Southeast Missouri 3, Mississippi Valley State 2 Box Score
Southeast Missouri 6, Grambling State 3 Box Score
MONROE, La. – Southeast Missouri (2-1) softball swept at day one of the Mardi Gras Classic Friday, defeating Mississippi Valley State (0-1), 3-2, and Grambling State (0-4), 6-3.
Southeast Missouri 3, Mississippi Valley 2
Southeast Missouri softball recorded its first win Friday afternoon with a victory over the Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State, 3-2.
"It feels good to close out a one-run game," said head coach Lana Richmond. “We were able to execute in key situations and get the runs we needed.”
The Redhawks were the first to strike when Lindsey Patterson hit a one-out RBI double to left-center to plate Kaitlin Zink and go up 1-0 in the first inning.
A throwing error on a pick-off attempt by Chelsea Smith followed by a throwing error by Elysia Mesa allowed the Devilettes to go up 1-2 on the Redhawks in the top of the second.
The Redhawks were quick to answer back with two runs of their own. Mesa hit an RBI double and advanced to third on the throw to plate C. Smith. An illegal pitch that allowed Mesa to score proved critical to the Devilettes as it was the winning run for Southeast.
"Taylor Cowan gave us solid innings in relief and had an excellent defense behind her turning two double plays in the game. C. Smith continued to gun down would-be base stealers,” Richmond added.
Zink went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, her third in two games. Savannah Carpenter, L. Patterson, C. Smith, and Mesa all had a hit in Friday afternoon's game.
Cowan (1-1) recorded the win for the Redhawks after five innings of relief work. Cowan struck out three batters and walked two. Freshman Hannah Clemons pitched two innings, giving up two runs, two hits, striking out two batters and walking one.
Kimberly Spivy (0-1) pitched a complete game giving up three runs on six hits, striking out six batters and walking three.
Southeast Missouri 6, Grambling State 3
The Redhawks were able to grab their second win of the day against the Grambling State Tigers Friday night, 6-3. Southeast was down 2-3 in the sixth but scored four runs on four hits to take the lead and record the win.
“Clemons did an excellent job of coming in after pitching this morning and pitched a solid six innings,” said Richmond. “We were able to string some hits together in the sixth to pull ahead.”
Zink was able to score when no one was covering the plate after a foul-out to the catcher and give Southeast an early 1-0 lead.
Grambling's Kailey Howard hit a monster home run to straight-away center field to record the Tigers' first run of the season in the top of the second. With bases loaded and no one out, Clemons entered the game in relief for starting pitcher Lauren Reinagel and struck out the side for Southeast.
For the second time Friday, L. Patterson knocked a double in to right field to bring Zink home and give Southeast the lead, 2-1 in the third.
In the top of the fourth, Grambling manufactured a run: scoring on a ground-out to tie the game. The Tigers scored again during the following at-bat on a wild pitch and took a 2-3 lead.
Alexis Anderson started off a huge sixth inning for the Redhawks when she split the left center gap for a double and brought Simone Patterson around from first to tie the game. C. Smith then plated Anderson on a single to left to retake the lead. Brittany Smith reached base on an error to keep the inning going for Carpenter who added to the lead with a two-RBI double to left and extend the Redhawk lead, 6-3.
“Defensively, we had an excellent game,” Richmond added. “Our competition is only going to get better from here and we have to come out Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the challenge.”
Zink finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base, her fourth of the season. Anderson finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Carpenter closed the game 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Clemons (1-0) picked up her first career win in relief after going six innings in the circle. Clemons struck out five batters and walked two.
Howard (0-2) suffered the loss for the Tigers after giving up six runs on nine hits.
Southeast will return to action Saturday afternoon when they take on host-school ULM at 1:15 p.m. followed by Northwestern at 5:30 p.m.
