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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (22-25, 13-13) completed a series sweep with its 6-2 victory over Tennessee State (11-34, 3-21) Sunday afternoon at the Southeast Softball Complex.

Southeast polished off its second sweep of a conference opponent and moved to .500 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks have heated up to win six of their last seven games.

“I thought we played well this weekend and built some momentum as we enter our final weeks of the season,” said Southeast head coach Lana Richmond. “We know what we have to do down the stretch.”

Southeast trailed, 2-1, after three-and-a-half innings before blowing the game open with two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth.

Tiger right fielder Aisha Walker dropped a fly ball off the bat of Xia Wilson with two outs in the fourth. That error allowed pinch-runner Renee Terry to score. Simone Patterson followed with a double and Wilson touched home, giving the Redhawks a 3-2 edge.

Southeast then buried TSU for good when it plated three runs with two outs in the fifth.

Taylor Cowan drove in Cheyenne Gipson and Evan Sallis on a single to center. Cowan later scored on a throwing error to cap the 6-2 win.

Alora Marble (13-12) matched a career-high eight strikeouts and allowed just two runs in seven innings, her 20^th complete game of the season.

Shea Morris (8-20) suffered the loss, giving up six runs on nine hits, while striking out three in six innings.
Southeast had nine hits, with Sallis, Cowan and Lindsey Patterson each contributing two hits. Renee Kertz also hit her team-high fifth home run and second of the series in the first inning.

Kate Morris went 2-for-3 to lead TSU, which left 10 runners on base.

This weekend's series was Southeast's final OVC set at home this season. That being said, the Redhawks honored their five seniors – Sallis, Gipson, Kertz, Shelby Stein and Stefanie Barnes.

“I can't say enough about this senior class,” said Richmond. “Three of the five have been here four years. All of these individuals are excellent student-athletes.”

Southeast hits the road for its next six games. The Redhawks first visit regional-rival Southern Illinois on Apr. 25.