Final Statistics Game 1 | Final Statistics Game 2

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (15-23, 9-11) hit eight home runs in a 6-0, 9-4, doubleheader sweep of Eastern Illinois (16-24, 11-10) Saturday afternoon at the Southeast Softball Complex.
 
It was a record day for Southeast's softball club, as Kayla Fortner broke the school's all-time single-season home run record. The Redhawks then made even a bigger statement in the nightcap, slugging six home runs to tie the Ohio Valley Conference single-game record. Interestingly enough, the six home runs tied EIU for the league's single-game record, a feat the Panthers initially accomplished during a 10-2 win over Southeast in Cape Girardeau on Mar. 31, 2010.
 
In all, five different players hit long balls for Southeast today. Fortner, Savannah Carpenter and Riley Hayes each homered twice, while Lindsey Patterson and Darby Pruett added one apiece.
 
"I never experienced anything like this in my coaching career," said Southeast head coach Mark Redburn. "It's a testament to our team. We knew this was a big weekend and wanted to make sure our players stayed focused. I thought they did a great job today."
 
The six home runs in game two were not only a single-game team record for Southeast, but they tied for fifth-most in a game in NCAA Division I softball. Southeast homered three times in two different innings, and as a result, tied the third-most total of round-trippers in an inning for NCAA Division I.
 
Southeast Missouri 6, Eastern Illinois 0
 
Fortner went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two RBI, two walks and broke Southeast Missouri's single-season home run record in the Redhawks game one victory.
 
In her first at-bat of the game, Fortner drove Jessica Wireman's 2-1 pitch deep over the left field wall to give Southeast an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Fortner, who has 16 home runs through 38 starts this year, surpassed the previous mark of 14 set by Michelle Summers in 2007.
 
"Honestly, it's awesome and I couldn't have done it without the coaches," said Fortner. "Today was a lot of fun and it was great seeing everyone else hit too. We feel like we are playing with some fire. We're not pushing too hard and we're just playing the right way."
 
Southeast loaded the bases and blew the game open with four runs in the fifth.
 
Nicole Deering singled to left field and went to second on a bunt single by Alexis Anderson. Fortner walked to put Redhawks at every base before Carpenter hit into a fielder's choice. Patterson followed with a two-RBI single up the middle before Hayes belted a two-run home run to center, extending Southeast's lead to 5-0.
 
Fortner scored Deering on a two-out single up the middle to polish off the 6-0 win in the sixth.
 
Madeline Krumrey (10-9) tossed her second complete game shutout of the season, allowing just four hits in seven innings. Krumrey struck out five and walked one, facing 25 hitters.
 
Wireman (9-11) suffered the loss. She scattered nine hits and gave up six runs, while walking four and striking out two in six innings.
 
Seven of Southeast's nine starters had a hit, with Fortner leading the way.
 
Southeast Missouri 9, Eastern Illinois 4
 
Southeast Missouri homered three times in the first and third innings to set the tone in its 9-4 game two win.
 
For the first time this season, the Redhawks hit back-to-back-to-back home runs when Fortner, Carpenter and Patterson each delivered solo shots in the bottom of the third.
 
Two innings later, Carpenter led things off with her second home run of the game. Hayes and Pruett then joined in with homers of their own to push Southeast's lead to 6-0 in the third.
 
A two-RBI single by Patterson and a sacrifice fly by Jamie Woodworth plated three more runs for Southeast in the fourth.
 
EIU, which went scoreless for 11 innings, ended its drought with three runs in the top of the fifth. The Panthers tacked on one more run in the seventh.
 
Keaira Schilling (4-9) picked up the complete game victory, allowing four runs on six hits. Schilling struck out three and walked two, as well.
 
Michelle Rogers (6-12) took the loss for EIU. Rogers lasted just one-third of an inning, giving up three runs on four hits.
 
Patterson went 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI and Carpenter finished at 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two homers and two RBI to pace the Redhawks.
 
On the day, Fortner went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs, four runs scored, three RBI and four walks.
 
Southeast, which clinched its third series win of the season, plays EIU in its final home game Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., CT. Seniors Fortner, Patterson, Anderson, Woodworth and Meaghan Touchette will be honored prior to the contest.