HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southeast Missouri (0-2) dropped a pair of shortened games in the first day of the Black & Gold Challenge Friday on the opening day of the 2026 softball season.
 
SEMO fell to UAB, 10-2, in six innings and tournament host Southern Mississippi, 8-0, in five frames.
 
UAB scored nine unanswered runs to get by SEMO in the first-ever meeting between the teams.
 
The Redhawks took the game's first lead when Madison Winkler drove in Brittany Affolter for her team's first run of the season. Winkler scored on an ensuing groundout by Aubrie Shore to put SEMO ahead, 2-0, in the top of the third inning.
 
UAB added its first tally to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the third and followed that up with three runs in each of the next three frames to get its first win of the season in a shortened six-inning contest.
 
Winkler and Lamar University transfer Raigan Brannon both had a hit for SEMO.
 
Maddie Carney (0-1) took the loss in the season-opener, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 4.1 innings. Carney struck out four and walked two, as well.
 
Olivia Cummings (1-0) struck out four and gave up a pair of runs on just two hits in her complete game win. 
 
Aided by five walks, USM scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and sent 10 hitters to the plate as part of a four-run third inning to take a 7-0 lead.
 
SEMO's best opportunity came when it loaded the bases in the top of the fourth. The Golden Eagles, however, escaped the jam.
 
With a runner on third and one out in the bottom of the fifth, USM ended the game with a RBI-single by Kayce Bennett.
 
Winkler led the Redhawks going 2-for-3 at the top of the lineup.
 
Willow Van Haren (0-1) gave up seven runs on eight hits and walked six in her first start of the season.
 
Kayla Giardina (1-0) pitched a complete game three hit shutout with two strikeouts and two walks allowed. 

SEMO resumes action at the Black & Gold Challenge vs. Louisiana Tech (11:30 a.m.) and Lipscomb (7 p.m.) Saturday.