OTAHK SOFTBALL SQUAD ALIVE IN TOURNEY

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday night to defeat Middle Tennessee State University 3-2 and remain alive in the Frost Cutlery Tournament.

The Otahkians (33-13) first split a pair of games with George Mason and Samford in pool play to qualify for the round-robin portion. Southeast blanked George Mason 3-0 before falling 6-2 to Samford in eight innings.

Southeast finished second in its pool with a 3-2 record. The top three teams in each of the five pools qualified for elimination play.

Southeast, which sits atop the OVC standings, then met OVC opponent Middle Tennessee State, currently third in the league.

Middle Tennessee score a run in the top of the first and behind the pitching of Jill Booth made the lead stand up until the bottom of the seventh. Booth, who had a perfect game through four innings, yielded a two-out RBI single to Becky Alberson in the seventh. Karen Noel scored on the play to force extra innings.

Middle scored a single run in the eighth on a walk and two Southeast errors for a 2-1 advantage.

"That was the same way we lost the Samford game -- two critical errors with people on base," said Southeast coach Lana Flynn Richmond. "The kids kept battling back on offense. They're known for coming back in the late innings."

In the bottom of the inning, Southeast loaded the bases with no outs on a walk to Kelly Heatherington and singles by Amy Evers and Janis Swiderski. But a double play which went home to first put runners at second and third with two out.

Jodi Smith then doubled to end the game.

Sara Reichert picked up the victory, allowing three hits, striking out three and walking two in eight innings.

Nikki Mortimer recorded the victory against George Mason with a four-hitter.

Southeast collected 10 hits. Lisa Kraxner led the offense with three hits and two RBI while Swiderski and Heatherington each had two.

The Otahkians scored single runs in the first, third and fifth inning for the win.

Amy Johannsen suffered the loss against Samford. She allowed six hits and struck out two. Four of the six runs she allowed were unearned.

Tied 2-2 after seven innings, Samford struck for four runs in the eighth on a pair of hits and two Southeast errors.

Southeast had just two hits in the game, both coming in the seventh inning. The Otahkians scored single runs in the third and fifth innings without the aid of a hit.

Southeast will continue tournament play today with an 11 a.m. game against Nichols State.