base once again and forced the Green Bay catcher to throw the ball down to second base on a steal attempt that allowed for Anna Sanders to score. The same play would happen again in the bottom of the fourth when Brown attempted to steal second base and Darnell scored her second run of the game to put the Lions up 6-3. 

The Lions added on to their lead in both the fifth and sixth innings behind a Geary RBI triple and a Karter Skillman RBI single the next at bat to put Lindenwood up 8-3.  Sanders would add more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double that scored two runners to give the Lions a 10-3 lead. In the circle, Lucy Pratt picked up her second win of the season behind 2.2 innings of work and allowing three hits. Freshman pitcher Jalese Hays recorded her first career save by pitching 4.1 innings allowing one run and striking out two batters. At the plate, Anna Sanders went 4-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. 

Anna Sanders picked up right where she left off in game one by putting the Lions up 1-0 in the bottom of the first behind an RBI groundout that scored Tori Hatton. Kylee Crowder extended the lead later in the inning after she scored on a wild pitch to put Lindenwood up 2-0 after one inning of play. After the Beacons scored one run in the top of the second to cut the deficit to 2-1, Sanders picked up an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth that scored two runners to extend the lions lead to 4-1 with three innings to go. Valparaiso would add one run in the top of the seventh inning, but Lindenwood would hang on for the 4-2 victory to finish the Lindenwood invite with a 2-2 record. Senior pitcher Ryleigh Owens went the distance in the contest against Valpo, allowing one earned run and striking out a season-high five batters.