TROY, Ala. –
Madison Winkler and
Brooklyn Saysoff combined for five hits to lead Southeast Missouri (2-2) to a 5-3 win over Alabama State (0-7) Saturday morning at the Troy University Cardinal Clash.
SEMO finished its season-opening weekend strong with back-to-back victories over the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hornets.
The Redhawks again wasted no time getting a lead early.
Tatum Gerwitz drew a leadoff walk and Winkler singled for her first hit of the contest. Saysoff followed with a two-RBI single and Gerwitz also scored on the play.
Tori Bradley grounded out and
Sydney Melton touched home to give the Redhawks a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
Ahead, 3-1, after ASU scored once in the bottom of the first, SEMO took a four-run lead in the top of the third.
Winkler led things off with an infield single and later scored on a base hit by
Gracie Luna.
Kinley Wilkins knocked in Melton on a two-out hit to extend the Redhawks margin to 5-1.
The Hornets countered with two runs in the bottom of the third on a run-scoring singles by Brooke Ramsey and Leah Richardson to narrow SEMO's lead to 5-3.
After that, neither team scored again.
Tegan Livesay and
Delaney Kell combined for four shutout innings out of the Redhawks bullpen. Livesay struck out four in three no-hit frames, while Kell recorded two strikeouts in one inning en route to securing her first save of the season.
Willow Van Haren (1-0) earned the win in her first start of the year. Van Haren worked three innings allowing three runs on four hits, striking out three and walking none.
Winkler went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Saysoff was 2-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBI. Saysoff finished the tournament with six hits in her final two games.
Additionally, Gerwitz hit safely in each of her first four games of 2025 with multiple hits in her first three starts. She hit a team-high .700 (7-for-10) with four runs scored in the tournament.
ASU committed four errors defensively.
SEMO returns to action when it heads to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the Frost Classic on Feb. 21-23.