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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Head softball coach Lana Richmond earned her 600th career NCAA Division I victory with the win over Southern Illinois University (21-25) Thursday evening. Southeast Missouri (15-27) scored a season-high 14 runs in the 14-7 win.
“Our offense hit extremely well this evening,” Richmond said. “Kelsey Gass set the tone in the first inning throwing a runner out at the plate from left field. Elysia Mesa come in the game late and played tremendous defense to help close out the game. We plan on using the momentum from this win going into a crucial OVC weekend at Austin Peay.”
Alexis Anderson led off the Redhawks half of the first with a triple to center field. Anderson was plated by Lindsey Patterson with a hit up the middle. With Taylor Cowan on base and Simone Patterson, the Redhawks home run leader, at the plate, S. Patterson blasted her seventh home run of the season way over the left field wall to go up 3-0.
Kaitlin Zink led off the second inning with the Redhawks second home run of the game shortly followed by Anderson blasting a two-run home run to center field, 6-0 Redhawks.
The Salukis narrowed the six run deficit in the third when they scored a runner from third base on a Redhawk error. SIU loaded the bases but Cowan worked out of a jam to preserve the five run lead.
With the bases loaded and two out in the top of the fifth, Caylee Cook drew a walk to begin a six-run frame for the Salukis. With bases still loaded, Kelsey Gonzalez singled through the left side to plate two more runs. Morgan Barchan followed up with a double to plate two runs and tie the game at six runs apiece. The Salukis scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single by Jayna Spivy.
In the Redhawks half of the fifth, the offense came alive to match the Saluki six-run frame. With bases loaded and one out, S. Patterson reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Anderson and tying up the game. Chelsea Smith followed up with a single to plate Xia Wilson. Zink came up with a single of her own to center to drive in two more. Hannah Clemons wrapped up the scoring in the fifth with another two-RBI single, 12-7 Redhawks.
Southeast added to their lead in the sixth with an RBI triple by L. Patterson who was driven in on an S. Patterson single, 14-7 Southeast.
The Redhawks outhit SIU 14-11 in the contest.
Anderson fell a double short of hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Wilson, L. Patterson, S. Patterson, C. Smith, and Zink all recorded two hits. S. Patterson recorded a career-high four RBI.
Spivey had three hits for the Salukis while Kelsey Ashton and Gonzalez added two hits each in the game.
Cowan (7-18) recorded her first win since Mar. 24 against Tennessee State. Cowan worked 5.0 innings, giving up five earned runs, striking out three batters and walking four.
Brittney Lang (11-14) pitched 4.2 innings in relief, giving up eight runs on nine hits, striking out five Redhawk batters.
Due to impending weather in Clarksville, Tenn., Southeast's game against Austin Peay have been pushed back one day. Sunday will be a doubleheader at noon followed by a single game Monday at noon against the Lady Govs.
