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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Ohio Valley Conference leader UT Martin (21-12, 10-2) used a three-run home run by Leah Taylor and fought off a seventh-inning rally to edge Southeast Missouri (12-18, 5-6), 3-2, Thursday night at the Southeast Softball Complex.

UT Martin completed a sweep of Southeast with three one-run wins this season. The Skyhawks also handed the Redhawks their sixth conference loss by two or less runs.

UT Martin wasted no time going to work against Southeast starter Shea Cothren in the top of the first.

Kelsey Dixon reached on leadoff single and went to second on a base hit by Kayla Wade. Taylor stepped in next and smacked her team-high fifth home run over the left field wall to give the Skyhawks a quick 3-0 advantage.

Southeast cracked into UT Martin's lead in the bottom of the third.

Evan Sallis singled up the middle to spark a two-out rally and came around to score an unearned run with the help of a Cheyenne Gipson single and an error.

The Redhawks added another unearned run to pull to within one in the fifth.

Sallis reached on a one-out infield hit and went to third on a fielding error by Skyhawk first baseman Lauren Smith. Sallis touched home when Lindsey Patterson fouled out in foul territory along the first base side making it a 3-2 game.

Southeast came up empty with the tying run on base in the fifth and sixth innings before missing out on a golden opportunity in the seventh.

Kaitlin Wallace reached on an error and went to second on a bunt-single by Sallis. Gipson followed with another infield hit before Skyhawk third baseman Stephanie Nidiffer silenced the threat with two big plays.

Nidiffer snagged a line drive off the bat of Patterson and threw over to first to get Gipson out on a double play, before Taylor Cowan ripped a line drive into Nidiffer's glove to end the game.

Chelsea Jones (14-4) gave up two runs (both unearned) on nine hits, while striking out seven and walking none in seven innings.

Shea Cothren (3-6) took the loss. Cothren allowed three hits and three runs to go along with one strikeout.

Alora Marble relieved Cothren in the second inning and struck out two in six scoreless innings, facing 21 hitters.
Gipson went a perfect 4-for-4 to lead Southeast, which finished with nine hits. Gipson's four hits were a game-high.

Sallis also had a big day, going 3-for-4 with a game-high two runs scored.

Dixon led UT Martin with two hits and a run scored.

Southeast returns to action this weekend when it visits Tennessee Tech for a three-game series, beginning with a 1 p.m., CT, doubleheader Saturday.