Bats carry Redhawks to split with SLU

St. Louis won the opener 7-3, but Southeast rebounded for an 8-3 victory in the nightcap. ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State softball coach Lana Richmond felt her pitching was below par Thursday, but a powerful offense helped the Redhawks salvage a doubleheader split at home.

After nonconference foe St. Louis University posted a 7-3 victory in the opener, Southeast bounced back to prevail 8-3 in the nightcap thanks largely to a 13-hit attack.

The Redhawks (20-16) will resume Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend with a three-game home series against first-place Samford. Southeast is in fourth place.

"We just struggled on the mound today. Our pitchers weren't sharp," Richmond said. "But it was good to bounce back with a win. We came back and hit well. I'll take 13 hits any time."

SLU (16-21) snapped Southeast's three-game winning streak in the opener, but the Redhawks had two home runs in the nightcap to split.

"I think we're hitting well. That's what's important right now," senior Kelly Birk said.

Birk had one of the Redhawks' homers in the second game, a two-run shot in the fourth inning that was her third home run of the season.

Megan McDonald followed with a solo shot later in the frame, her fifth home run of the season, as she continued her sensational freshman campaign.

McDonald, a Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate, went 3-for-4 in the nightcap and 5-for-8 in the doubleheader. She is batting a team-high .381, including .485 in conference games.

"I thought she would be good, but I didn't know she'd be this good as a freshman," Richmond said. "If she's not the freshman of the year in the conference, something is wrong."

If not for McDonald's big season, another Southeast freshman might be the front-runner for the OVC honor. Michelle Summers' eight homers are the second-highest single-season total in school history.

Birk and junior Stephanie Huffman added two of Southeast's 13 second-game hits. They each finished 3-for-7 on the day.

Yet another of Southeast's talented freshmen, Elaine Fisher, was the winning pitcher, allowing five hits and one unearned run in 4 1/3 innings. Fisher (5-3), who struck out two and walked one, has posted Southeast's last three victories, including two wins over Eastern Kentucky over the weekend.

"I was a little nervous early in the year, but I'm more settled down now, and I've got more confidence," Fisher said.

Added Richmond: "Elaine is giving us a lot of quality innings."

Senior Victoria Torrez had Southeast's offensive highlight of the opener, her first home run of the season, a solo shot in the first inning. She went 2-for-2 with two runs batted in and finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBIs. McDonald added two of the Redhawks' seven hits.

Amy Fahnestock (11-7) took the loss, allowing six hits and six runs -- five earned -- in 4 1/3 innings.

Lorena Floccari was the winning hurler.

SLU had 16 hits on the day, led by Adrienne May and Kara Sell with three each.

Now the Redhawks, 8-4 in OVC play, will turn their attention to Samford for this weekend's big series.

"We're excited about it," Birk said.