OXFORD, Ala. – Freshman
Kelby Robinson delivered a go-ahead RBI-single and
Kaylee Anderson followed with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to send top-seeded Southeast Missouri (30-16) to a thrilling 4-3 victory over fourth-seeded Jacksonville State (24-25) Friday night at Choccolocco Park.
SEMO eliminated JSU from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for the second-straight time and advances to face second-seeded Eastern Kentucky in Saturday's Championship. First pitch is set for 12 p.m., CT.
Tied, 1-1,
Rachel Anderson got things going in the eighth inning with a one-out single. Anderson went to second on a passed ball and scored the go-ahead run on Robinson's hit to center. Anderson beat the tag on a close play at the plate and Robinson picked up the first RBI of her career.
On the next play, K. Anderson belted a home run that sailed over the left center wall to put SEMO ahead, 4-1. The round-tripper marked Anderson's third of the tournament.
JSU pulled to within a run on a two-run home run by Jada Terry in its final at-bat in the eighth. The Gamecocks then had runners on first and second with two outs when
Paytience Holman relieved starter
Rachel Rook. Holman struck out pinch hitter Reagan Watkins.
"It was a battle and both teams fought hard until the very end," said SEMO head coach
Mark Redburn. "After Rachel got on base, Kelby and Kaylee also had clutch hits. We tried a lot of different things and came up big late. What a great game!"
SEMO took the game's first lead in the top of the third inning, where
Austine Pauley ripped a leadoff single to left field and went to second on an ensuing walk by
Jillian Anderson.
Alyson Tucker moved the runners on a sacrifice bunt and
Kynzie Wrigley walked to load the bases. R. Anderson flied out to center and Pauley scored to give the Redhawks a 1-0 lead.
JSU managed to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Alexus Jimmerson led off with a double to left center. Jimmerson, after going to third on a passed ball with two outs, stole home on the front end of a double steal to make it a 1-1 ballgame.
Rook (20-8) won her 20th game of the season and moved into a tie for fifth with Missy Sanges (20 wins, 1989) on SEMO's all-time single-season wins list. She allowed four hits and three runs, and struck out nine in 7.2 innings.
Holman's huge game-ending strikeout nailed down her first career save.
"That was big for Paytience," said Redburn. "To be able to come in at that moment and shut them down like that should give her a lot of confidence. She also pitched great in the first game against Eastern Kentucky today."
Nicole Rodriguez (8-9) suffered the loss. Rodriguez went the distance allowing four runs on seven hits in eight innings. She also struck out 13 and walked two.
Both Rook and Rodriguez threw a total of 133 pitches.
R. Anderson went 3-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI to lead SEMO which tallied seven hits. K. Anderson followed with two hits and a run scored, while Pauley and Robinson both added a hit and a run.
Through three OVC Tournament games, K. Anderson is hitting .625 (5-for-8) with five runs, three home runs, eight RBI, a 1.750 slugging percentage and .700 on-base percentage.
SEMO won its 30th game marking the 18th time in program history where it recorded 30 or more wins in a season. The 30-win season is the Redhawks third since the 2018 campaign.
The Redhawks, who make back-to-back OVC Championship appearances for the first time since 1998 and 1999, must beat the Colonels twice to claim the title.
