Ohio Valley Conference

MACOMB, Ill. - University of Southern Indiana Softball tried to rally back from an early five-run deficit in the series opener at Western Illinois University on Friday, but the Screaming Eagles' comeback effort came up just short in a 5-3 loss.
 
USI Softball (6-15, 3-1 OVC) suffered its first setback in conference play with Friday's result following a conference-opening sweep last week. Meanwhile, Western Illinois (6-13, 1-2 OVC) snapped a six-game losing streak and picked up its first conference win on Friday.
 
The host Leathernecks jumped on the scoreboard early in Friday's series opener, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Western Illinois tacked on one more run on a home run in the bottom of the second to take a 5-0 lead.
 
USI started its comeback effort in the top of the fourth, as freshman infielder Jadyn Tinsley led off with a double and later scored on an RBI groundout by freshman infielder Abbey Booher to make it a four-run difference.
 
The Screaming Eagles chipped away even more with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Following a one-out single by senior outfielder Caroline Stapleton, freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx drove Stapleton in with an RBI triple. In the next at-bat, junior infielder Sydney Long doubled to score Marx and make the score 5-3 Leathernecks.
 
Despite USI getting runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings, Western Illinois pitched its way out of the jams and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.
 
Stapleton and Marx each had two hits to account for half of USI's eight hits. Marx, Long, and Booher each tallied an RBI.
 
Freshman pitcher Anna Kemp (2-6) took the loss in Friday's start. Sophomore pitcher Kylie Witthaus came on in relief to settle things down and had a strong appearance, striking out six and allowing only two runs – one earned – in 5.2 innings of work.
 
Western Illinois starting pitcher Libby Spaulding (4-6) tossed a complete game for the win, striking out three and giving up three runs.

UT MARTIN 4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
MARTIN, Tenn. - Sami Scholtz of the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team threw the program's first no-hitter since 2024 as the Skyhawks shut out Southeast Missouri, 4-0, Friday in game one of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with the Redhawks at Bettye Giles Field in Martin.

Scholtz's no-hitter was the 11th in program history and the first seven-inning no-hitter since Ashton Strode threw a perfect game against Samford at home on May 6, 2006. Scholtz allowed just three baserunners, via a walk, over the complete game shutout and struck out one.

The junior right-handed pitcher got lots of help from the outfield in the game, with the three-player unit recording 15 of the 21 outs on the afternoon. Kyla Harley led the way for the outfielders and finished the game with nine putouts, along with one assist.

The UT Martin offense scattered four runs over four different innings in the win, with Avary Makarewicz driving in the would-be winning run in the first, on an RBI-groundout that scored Karena Recrosio. Harley had an infield single in the third that scored Dylan Scott, while Ava Scott crossed home plate twice in the contest. She scored her first run in the fourth on a Gia Recrosio single to the pitcher and her second in the sixth on another infield single, this time by Teagan Hayes.

Ava Scott led the UT Martin offense on the day by going 2-for-3 with two runs, while Dylan Scott was 0-for-0 with two walks and a run.

EASTERN ILLINOIS 12, LINDENWOOD 11  (14)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - It took two games worth of action to decide the series opener on Friday night as Eastern Illinois beat Lindenwood 12-11 in 14 innings at Williams Field.
 
Lindenwood built a 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning with EIU able to put two runs on the board to get within striking distance.
 
In the seventh Lizzie Stiverson played hero for EIU with a two-out, three-run home run to tie the game at 6-6 and send it into extra innings.
 
In the extra session each time Lindenwood scored, Eastern Illinois was able to respond until the bottom of the 14th when Marybeth Dyson reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  She came around to score the game winner on an RBI single by Chloe Wamboldt.  Dyson led the Panthers going 4-of-7 at the plate.
 
Pitchers for both teams put up zeros on the board in the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh innings before Lindenwood struck for two runs in the 12th.  Dallis Darnell had a two-run single up the middle to score Karter Skillman and Emily Geary.  Skillman and Geary both had three hits for Lindenwood as the Lions had four total players finish with three hits.
 
In the bottom of the 12th Sophia Olman came up big for EIU with a two-run homer with one out in the inning. 
 
It was a three run homer by Jolie McMinn that appeared to be the answer for the Lions in the 13th giving Lindenwood an 11-8 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
 
The Panthers took advantage of three Lindenwood errors in the inning to eventually tie the game at 11-11 on an RBI single by Mo Hance.  Hance joined Stiverson and Olman with two hits each for EIU.
 
Karlie McKenize (1-7) pitched a scoreless 14th inning to pick up the win in relief as EIU improved to 9-16 overall, 4-0 in the OVC.  Rylan Gick started the game and then reentered in extra innings tossing nine total innings in the contest.
 
Ryleigh Owens (3-3) started the game and returned late in the game in relief and was the hard luck loser as Lindenwood fell to 11-12 overall, 2-2 in the OVC.  Freshman Ava Risum pitched well in relief in extra innings while Anna Sanders and Tori Hatton added three hits each.
 
This was the tied for the second longest game in EIU school history.

SIUE 4, MOREHEAD STATE 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Five straight two-out singles lifted SIUE softball to a 4-3 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Morehead State Friday night at Cougar Field.

SIUE improved to 11-13 overall and 4-0 in the OVC while Morehead State dropped to 1-17 and 0-4.

Morehead State broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh with an RBI single by Noemye Letendre and an RBI double by Sage VanDemark.

That 3-1 lead looked strong as Morehead State recorded the first two outs with fly balls.

However, the Cougars had other ideas. Juztyne Torres started the rally with a single to right field. Kaylin Fahy followed with a single to center field.

The lead was cut to 3-2 as Ashley Duran singled through the right side of the infield, pushing home Torres and moving Fahy to third base. Haley Strain would be inserted as a pinch runner for Duran.

Raegan Duncan then tied the game as she singled up the middle to drive home Fahy. Strain moved up to second.

Betsy Woodward provided the game-winning hit on a 2-0 count, lacing a hit through the left side, allowing Strain to easily score from second.

Mia Volpert was the winning pitcher in relief and is now 5-4.