CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Kynzie Wrigley had five hits, four runs scored, a walkoff home run, three doubles and two RBI to lead Southeast Missouri (27-22, 16-10) to a 5-3, 9-2, doubleheader sweep of Belmont (30-15, 20-8) Sunday.
SEMO completed a series sweep of the Bruins who entered the weekend at first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. The Redhawks completed a perfect 14-0 record at home following today's wins.
The Redhawks claimed the #4 seed in this year's OVC Tournament. SEMO will open postseason play against the winner of #5 Austin Peay and #8 SIU Edwardsville on Wedneday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m., CT. The 2022 OVC Tournament is from May 11-14 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
Wrigley's two-run walkoff home run sent SEMO to a thrilling game one victory in extra innings.
After
Aubrie Shore singled in front of her, Wrigley slammed the second pitch of her at-bat off the light pole just to the right of the scoreboard in right center for her fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth.
SEMO held a 3-1 lead until BEL scored twice to tie things up in the top of the seventh.
Audrey Lyle hit a solo home run and Baie Ensio scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Kristen Green to make it a 3-3 ballgame.
SEMO roughed up starting left-hander Alicia Veltri for three runs to get its early lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Abigail Rickermann led off with an infield single and quickly scored on a home run to straightaway center by
Paige Halliwill. On the next play,
Aubrie Shore doubled, went to third on a single by
Kynzie Wrigley and scored on a sacrifice fly in foul territory by
Kat Sackett to grab the Redhawks a 3-0 cushion.
In the nightcap, SEMO used a four-run second inning to key its seven-run win.
The Redhawks had four hits and capitalized on two BEL errors to get ahead again early.
Tori Bradley doubled and Wrigley scored in the fifth inning before
Chelsy Pena homered in the sixth for SEMO's other runs. It was Pena's second round-tripper of the season.
Rachel Rook (17-9) recorded both wins of today's doubleheader and beat the Bruins all three times this weekend. Rook struck out three in 1.2 shutout innings of relief during game one. She then posted six strikeouts and gave up just two runs in seven innings in the nightcap. Rook finished with 16 strikeouts in the series and, as a result, became the first pitcher in SEMO softball history to reach 600 career Ks.
SEMO pounded out 10 hits in game two with Wrigley (3), Rickermann (2) and Pena (2) combining for seven. Pena added a career-high four RBI.
The Redhawks make their 20th OVC Tournament appearance this year.
