Morehead State 7, Southeast Missouri 6 Box Score
Southeast Missouri 5, Morehead State 4 Box Score
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri (14-27, 6-13 OVC) softball team split a doubleheader with Morehead State (20-19, 6-11 OVC) Sunday afternoon. Morehead State came from behind in the final inning to steal the win in game one, 7-6, and tried to do it again in game two but Southeast held on for the split, winning 5-4.
“Our offense hit exceptionally well all weekend,” said head coach Lana Richmond. “We always say, 'as our offense goes, we go.' The offense put us in each game and gave us a chance to win every game this weekend. Our goal now is to climb and make the conference tournament.”
Morehead State 7, Southeast Missouri 6
The Eagles came from behind to tie the game and scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh and snuffed a chance to tie the game by the Redhawks in the bottom of the inning to nab the win.
Morehead State touched home first when Kayla Ashbrook hit a monster home run with a runner on to take a very early 2-0 lead.
Southeast was able to take both runs back in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Cowan punched a ball through the left side to score Alexis Anderson. Simone Patterson followed up with an RBI double to right, tying up the game.
Kelsey Gass recorded her first career hit as a Redhawk to lead off the second inning. A single by Anderson that was misplayed by the left fielder allowed Gass to score and Anderson to advance to second. With bases loaded, S. Patterson was hit to drive in the Redhawk's fourth run, 4-2 Redhawks.
MSU brought the lead within one in the fourth with a sacrifice fly by McKenna Bartko; 4-3 Southeast.
Another fielding error by the left fielder allowed the Redhawks to pull away from the Eagles in the fifth. Once again, Anderson reached on a single that was mishandled by the left fielder, allowing a run to score and Anderson to advance to third. Hot off posting five RBI in game one on Saturday, Xia Wilson singled through the left side to plate Anderson, extending the lead to 6-3.
Bartko narrowed the lead once again in the seventh with a lead-off home run to bring the Redhawk's lead to two runs. With runners on second and third, Amber Riddle hit a sac fly to inch closer to the Redhawks. MSU tied the game on an RBI single by Elizabeth Wagner. Anna Sommer singled to drive in the go-ahead run; 7-6 Morehead State.
Chelsea Smith led off the bottom of the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Leah Becker. The attempt to score came up short as the Eagles stole the victory, 7-6.
Anderson had an impressive game, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a season-high three runs scored. Lindsey Patterson and S. Patterson each added two hits of their own. S. Patterson also had two RBI in the game.
Four separate Eagle batters recorded two hits each. Ashbrook and Bartko each had two RBI.
Hannah Clemons (4-6) suffered the loss after giving up the lead in the sixth. Clemons gave up four runs on five hits. Game one's starter, Cowan, pitched 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits.
Eagle reliever Kelcey McMurray (4-6) earned the victory. McMurray pitched 2.0 innings giving up no runs on one hit. Starter Katie Pfost pitched 5.0 innings giving up five earned runs on 11 hits.
Southeast Missouri 5, Morehead State 4
Game two proved to be a nail biter, similar to game one. Southeast held a 5-2 lead going to the seventh inning. Morehead was able to put two runs in the frame but the Redhawks held on to force the doubleheader split.
The Redhawks got on the board in a big way early in the game. With runners in scoring position, Cowan stepped in an drilled a single to plate two. Two more runs were added when C. Smith singled and advanced on a fielding error, allowing two runs to score; 4-0 Redhawks after one inning.
MSU scored a run in the second on a passed ball but Southeast got the run back on an effective double steal; as Cowan was caught up in a run-down between first and second, L. Patterson took the opportunity to steal home; 5-1 after two innings.
The Eagles were able to inch closer to the Redhawks in the sixth with an RBI single by Katie Raile; 5-2 Southeast.
With a three-run lead going to the seventh, the Eagles had runners on second and third with two out, Sommer came up big again with a two-RBI single, coming within one run. With runners still in scoring position, Clemons caught the last out of the game looking at the plate.
Morehead State outhit Southeast 11-8.
Anderson finished 5-for-8 on the day with four runs scored. Wilson had two hits in the contest while Cowan had two RBI.
Riddle went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Four Eagle batters combined for the other eight hits, each adding two. On the day, Southeast turned four double plays.
Starter L. Patterson (3-2) earned the victory, pitching 2.0 innings giving up one unearned run on only one hit. Lauren Reinagel pitched 3.0 innings, giving up one run on five hits.
The Redhawk's eight-game home swing will come to a close Thursday, Apr. 25, when Southern Illinois comes to Cape Girardeau for a single game at 5 p.m.
