OXFORD, Ala.– Haley Thogmartin and Kaylee Anderson combined on a four-hit shutout, Rachel Anderson broke the school's single-season hits record and #1 Southeast Missouri (42-15) used a big four-run first inning to blank #5 Eastern Kentucky (32-19), 6-0, Thursday in Ohio Valley Conference Tournament action.
 
SEMO gave OVC Coach of the Year Mark Redburn his first OVC Tournament victory as the Redhawks recorded their first shutout in a conference tournament game since 2011 (4-0, vs. Eastern Illinois).
 
"Anytime we can get on a pitcher early and knock them out of the game that usually means good things happen," said Redburn. "We did that and came out with great energy. It starts with pitching and I thought Haley and Kaylee did a great job. Both teams made some great plays in the outfield and I thought we ran the bases really well."
 
The Redhawks wasted no time jumping all over the Colonels.
 
SEMO chased EKU starter Bethany Todd immediately after scoring three runs on one hit and drawing two walks in only one-third of an inning. The Redhawks pressured EKU into making a pair of pitching changes before two outs were even recorded in the game.
 
Mykaela Arellanes led the game off with a walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Rachel Anderson singled up the middle and Arellanes scored. Anderson's hit marked her 74th of the season setting a new single-season hits record for the Redhawks. 
 
First-Team All-OVC pick Ashley Ellis followed with a walk before Addison Barnouski greeted EKU reliever Peyton Hutchens with a single to bring home R. Anderson. On the next play, K. Anderson ripped a double down the line into the left field corner allowing both Barnouski and Ellis to score, giving SEMO a 4-0 advantage. SEMO sent 10 hitters to the plate in its huge first inning.
 
The Redhawks tacked on another run in the second inning and one more in the third to complete their 14th shutout victory of 2019.
 
Claudia Gallo, a Second-Team All-OVC selection, walked and made it to third with the help of a sacrifice bunt by R. Anderson and single by Ellis. Ellis was then caught up in a rundown attempting to steal second base and Gallo crossed home plate in the second.
 
Sarah Messex reached on a one-out walk in the third inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Arellanes drove in Messex on a single to right widening SEMO's lead to 6-0.
 
Thogmartin (20-6), who made her 28th start in the circle, became the first 20-win pitcher in the Redhawks NCAA Division I era. She bounced back from an ankle injury she suffered in SEMO's regular-season finale against Morehead State to pitch a brilliant game six days later.
 
A First-Team All-OVC selection, Thogmartin retired the first seven hitters she faced and tossed a no-hitter through the first 2.1 innings. She worked 4.2 innings allowing just three hits, while striking out four and walking one.
 
K. Anderson relieved Thogmartin with two outs and a runner on second in the fifth inning. She struck out Sammi Miller to end the frame. K. Anderson struck out three and gave up one hit in 2.1 solid innings out of the bullpen.
 
Defensively, the OVC's top fielding team was outstanding behind Thogmartin and K. Anderson. OVC Player of the Year R. Anderson made a diving catch in center field and Arellanes hung on for a great catch in foul territory after running into the padded brick wall along the first base side for a couple of highlight reel plays.
 
SEMO outhit EKU, 8-4, with each of the first six hitters in the Redhawks lineup getting a hit. Arellanes, Gallo, R. Anderson, Ellis and Barnouski all hit safely and scored. Barnouski paved the way by going 2-for-3. Messex added a hit and scored as well.
 
"It's awesome and feels amazing," said R. Anderson. "We jumped on them early and our bats were hot. Our defense played phenomenal and we made a lot of great plays."
 
The Redhawks won their fifth-straight game and picked up their seventh win in eight contests. SEMO defeated the Colonels for the third time this season. The win was also SEMO's third in its OVC Tournament history against EKU.
 
SEMO moves on to face #2 Jacksonville State Friday at 1:30 p.m., CT. The tournament's top two seeds meet again after splitting a doubleheader on Apr. 28.