MARTIN, Tenn.  – Timely hitting, strong pitching and excellent defense led Southeast Missouri (30-9, 8-2) to a pair of shutouts over UT Martin (25-17, 7-5) Wednesday in Ohio Valley Conference action at Bettye Giles Field.
 
SEMO blanked UTM in consecutive games for the first time since 1998. The Redhawks also became the first in the OVC to win 30 games this season. SEMO, after posting 33 wins a year ago, won 30 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1999 and 2000.
 
The doubleheader sweep, SEMO's third in league play, moved the Redhawks into a first-place tie with Murray State. SEMO hosts the Racers in a key twin bill Sunday.
 
Senior Haley Thogmartin was outstanding in the circle again, tossing both her team-high sixth complete game and second shutout of the season in game one. She sat the Skyhawks down in order in five innings as no UTM baserunners made it past first base.
 
The Redhawks were tough defensively behind Thogmartin turning two double plays. SEMO, which leads the OVC in fielding double plays, has turned 19 this year. Ashley Ellis made a diving catch in foul territory to double up the Skyhawks in the first inning. Sarah Messex then turned a double play immediately after a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth.
 
SEMO scored the game's only run early and that was all Thogmartin needed to claim her 13th win of the season.
 
Mykaela Arellanes hit a leadoff single up the middle and went to second on a one-out sacrifice bunt by Rachel Anderson. Ellis ripped a two-out single down the third base line on a 3-2 count and Arellanes scored to put SEMO ahead, 1-0. It marked the 15th game the Redhawks scored in the first inning improving their record to 14-1 in such contests.
 
SEMO outhit UTM, 5-3, with Arellanes, Claudia Gallo, Ellis, Kaylee Anderson and Parker Bandy each contributing a base hit.
 
Thogmartin (13-2) went her fourth-straight appearance without allowing an earned run. Her 13 wins are the most in a season during her four-year career. Thogmartin struck out three, did not allow a walk and threw 67 pitches in what ended up being SEMO's quickest game (1 hour, 23 minutes) thus far. She dropped her ERA to a stifling 0.45 in conference games.
 
Clinging to a 1-0 lead after five innings, SEMO pulled away for good with the help of two home runs in the nightcap.
 
Ellis clobbered a two-run home run to straightaway center with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. For Ellis, it was her team-high 10^thround-tripper of the season.
 
SEMO grounded the Skyhawks for good with three runs on four hits in the seventh.
 
Arellanes doubled and pinch-runner Mackenzie Long scored. On the next play, Gallo hit an opposite field home run to stretch the Redhawks lead to 6-0. Gallo collected her fifth home run this year.
 
The Redhawks made more big plays on defense to keep UTM off the scoreboard. Messex made a tremendous play deep in the hole between short and third to throw out Chelsey Gore at third base for a huge out in the fifth. 
 
After UTM opened its final at-bat with back-to-back base hits, SEMO responded by turning its third double play of the game. Not to mention, Kaylee Anderson recorded three-straight outs after the Skyhawks had runners at first and second.
 
K. Anderson (3-1) picked up the win in relief. She tossed four scoreless innings with one strikeout. Rachel Rook also had a hand in the shutout holding UTM scoreless for the first three frames.
 
SEMO finished with 11 hits in game two. Arellanes paved the way going 5-for-8 with three runs scored, a double, home run and two RBI for the doubleheader. Ellis, like Arellanes, had three hits in game two alone.
 
The Redhawks return home to host Austin Peay in a doubleheader Friday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m., CT, at the Southeast Softball Complex.