OXFORD, Ala. – Sammi Miller hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning and that was the difference as second-seeded Eastern Kentucky (34-15) edged top-seeded Southeast Missouri (29-16), 2-1, Friday morning in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
EKU moved on to Saturday's OVC Championship round, while SEMO will face the winner of third-seeded Austin Peay and fourth-seeded Jacksonville State in an elimination game at 6 p.m., CT tonight.
Miller, who scored both of EKU's runs, led off the third inning with a home run over the right field wall. Her round-tripper broke a 1-1 deadlock and neither team scored the rest of the way.
EKU struck first in its opening at-bat of the game.
Miller was hit by the first pitch of the contest and came around to score with the help of back-to-back singles by Zoe Mihalicz and Carly Robinson giving the Colonels a 1-0 advantage.
The Redhawks quickly answered with a two-out rally to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning.
Kaylee Anderson and
Ashley Ellis drew back-to-back walks before OVC All-Newcomer selection
Katie Dreiling knocked in Anderson on a two-out single to center.
SEMO had just three runners on base in the final five innings of the contest, one of which reached on a hit (single by Anderson in the bottom of the third).
Austine Pauley got on via a wild pitch in the third and Ellis walked in the sixth inning for the Redhawks other baserunners.
Mollie Paulick (12-1) was credited with the win. Paulick struck out six, walked there and allowed one run on two hits in 4.1 innings. Samantha Renoso pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of one-hit softball for the Colonels, as well.
Paytience Holman (7-7) went the distance allowing two runs and three hits. Holman also struck out two and walked none in her sixth complete game this year. She retired 15 of her last 16 hitters of the game following Miller's home run in the third inning.
Anderson, Dreiling and
Alyson Tucker each had a hit for SEMO, while Miller, Mihalicz and Robinson had one hit apiece for EKU.
