2022 Ohio Valley Conference Softball Tournament

Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Opponent: #5 Austin Peay (30-22) or #8 SIU Edwardsville (18-33)
First Pitch: 5:30 p.m., CT
Location:  Oxford, Ala.
Facility: Choccolocco Park
Tournament Field: #1 Murray State, #2 Belmont, #3 UT Martin, #4 SEMO, #5 Austin Peay, #6 Tennessee Tech, #7 Eastern Illinois, #8 SIUE

Follow the Redhawks
Video: ESPN+ 
Live Stats: OVCSports.com
Twitter: @SEMOSoftball
OVC Tournament Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
OVC Tournament Central: OVCSports.com | Bracket (PDF)

Postseason Time
#4 Southeast Missouri (27-22) faces either #5 Austin Peay (30-22) or #8 SIU Edwardsville (18-33) in the opening day of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Wednesday. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m., CT at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.

Follow the Redhawks
Video for all games of the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament can be accessed online at ESPN+. Live stats are available at OVCSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOsoftball.

OVC Tournament Record
Southeast Missouri is 45-30 all-time at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. SEMO made the championship round in each of its previous two appearances. The Redhawks, who were the top seed in both the 2019 and 2021 tournaments, won the title when they beat #2 Jacksonville State twice in 2019 and finished second to #2 Eastern Kentucky in 2021. 

Redhawks at Choccolocco Park
The Redhawks make their fourth-straight trip and 20th all-time to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in 2022. Southeast Missouri makes the event for the fourth time since it has been held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. SEMO holds a 6-5 record in the 11 OVC Tournament games it has played in Oxford.

Redburn at the OVC Tournament
Southeast Missouri makes the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for the fifth time in eight seasons under Head Coach Mark Redburn. There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19. Redburn is 6-7 with one OVC Tournament title (2019) in those appearances.

OVC Tournament History
The 2022 campaign marks Southeast Missouri's 20th Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearance. SEMO's other trips to the league's postseason fling came in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021. The Redhawks have won six OVC Tournament crowns in program history (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2019).

As the #4 Seed
Preseason favorite Southeast Missouri claimed the #4 seed in this year's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with a sweep of Belmont (May 7-8) during the final weekend of the regular-season. SEMO makes its third trip to an OVC Tournament as a #4 seed. The Redhawks were also fourth in the 2003 and 2018 tournaments. SEMO holds a 3-4 record in OVC Tournament play as the #4 seed.

Against the #5 and #8 Seeds
Southeast Missouri is a combined 13-4 against the #5 (9-3) and #8 (4-1) seeds in its Ohio Valley Conference Tournament history.

OVC Tournament Experience
Nine players on this year's roster have been to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at least once in their careers. Kaylee Anderson, Rachel Rook, Kynzie Wrigley, Karsyn Davis, Chelsy Pena, Kelby Robinson, Rachel Rook, Marisa Davis and Paytience Holman form that group. This year will mark the fourth OVC Tournament for both Anderson and Rook.

Young Lineup
Six of the nine starters in Southeast Missouri's lineup are underclassmen. That group includes four sophomores and two freshmen. Shorstop Abigail Rickermann, center fielder Paige Halliwill, third baseman Kynzie Wrigley and catcher Kat Sackett are the sophomores. First baseman Aubrie Shore and second baseman Sydney Dennis are the freshmen starters for the Redhawks.

Rook Reaches 600 Career Strikeouts
Rachel Rook became the first pitcher in Southeast Missouri softball history to get 600 career strikeouts. Rook hit that mark when she struck out Audrey Lyle in the bottom of the seventh inning on May 8. Rook registered 16 strikeouts and won all three games in the Belmont series (May 7-8). Her 600 strikeouts surpassed the school's previous career best of 501 by Elaine Fischer (2005-08).

Single-Season Record is Next
Rachel Rook needs just one more strikeout to break Southeast Missouri's all-time career strikeout record. Rook has 200 strikeouts this season and currently shares the top spot on the list with Tracie Eudaley (200 in 1986).

Redburn Posts 100th OVC Win
Mark Redburn picked up his 100th Ohio Valley Conference win on the front end of Southeast Missouri's doubleheader sweep of Belmont (May 8). Redburn is 101-71 all-time in OVC games. That record includes a 56-21 (.727) mark since the start of the 2019 season.

Other Milestones for Redburn
After getting his 400th career win as a head coach earlier this season, Mark Redburn claimed his 200th career victory as Southeast Missouri's skipper when the Redhawks beat Austin Peay, 3-2, on Apr. 15. The two-time Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Redburn holds a 206-169 record in eight years at SEMO.

Another 100 Marker Ahead for Anderson
Kaylee Anderson needs just four more RBI to get 100 in her career. Anderson presently has 96 in 179 career games. If she hits that mark, it will be the fourth statistical category where she has reached the 100 milestone. Anderson notched 104 runs and registered 136 hits in her career, as well. 

Wrigley Heats Up
Kynzie Wrigley hit .545 with four runs scored, two doubles, a walkoff home run, two RBI and two stolen bases to lead Southeast Missouri to its series sweep of Belmont (May 7-8). Wrigley hit safely in all three games against the Bruins and had a huge day during the Redhawks series clinching doubleheader win. In the twin bill, Wrigley went 5-for-8 with four runs, two doubles and a home run. She hit .625 and boasted a 1.250 slugging percentage and .625 on-base percentage to key 5-3 and 9-2 wins. Wrigley hit a two-run walkoff home run off the light pole in right center to send SEMO to its game two extra-inning win. Wrigley raised her batting average 24 points from .301 to .325 during the final series of the regular-season.

Rook Wins Final OVC Pitcher of the Week Honor
Rachel Rook won the final Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honor of the 2022 season ahead of this week's conference tournament on May 10. A native of Republic, Missouri, Rook went 3-0 with a 1.34 ERA in her final three home games wearing a SEMO uniform. She beat Belmont all three games,  tossed two complete games and recorded 16 strikeouts in 15.2 innings of work. Rook gave up just three runs on eight hits over the weekend. She struck out seven in a complete game to get a series opening win. After striking out three in 1.2 scoreless no-hit innings of relief, Rook was credited with the win in game two. She then followed that up by striking out six and giving up two runs in seven innings during the series finale. It was the second OVC Pitcher of the Week award for Rook this year.

Nice Rookie Year
Freshman first baseman Aubrie Shore is enjoying a nice rookie season for the Redhawks. Shore is Southeast Missouri's third-best hitter with a .320 average. She ranks tied for second on the team in hits (39), first in doubles (12), second in home runs (9), first in RBI (34) and first in walks (17). Shore started 45 of her 48 games played and rates fifth among Ohio Valley Conference leaders in slugging percentage (.656), tied for eighth in doubles, tied for fifth in home runs and 15th in total bases (80).

Pena Leaves Lasting Farewell
In the final at-bat of her Southeast Missouri career in Cape Girardeau, Chelsy Pena hit a three-run home run to put the exclamation point on the Redhawks 9-2 victory over Belmont (May 8). The home run was just the second of Pena's career. She went 2-for-4 with two runs and a career-high four RBI in her home finale. 

Way to Battle
The Redhawks picked up a pair of hard fought one-run victories in a 4-3, 5-4, doubleheader sweep of UT Martin (Apr. 27). Southeast Missouri has seven one-run wins this season. The Redhawks have been involved in a total of 13 one-run games.

Another Sweep for the Redhawks
The Redhawks recorded their fourth series sweep of the season when it took two from UT Martin (Apr. 27) in a doubleheader. Southeast Missouri also completed sweeps vs. Tennessee State (Mar. 19-20), Morehead State (Apr. 2-3) and Eastern Illinois (Apr. 9-10). All of those wins came in Cape Girardeau.

Career-High for Wrigley
Kynzie Wrigley established a new career-high with four RBI in Southeast Missouri's 5-4 win over UT Martin (Apr. 27). Wrigley went 2-for-3 at the plate with a game-tying two-RBI triple in the fourth inning and a game-winning two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. The triple was the first of Wrigley's career, as well.

Rook Gets First Save
Rachel Rook came out of the bullpen to get her first save of the 2022 campaign against Murray State (Apr. 24). Rook entered the game when the Racers had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and ended the threat. She struck out five and gave up just two hits in 2.1 scoreless innings. Rook is SEMO's all-time career leader with 11 saves.

Halliwill Claims First OVC Player of the Week Honor
Marshall University transfer Paige Halliwill claimed her first Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honor on Apr. 10. A native of Mogadore, Ohio, Halliwill hit .625 (5-for-8) with six runs scored, two home runs, seven RBI and one stolen base to lead Southeast Missouri to its series sweep of Eastern Illinois (Apr. 9-10). She recorded multiple hits in two of her three starts in the series. Halliwill homered in games one and three, and matched a career-high four RBI in the series finale. Defensively, she did not commit an error and made an outstanding highlight-reel catch to rob Kendall Fields of a home run in the series opener. 

Davis Tosses First Shutout
Left-hander Marisa Davis pitched the first shutout of her career in an 8-0 victory over Eastern Illinois (Apr. 10). Davis went the distance and struck out a career-high seven in five innings. For the EIU series, she went 2-0 with 5.2 scoreless innings and no walks.

Anderson Named OVC Player of the Week
Southeast Missouri outfielder Kaylee Anderson won her first career Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honor on Apr. 4. A native of Warrenton, Missouri, Anderson hit .667 (6-for-9) with two grand slams, five runs scored and 10 RBI to lead SEMO to a series sweep of Morehead State (Apr. 2-3). She recorded two hits in all three games of the series and hit a grand slam in consecutive at-bats while finishing with a career-best eight RBI in game two. Anderson also boasted a 1.333 slugging percentage and .700 on-base percentage against the Eagles. UT Martin's Erin Gallagher (Pitcher of the Week) rounded out the week's honorees.

Walk it Off
The Redhawks came on strong in their final two games of the Morehead State series to earn back-to-back walk-off wins in five innings.  In game two, Southeast Missouri scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth and ended things with a walk-off grand slam by Kaylee Anderson. In game three, the Redhawks scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning again to polish off a 8-0 shutout. In all, SEMO has six run-rule victories in five innings this season. The Redhawks outscored their opponents, 69-14, in those contests. In last weekend's series vs. Eastern Illinois (Apr. 9-10), SEMO added three more walk-off wins, including two in five innings.

16 OVC Wins
Southeast Missouri finished its Ohio Valley Conference season with a 16-10 mark. SEMO, UT Martin (17-8), Austin Peay (17-11), Belmont (20-8) and Murray State (21-7) all had 16 or more league victories this year.

Big Margin
In Ohio Valley Conference play, Southeast Missouri outscored opponents by a +55 margin (127-72). SEMO scored its most runs against league foes in the second inning (29-4) this year.

Anderson Fifth on SEMO's Home Run List
Kaylee Anderson is fifth on Southeast Missouri's all-time career home run list with 28. Anderson homered in each of the final two games of the Eastern Illinois series (Apr. 10) and leads the team with 10 round-trippers this year. She surpassed Lindsey Patterson (23, 2012-15) for the fifth-place spot.

Rook Reaches 50 Wins
Rachel Rook went 2-0 and did not allow a run in seven innings during two appearances and one start vs. Morehead State (Apr. 2-3). Rook registered 15 strikeouts and walked only two in that span. She also combined on a two-hit shutout with Paytience Holman in Southeast Missouri's series-opening win. Rook (57-29) became just the seventh pitcher in program history to get 50 or more career wins. She joined Tracie Eudaley (79, 1984-87), Debbie Schmelz (62, 1996-99), Alice Marler (59, 1990-92), Elaine Fischer (54, 2005-08), Chris Engelhardt (54, 1996-99) and Sara Reichert (51, 1994-97) on that list. Rook is tied for fourth in career wins at SEMO.

Seeing Double
Kynzie Wrigley doubled in all three of her at-bats in Southeast Missouri's 12-2 win over Morehead State (Apr. 3). Wrigley's three doubles marked a career-high. She is second on the team with 11 doubles this season.

Rickermann Gets it Done
Abigail Rickermann has filled in nicely at shortstop after starter Alyson Tucker suffered a season-ending knee injury. Rickermann knocked in both game-winning runs in the final two games of Southeast Missouri's series vs. Eastern Illinois (Apr. 10). She scored Kynzie Wrigley on a sacrifice fly in game two and delivered a single to score Kelby Robinson in game three. 

Pulling Rank
Kaylee Anderson ranks ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .360 batting average through 49 games. Anderson also rates among OVC leaders in slugging percentage (6th, .647). on-base percentage (8th, .435), home runs (4th, 10) and total bases (t11th, 88). 

Home Sweet Home
Southeast Missouri went a perfect 14-0 at home this season. The Redhawks were the only team in the Ohio Valley Conference with an undefeated home record. All 14 wins were in league play.

Rook Breaks SEMO Career Strikeout Record
Rachel Rook broke Southeast Missouri's all-time career strikeout record during her team's series sweep of Tennessee State (Mar. 19-20). Entering the series, Rook needed 13 strikeouts to get the record. She recorded all of those in game one after giving up just two hits and walking two to go along with her 13 Ks in six innings. Rook, who now has 600 strikeouts, surpassed Elaine Fischer's previous record of 501 (2005-08).

Wrigley Earns Co-OVC Player of the Week Honors
Sophomore infielder Kynzie Wrigley was named Co-Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week on Mar. 21 earning the first OVC weekly honor of her career. Wrigley hit .400 (6-for-15) with nine runs scored, two doubles a pair of home runs and seven RBI to lead Southeast Missouri to a 5-1 record last week. Wrigley hit her first home run of the season at Kansas City (Mar. 15), where she went 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. She also recorded two hits and two RBI vs. Tennessee State (Mar. 20), and hit her other home run, a three-run shot, vs. the Tigers. Additionally, Wrigley hit a leadoff double and scored the tying run in the top of the seventh inning during SEMO's come-from-behind win over Iowa (Mar. 15). SIU Edwardsville's Grace Lueke (Co-Player), Eastern Illinois' Alexa Remeier (Co-Pitcher) and Murray State's Hannah James (Co-Pitcher) rounded out the week's winners.

Home Run Update
Southeast Missouri hit 27 home runs in 26 Ohio Valley Conference games this year. SEMO hit nine home runs alone during its sweep of Tennessee State (Mar. 19-20). The Redhawks closed out the series with a season-best five round-trippers in the finale. SEMO unloaded to hit four home runs in the second inning to blow by the Tigers, 11-3, in game three. The Redhawks now have 36 home runs through 49 games this year. 

Holman Tosses Shutout
Paytience Holman threw her first shutout of the season when she went the distance in a 6-0 victory over Tennessee State (Mar. 20). Holman recorded a season-high eight strikeouts and allowed five hits. She also did not give up a walk in her seven-inning gem. Holman tossed two shutouts this year.

Two-Home Run Games
Paige Halliwill and Kat Sackett, who were teammates at Marshall University before transferring to Southeast Missouri, each hit two home runs on the same day. In the Redhawks doubleheader sweep of Tennessee State (Mar. 20), Halliwill hit two bombs in game two and Sackett did the same prior to that in game one. Kaylee Anderson became the third Redhawk to hit two homers in a game when she had a pair of grand slams vs. Morehead State (Apr. 3). Anderson (10), Halliwill (7) and Sackett (2) combined for 19 of Southeast Missouri's 29 round-trippers this season.

Power Five Win
Down 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Kynzie Wrigley hit a leadoff double to rally Southeast Missouri to its come-from-behind win over Big Ten Conference member Iowa (Mar. 15). After Kaylee Anderson walked, Tori Bradley doubled down the left field line and Wrigley scored the tying run. After a pitching change, Anderson touched home on a wild pitch for the winning run. SEMO beat a Big Ten opponent for the first time in 21 years. Its last win over a Big Ten school was in 2001 (vs. Indiana).

Pena Hits First Career Home Run
Infielder Chelsy Pena hit her first career home run as part of Southeast Missouri's four-home run second inning vs. Tennessee State (Mar. 20). Pena has played in a total of 127 games during her Redhawk career.

Grand Slamboree
Southeast Missouri has hit three grand slams this 2022 season. Center fielder Paige Halliwill hit her first career grand slam vs. Missouri State (Mar. 13). Kaylee Anderson then hit a grand slam in consecutive at-bats against Morehead State (Apr. 3).

800th NCAA Division I Win
Southeast Missouri picked up its 800th win as an NCAA Division I program when it beat Kansas City, 7-1, on Mar. 15. SEMO first moved to the Division I ranks in 1991-92. The Redhawks are 817-739-2 all-time as an NCAA Division I program.

Every Game Starters
Kaylee Anderson and Paige Halliwill have started all 49 games for Southeast Missouri this season. Anderson made 48 starts in right field and one as designated hitter. Halliwill started every game in center field. 

Redhawks Win Purple & Gold Challenge
Southeast Missouri won the Lipscomb Purple & Gold Challenge with a 4-1 record last week. Southeast Missouri beat Charleston, 5-4, 3-2, defeated tournament host Lipscomb, 7-1, and took care of Dayton, 10-6. It was SEMO's first tournament win of the season. 

Tournament Play Wrap
The Redhawks went 9-9 in tournament play this season. Southeast Missouri went 0-3 at the Jayhawk Invitational (Mar. 13-14), 3-2 at the Lion Classic (Feb. 11-13) in Hammond, Louisiana, 2-3 at the Hilltopper Classic (Feb. 18-20) in Bowling Green, Kentucky and 4-1 at the Purple & Gold Challenge (Mar. 4-6) in Nashville, Tennessee. SEMO won the Purple & Gold Challenge.

Touch 'Em All Wrigley
Kynzie Wrigley became the fifth Redhawk to hit a home run this season when she smashed her first round-tripper at Kansas City (Mar. 15). The homer marked the third of Wrigley's career. Kaylee Anderson, Aubrie Shore, Alyson Tucker and Paige Halliwill also homered for Southeast Missouri this year.

Rook Throws No-Hitter
Rachel Rook threw a no-hitter and struck out 12 to lead Southeast Missouri to a 6-0 win over Central Michigan (Feb. 18). At the time, Rook tossed the ninth non-combined no-hitter in NCAA Division I softball this season. She retired 20-straight prior to Shannon Stein's two-out walk in the top of the seventh inning. Stein was CMU's only baserunner of the game as Rook was perfect through 6.2 frames. She recorded the second-no-hitter of her career and first seven-inning no-hitter as a Redhawk.

OVC Pitcher of the Week
Rachel Rook was voted Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 21. A native of Republic, Missouri, Rook threw a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts in Southeast Missouri's win over Central Michigan (Feb. 18). She tossed two complete games and struck out 25 in 19 innings en route to going 2-1 at the Western Kentucky Hilltopper Classic (Feb. 18-20).

Over 10 Strikeouts
Rachel Rook had double-digit strikeouts in five of her starts this season. Rook matched a career-high 15 vs. Nicholls (Feb. 13). She also had 12 strikeouts against both Alabama A&M (Feb. 11) and Central Michigan (Feb. 18), and 13 vs. Tennessee State (Mar. 19). Rook is second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 184 strikeouts through 34 appearances and 19 starts.

Roster Talk
Southeast Missouri has a 22-member roster predominantly full of underclassmen, including nine sophomores and eight freshmen. The Redhawks also have five returning position starters and two starting pitchers. Additionally, SEMO has a pair of veteran fifth-year seniors in reigning Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Rachel Rook and outfielder Kaylee Anderson, the Redhawks second-leading home run hitter last season.

Team 46
The 2022 campaign is the 46th season of Southeast Missouri softball. SEMO's softball program has an all-time record of 1,177-862-3. The Redhawks are 817-739-2 all-time since moving to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992. SEMO has accumulated eighteen 30-win seasons, two 40-win campaigns, seven Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles, six OVC Tournament crowns and two NCAA Tournament berths in its program history.

30-Win Seasons
Southeast Missouri registered over 30 wins in each of its last three complete seasons. The Redhawks went 30-17 en route to winning their second-straight Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 2021 and finished with a 33-20 record and fourth-place finish in the OVC in 2018.. In 2019, SEMO set a program record in wins when it went 46-18 overall and won the OVC regular-season and tournament titles. The Redhawks also made the NCAA Tournament that year. SEMO has a total of 18 seasons with 30 or more wins in its program history.