Ohio Valley Conference

MOREHEAD, Ky. - Eastern Illinois opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a weekend sweep of Morehead State as the Panthers took the final two games of the weekend series on Monday in Morehead, Ky.  EIU won the opener 10-2 before an 8-4 victory in the final game.  EIU improved to 8-16 on the season, 3-0 in the OVC.  Morehead State fell to 1-16 overall, 0-3 in the OVC.
 
Eastern Illinois pushed across the final nine runs of the game including four runs in the sixth to take the first game of Monday's doubleheader, 10-2.
 
Noemye Letendre's two-run home run in the bottom of the second gave Morehead State an early 2-1 lead over the Panthers.  EIU would allow just two more hits the remainder of the game as the Panthers offense took off.
 
EIU regained the lead in the third with three runs started by an RBI double by Chloe Wamboldt and two-run home run by Lexie Griffin.
 
The Panthers methodically added a single run in the fourth and fifth on RBI by Sophia Olman and Maddux Marshall. 
 
In the sixth, EIU began its scoring with an RBI single by Wambodlt who went 3-for-4 in the game.  Griffin added her fourth RBI of the game before Lizzie Stiverson closed the scoring with an RBI single to left center.  Stiverson joined Olman, Abbi Hatton and Mo Hance with two hits each.
 
Morehead State put two runners on in the sixth with singles by Kylie Mann and Letendre before EIU erased the threat with a double play.  Bryanna French picked up the win with two innings of hitless relief. 
 
Rylie Burney (0-5) took the loss for the Eagles.  Letendre picked up two of the Eagles four hits in the game. 
 
In the final game of the weekend series the Panthers used the long ball to their advantage hitting three home runs in the 8-4 win over the Eagles. 
 
Chloe Wamboldt started the Panthers long ball parade with a three-run shot in the third that put EIU up 3-1 at the time.  Wamboldt was 3-for-4 at the plate in the game.
 
The Eagles went back in front in their half of the inning with a three-run homer of their own, this one off the bat of Sydney Farmer giving Morehead State a 4-3 advantage.
 
A solo shot by Marybeth Dyson tied the game in the fourth before Abbi Hatton's solo home run gave the Panthers the lead in the sixth.
 
Sophia Olman followed Hatton with an RBI double before the Panthers tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh.  Lizzie Stiverson drove home one run with EIU collecting the other on a double steal attempt.
 
Rylan Gick (3-3) picked up the win with 2.1 innings of one hit relief.  Bryanna French closed the final two innings for the save.  Dyson had two hits for EIU.
 
Allicen Harris (0-6) pitched into the sixth for Morehead State.  The Eagles had six hits in the game, all singles except for Farmer's home run.

SOUTHERN INDIANA 6, TENNESSEE STATE 1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Softball completed a series sweep of Tennessee State University on Monday afternoon, defeating the Tigers by a score of 6-1 at USI Softball Field.
 
USI Softball (6-14, 3-0 OVC) picked up its third straight win and moved to a 3-0 start in Ohio Valley Conference play. Meanwhile, Tennessee State (0-13, 0-3 OVC) still remains without a win on the season.
 
On Monday, the Screaming Eagles got off to another fast start with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. USI took advantage of miscues by the Tigers and capped off the first inning scoring on a sac fly by junior outfielder Kate Satkoski.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, USI added another three-spot by scoring a run in three consecutive at-bats to go in front 6-0. The scoring started on an RBI double by senior outfielder Caroline Stapleton that scored junior designated player Shelby Stivers. After scoring the fifth run on a Tigers error, junior infielder Sydney Long drove in Stapleton for the sixth run on an RBI single. Stapleton finished with two runs and two hits in the contest.
 
While Tennessee State avoided a 6-0 shutout with a run in the top of the seventh inning, the Screaming Eagles closed out the game and series sweep.
 
On a pitching staff day for the Screaming Eagles, freshman pitcher Anna Kemp (2-5) set the tone with two shutout innings and earned her second win of the season. Sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus had a strong outing in middle relief, going 4.2 innings and striking out three. Freshman pitcher Elly Robbins struck out the final batter of the game to finish off the series sweep.
 
Tennessee State had three pitchers toss two innings each, with Tianna Salcido (0-7) making the start and being charged with the loss after giving up three runs through the first two frames.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4, WESTERN ILLINOIS 3
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 14, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2  (5)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (6-13, 2-0) opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 4-3, 14-2, doubleheader sweep of Western Illinois (5-13, 0-2) Monday at the Oasis Sports Complex.
 
SEMO won its league-opening series that was moved from its home field in Cape Girardeau due to unplayable conditions caused by rain in the area.
 
Kamden Hutton scored Sophie Schupp on a sacrifice fly for the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give SEMO its one-run victory in game one.
 
Schupp began the inning with a pinch-hit single to left field and moved into scoring position on a bunt single by Brittany Affolter. Addy Martinie moved the runners on a sacrifice bunt before Hutton knocked in the go-ahead run.
 
SEMO trailed, 3-0, before tying the game in the bottom of the third.
 
Madison Winkler delivered a single and Martinie scored the Redhawks' first run of the game. A two-out, two-RBI single by Raigan Brannon tied the things up at 3-3.
 
WIU managed to get a runner on third with one out in the top of the seventh, but Elliott Stinson got Payton Brown to foul out and Ruby Tarr to fly out to right ending the threat.
 
Stinson (2-3) picked up the win after tossing four shutout innings out of the bullpen. She allowed just two hits, struck out two and walked two, as well.
 
Libby Spaulding (3-6) suffered the loss. Spaulding went the distance allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings. She also walked five and struck out three.
 
Aubrie Shore went 2-for-2 to lead SEMO, while five other Redhawks had a hit.
 
Down, 2-1, the Redhawks blew the game open with nine runs in the bottom of the third inning.
 
SEMO sent 13 hitters to the plate and had six hits in its big inning. 
 
The Redhawks had the bases loaded with no outs when Martinie scored Lesleigh Maynard on a single to left. Winkler knocked in Abby Robbins on a base hit and Hailey Burnett scored Jaylie Walther on an infield single. Affolter walked in a run and Gracie Luna had a run-scoring single. Shore then cleared the bases with a three-RBI double and Raigan Brannon followed with a hit to put SEMO ahead, 10-2.
 
SEMO tacked on four more runs during its final at-bat of the game in the fourth.

Kinley Wilkins doubled home a run and Shore hit a two-RBI single to right field before Brannon reached on a fielder's choice and Maynard crossed home plate for the final run of her team's mercy rule win.
 
Willow Van Haren (1-4) earned her first win of the season. Van Haren allowed just two runs on six hits and walked three in five innings.
 
Audrey Clark (0-2) took the loss. Clark gave up six runs, five hits, walked three and struck out two in two innings.
 
SEMO erupted for a season-high 14 runs and 13 hits in its blowout game two victory.
 
Shore went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and five RBI. Her five RBI tied a career-high.
 
Martinie also finished at 3-for-3, while Brannon contributed a pair of hits.
 
SEMO started OVC play with a win for the 12th time in 16 seasons.
 
The Redhawks travel to #12 Mississippi State for a doubleheader Tuesday.