Southeast Missouri (38-15) at Saint Louis (15-30)

Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2019
First Pitch: 4 p.m., CT 
Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Facility: Billiken Sports Center
Series History: SEMO leads, 71-28
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: SLUBillikens.com
Twitter: @SEMOsoftball
Southeast Missouri Notes (PDF)

Morehead State (2-39, 0-18 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (38-15, 15-5 OVC) 

Date: Saturday, May 4, 2019
First Pitch: 1 p.m., CT (DH)
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Southeast Softball Complex (600)
Series History: SEMO leads, 59-22
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2
Twitter: @SEMOsoftball
Southeast Missouri Notes (PDF)
 

Final Stretch
Southeast Missouri (38-15, 15-5) hits the final stretch of its regular season this week. The Redhawks visit Saint Louis (15-30) for a 4 p.m., CT, midweek game Wednesday before returning home to host Morehead State (2-39, 0-18) in a 1 p.m., CT, doubleheader Saturday.

Follow the Redhawks
Live stats for Wednesday's game will be available online at SLUBillikens.com and video is at ESPN+. Live stats for Saturday's doubleheader will be available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOsoftball.

Series History
Southeast Missouri leads its all-time series against Saint Louis by a count of 71-28. The Redhawks edged the Billikens, 4-3, in Cape Girardeau on Apr. 17. SEMO beat SLU in each of the last three  meetings in the series. The Redhawks hold a 59-22 record all-time against Morehead State. SEMO beat the Eagles in three of the last four contests.

OVC Title in Sight
If Southeast Missouri sweeps Morehead State Saturday, it will earn a share of the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season softball title. Jacksonville State (17-5) already clinched a share of this year's crown. SEMO (15-5) and Austin Peay (13-5) are also in position to get a piece of the prize. The Redhawks last won a OVC regular-season tile in 1999. That year was also the last time SEMO won the OVC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. 

RPI Rating
Southeast Missouri boasts a RPI of 64 (through games Apr. 28). Fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Jacksonville State (85) also ranks among the top 100 in RPI. 

Records Are Falling
The 2019 Southeast Missouri softball team has broken six single-season records through 
53 games. Here is that list:
New Record    Previous Record
306 Runs Scored    277 (1998)    
63 Home Runs    57 (2007)    
719 Total Bases    668 (2011)    
79 Stolen Bases    70 (2018)
103 Stolen Base Att.    88 (2017)
8 Saves    7 (2018)

On Target
Southeast Missouri is two victories away from breaking its all-time record for wins in a season during its NCAA Division I era. That record currently stands at 39 during the 1996 campaign. The record for most wins in a season in program history is 40 during the 1986 season.

Senior Class
Southeast Missouri's senior class consisting of Mykaela Arellanes, Parker Bandy, Mackenzie Long, Sarah Messex and Haley Thogmartin have won a total of 110 games during their Southeast Missouri careers (2016-19). This year's senior class won the most games since the 1996-1999 group (141). 

Anderson Approaching Single-Season Hits Record
With her Ohio Valley Conference high 69 hits, center fielder Rachel Anderson is just five away from breaking Southeast Missouri's all-time single-season record in that category. Carmen Fowler presently holds that record with 73 hits in 2011. Anderson shares the second-place spot with Evan Sallis (69, 2012) on the list. Anderson has a total of 23 multiple-hit games this season and 56 in her career.

35 or More Wins
Southeast Missouri is one of 17 teams in the nation with 38 or more wins this season (as of games through Apr. 28). The Redhawks rank 33rd in the country with a .717 winning percentage at 38-15 overall. Here is the list of teams with 38 or more victories in NCAA Division I softball this year:
Oklahoma    45-2 (.957)
UCLA    43-2 (.956)
Louisiana    46-4 (.920)
Alabama    47-6 (.887)
Northwestern    41-7 (.854)
James Madison    41-7 (.854)
Florida State    45-8 (.849)
Washington    39-7 (.848)
Virginia Tech    43-8 (.843)
Arizona    40-8 (.833)
LSU    40-12 (.769)
Texas    39-12 (.765)
USC Upstate    40-13 (.755)
Florida    39-13 (.750)
Louisiana Tech    39-13 (.750)
South Florida    38-15 (.717)
Southeast Missouri    38-15 (.717)

OVC Tournament Bound 
For the second-straight season and third time in five years under head coach Mark Redburn, Southeast Missouri is headed to the Ohio Valley Conference Softball Tournament. The 2019 campaign will mark SEMO's 18th OVC Tournament appearance. This year's event will be held May 8-11 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. The Redhawks will get their seed at the end of league play this weekend. Jacksonville State, Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, Belmont and UT Martin have also clinched spots. The final spot will go to either SIU Edwardsville or Tennessee Tech.

Welcome to the Top 10
Haley Thogmartin joined Southeast Missouri's top 10 single-season wins leaders when she picked up her 17th victory against Jacksonville State (Apr. 28). Thogmartin is 17-6 in the circle this year. Her 17 victories are a career-high. She ranks fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference in earned run average (1.84), fifth in innings pitched (140.2), seventh in strikeouts (114), third in wins and tied for third in games started (25).

More Records in Reach
Southeast Missouri is close to breaking three more of the school's single-season records in 2019. The Redhawks have 267 RBI and need 10 more to surpass the current record of 276 set by the 1986 team. SEMO's pitchers have recorded 268 strikeouts and are six away from breaking the record of 273 (2009).

Ellis Close to Home Run Record
Junior first baseman Ashley Ellis needs two home runs to break Southeast Missouri's single-season record. Ellis leads the team and ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 15 round-trippers this year. Kayla Fortner presently holds the school's single-season record with 16 in 2015.

Anderson Among National Leaders
Center fielder Rachel Anderson ranks among national leaders in batting average (11th, .451), hits (9th, 69), triples per game (5th, 0.15), total bases (10th, 130), triples (3rd, 8), on-base percentage (11th, .545) and slugging percentage (18th, .850). Anderson is one of 11 players in the country hitting over .450.

Redhawks Beat Jacksonville State
Southeast Missouri split its final road doubleheader of the season at Ohio Valley Conference leader Jacksonville State (Apr. 28). After dropping game one, 1-0, SEMO rallied to win the nightcap, 3-1. Rachel Anderson narrowly missed hitting for the cycle going 3-for-3 with a double, run scored, home run and two RBI. It marked just the second time the Redhawks beat JSU in Jacksonville.

Ellis Breaks Single-Season RBI Record
Ashley Ellis hit a pair of home runs, scored three times and broke Southeast Missouri's all-time single-season RBI record in game two of a doubleheader at Tennessee Tech (Apr. 26). Ellis hit multiple home runs in a game for the second time this season and third in her career. Her 51 RBI surpassed the previous record of 48 held by Kayla Fortner (2015) and Renee Kertz (2011). 

10-Home Run Trio
For the first time in program history, Southeast Missouri has three players with 10 or more home runs in a season. Ashley Ellis leads the way with 15, while Rachel Anderson and Claudia Gallo follow with 11 and 10, respectively.

Welcome to the Club
Ashley Ellis became the fourth different player to break a Southeast Missouri single-season record this year. Ellis recently set a new RBI record with 51. Rachel Anderson (130 total bases), Mykaela Arellanes (50 runs scored) and Claudia Gallo (16 hit by pitch) are the others. 

Conference Winning Percentage 
At 15-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play, Southeast Missouri presently has a .750 winning percentage in league games. That is the Redhawks highest conference winning percentage since they finished the 2001 season at 16-5 (.761). If SEMO sweeps Morehead State Saturday, it will finish with 17 league victories, its most since 2011 (17-12).

Home Run Record
Southeast Missouri established a new single-season record in home runs this year. The Redhawks rank 27th in the nation in home runs per game (1.19) and have collected 63 through 53 contests. The school's previous single-season record was 57 in 2007. SEMO hit a home run in 31 games this season and went 18 of those contests with two or more. Ten different Redhawks have homered in 2019.

That Was Fast
The Redhawks became the quickest team in the Ohio Valley Conference to 30 wins when they beat UT Martin, 1-0, 6-0, on Apr. 10. Southeast Missouri, presently with 38 victories for the year, has its most wins in a season since 1998 (38). The Redhawks posted 30 or more wins in consecutive  seasons for the first time since 1999 (31-17) and 2000 (31-24). SEMO has a total of seventeen 30-win seasons in its program history. 

Arellanes Breaks Single-Season Runs Record
Mykaela Arellanes broke Southeast Missouri's all-time single-season record in runs scored in the Redhawks doubleheader sweep of Eastern Illinois (Apr. 20). Arellanes leads the Ohio Valley Conference in runs scored. Her 50 runs this season surpassed the school's previous record of 48 by Kim Palmer in 1998.

Top of the OVC
The Redhawks lead the Ohio Valley Conference in batting average (.302), slugging percentage (.516), fielding percentage (.968), runs (306), hits (420), RBI (267), doubles (74),  triples (20), home runs (63), total bases (719), hit by pitch (38), batters struck out looking (74), wins (38) and fielding double plays (22). Individually, Rachel Anderson leads the OVC in batting average (.451), slugging percentage (.850), on-base percentage (.545), hits (69), triples (8), walks (30) and total bases (130); Mykaela Arellanes leads the conference in runs scored (50); Ashley Ellis is first in RBI (51) and fielding double plays (14); and Claudia Gallo leads the league in hit by pitch (16).

Aiming for 20
Pitcher Haley Thogmartin enters the week with a 17-6 record inside the circle. Thogmartin is three wins away from reaching 20 this season. If that happens, Thogmartin will become the first pitcher to win 20 games in a season during Southeast Missouri's NCAA Division I era (since 1992). Debbie Schmelz (19-6, 1998), Elaine Fisher (19-20, 2008) and Giana Zimmerman (19-9, 2009) have come the closest to hitting that mark since the Redhawks turned Division I. Fisher is the school's all-time single-season leader with 30 wins in 1991, while SEMO's last pitcher to win 20 games was Missy Sanges (20-7) in 1989.

200th Start
Sarah Messex made her 200th career start at shortstop against Missouri (Apr. 23). Messex has never missed a start in her four-year career. She is one of five players who started all 53 games this season. Messex (205 starts) became the fifth player in Southeast Missouri softball history to start over 200 games. The others are Renee Kertz (214, 2009-12), Carmen Fowler (209, 2008-11), Michelle Summers (208, 2005-08) and Megan McDonald (207, 2005-08).

Redhawks at Home
Southeast Missouri is 8-3 at home this season and has a winning record at the Southeast Softball Complex for the second-straight year. Combined, the Redhawks are 21-6 (.778) at home in those two seasons (2018, 2019).

11 Shutout Victories
Southeast Missouri posted its 11th shutout victory of the season when it defeated Tennessee Tech, 1-0, on Apr. 26. The Redhawks have been involved in 14 shutouts this year and are 11-3 in those contests.

Anderson Goes Over 100 RBI
Rachel Anderson reached 100 career RBI with her two-run home run against Murray State (Apr. 15). Anderson, now with 106 RBI, has gone over the 100 career mark in four statistical categories. The others are runs (115), hits (188) and starts (156).

Thogmartin Clears 100 Strikeouts
Pitcher Haley Thogmartin went over 100 strikeouts when she recorded five against Saint Louis (Apr. 17). Thogmartin's 114 strikeouts currently rank seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference. It is the first time in her career that she has tallied more than 100 strikeouts in a season. In all, eight pitchers have gone over 100 strikeouts in the OVC during the 2019 campaign.

On the Road
Southeast Missouri holds a 15-7 record in true road games this season. The Redhawks have the best road record of any team in the Ohio Valley Conference.

50 Conference Wins
Mark Redburn picked up his 50th career Ohio Valley Conference win when Southeast Missouri beat Eastern Kentucky on Apr. 1. SEMO also has 16 doubleheader sweeps in OVC play with Redburn at the helm.

Hurts So Good
Claudia Gallo has been hit by pitch an Ohio Valley Conference and Southeast Missouri single-season high 16 times this year. SEMO hitters have been plunked on 38 occasions through 53 games, most in the conference in 2019. She surpassed Brooke Nett (14, 2001) for the school's new single-season mark. Gallo has been hit by a pitch 26 times in her career. Nett is SEMO's career leader in hit by pitch (35, 2000-03).

Getting Ahead Early
Southeast Missouri has scored in the first inning in 25 games this season and is 19-6 in those contests. The Redhawks have scored first 33 times this year and are 30-3 in such games. SEMO scored a total of 58 runs in the first inning, most in any inning this year.

Career Snapshot
Rachel Anderson ranks among Southeast Missouri's top 10 career leaders in a number of different categories. Anderson currently rates first in triples (22), batting average (.412) and slugging percentage (.706); third in total bases (322) and stolen bases (49); fifth in walks (75); fourth in runs scored (115); fifth in home runs (19); and fifth in hits (188). She also has 56 multiple-hit games and 28 multiple-RBI performances in three years as a Redhawk.

Strong to the Finish
The Redhawks have also been strong late in games to this point in the season. Southeast Missouri is a perfect 26-0 when leading after six innings. The Redhawks have outscored their opponents, 58-31, between the sixth (31-21) and seventh (27-14) innings.

Awesome Defense
Defensively, Southeast Missouri has gone 25 games without committing an error this season. Overall, SEMO is 34-7 in games where it has one or no errors. The Redhawks are tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .968 fielding percentage.  

Top-30 in the Nation
Southeast Missouri ranks among the top 30 NCAA Division I teams in three different categories. Entering this week, the Redhawks are seventh in triples per game (0.38), 21st in slugging percentage (.516) and 27th in home runs per game (1.20).

Individual Attention
Eight Redhawks currently rank in the national NCAA Division I softball statistics this week. Here is a list of those who rate among the top 30 individuals: 
Rachel Anderson
3rd in Triples (8)
5th in Triples Per Game (0.15)
9th in Hits (69)
10th in Total Bases (130)
11th in BAvg (.451)
11th in OB% (.545)
18th in SLG% (.850)
Claudia Gallo    
21st in HBP Per Game (0.33)
Ashley Ellis    
23rd in RBI (51)

Tough Trio
Pitchers Haley Thogmartin, Alexis Estes and Rachel Rook are all over 100 strikeouts in their respective Southeast Missouri careers. Thogmartin recorded 251, Estes has 119 and Rook has 127. That trio has also combined for 68 wins, including 32 this season alone.

Bombs Away
Ashley Ellis (24), Rachel Anderson (19), Addison Barnouski (17), Sarah Messex (17), Mykaela Arellanes (12) and Claudia Gallo (12) are Southeast Missouri's active players with over 10 career home runs. That group has accounted for 56 of Southeast Missouri's 63 round-trippers this season. 

Over .300
The Redhawks are the only Ohio Valley Conference team with a batting average above .300 this season. Southeast Missouri is hitting a league-high .302, five points ahead of Belmont (.297). Five of SEMO's starters are hitting .333 or better, including Rachel Anderson (.451), Mykaela Arellanes (.350), Ashley Ellis (.346), Addison Barnouski (.338) and Claudia Gallo (.333).

Stealing the Show
Rachel Anderson leads the Redhawks with 22-of-30 stolen bases and Mykaela Arellanes is 13-of-14 on the basepaths this season. As a team, Southeast Missouri is 79-of-103 in stolen bases. The Redhawks 79 stolen bases are a new single season school record. That surpassed the previous record of 70 done by last year's team (70-of-87).

Top 10 Base Stealers
Rachel Anderson and Mykaela Arellanes are among Southeast Missouri's top 10 career leaders in stolen bases. Anderson ranks third with 49-of-69 stolen bases and Arellanes is tied for fifth with 38-of-43. Lisa Thornton (82-of-91, 1987-91) currently holds the record.

On the Run
The Redhawks have averaged over 60 stolen bases per season (62.4) under head coach Mark Redburn for a total of 312 over five years. Redburn's 2018 (1st, 70), 2017 (3rd, 65) and 2016 (5th, 58) clubs are among SEMO's top five single-season stolen base leaders in program history.

Scoring Jump
Southeast Missouri scored an Ohio Valley Conference high 306 runs (5.8 per game) this season. The Redhawks scored 48 more runs than they did in 53 total games (258) a year ago. The 306 runs are a SEMO single-season record.

Starting Streaks
Two Redhawks have never missed a start in their careers. Senior shortstop Sarah Messex has started 205 consecutive games and junior center fielder Rachel Anderson has made 156 straight starts. 

More with 100 Starts
In addition to Sarah Messex and Rachel Anderson, junior first baseman Ashley Ellis, senior second baseman Parker Bandy, senior right fielder Mykaela Arellanes and junior third baseman Addison Barnouski have started over 100 games at Southeast Missouri. Ellis logged a total of 153 starts, Bandy started 146 contests, Arellanes has started 145 and Barnouski started 126 games. 

10 or More Hits
The Redhawks registered 10 or more hits in 20 games this season with a season-high 14 vs. Abilene Christian (Feb. 15), at Central Arkansas (Mar. 1) and at Tennessee State (Mar. 23). Southeast Missouri outhit its opponent in 34 games and is 33-1 in those contests. SEMO's 420 hits lead the Ohio Valley Conference.

Triple Threat
Center fielder Rachel Anderson, right fielder Mykaela Arellanes and first baseman Ashley Ellis have provided Southeast Missouri with a nice one-two-three punch at the top half of its lineup. Anderson leads the team with a .451 batting average, while Arellanes is hitting .350 and Ellis is hitting .346. The trio has combined for 179 hits, 121 runs, 24 doubles, 11 triples, 33 home runs and 123 RBI this season.

Experienced Infield
First baseman Ashley Ellis (153), second baseman Parker Bandy (146), shortstop Sarah Messex (205) and third baseman Addison Barnouski (126) have combined for 630 career starts on Southeast Missouri's infield. Ellis (.346) and Barnouski (.338) rank third and fourth on the team in batting average, respectively.

Every Start
A total of five players have started all 53 games for the Redhawks this season. Rachel Anderson (CF), Ashley Ellis (1B), Addison Barnouski (3B), Mykaela Arellanes (RF) and Sarah Messex (SS) form that group.