OXFORD, Ala. – Paige Halliwill and Aubrie Shore each had two hits as #1 Southeast Missouri (29-13) eliminated #6 Tennessee State (22-26-1) with a 4-2 victory Friday at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
 
The Redhawks and Tigers were initially scheduled to play at 10 a.m., but the game started two hours later due to weather delays.
 
SEMO went to work against Second-Team All-OVC pitcher Caitlyn Manus. 
 
Jillian Anderson led the game off with a single and went to second on a base hit by First-Team All-OVC outfielder Paige Halliwill. Sydney Dennis, a Second-Team All-Conference selection advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Alyson Tucker flied out to right and Anderson scored to give the Redhawks a 1-0 edge.
 
TSU quickly answered when Ryla Traylor hit the second pitch of her at-bat over the left field wall to tie the game in the bottom of the first. 
 
SEMO regained the lead in the fourth inning and didn't trail again.
 
Shore singled up the middle and pinch-runner Kileigh Grisham entered the game. Grisham stole second and scored the go-ahead run on an error after Kat Sackett flied out in foul territory.
 
Two innings later, Co-OVC Player of the Year Shore scored Tucker on a hard hit double that smacked off the glove of center fielder Mikayla Duke to push the Redhawks lead to 3-1.
 
TSU had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth when Kynzie Wrigley made a nice defensive play. Wrigley charged in and fielded a ground ball by Jasmine Blackburn. After electing not to throw to first, Wrigley turned and threw out Onnika Spencer who was off the base at third. Marisa Davis then got Peyton Fointno to fly out ending the threat.
 
The Redhawks tacked on their final run in the top of the seventh. Freshman Brittany Affolter, who made a diving catch in left field earlier in the game, singled, stole second and went to third on an error. Halliwill followed with a sacrifice fly to right and Affolter scored to make it 4-1.
 
The Tigers brought the tying run to the plate during their final at-bat with runners on first and second and no outs. Davis, however, retired the next three TSU hitters to nail down her third save.
 
Kell (14-3) earned the win going 4.1 innings. She allowed just one run on three hits, struck out two and walked two. Davis pitched the last 2.2 innings out of the bullpen giving up one run on four hits.
 
SEMO outhit TSU, 8-7, with Halliwill and Shore getting two hits apiece to lead the way. 
 
Manus (16-14) took the loss. She went the distance allowing four runs on eight hits.

TSU made the OVC Tournament for the first time in 22 years.