OTAHKIAN SOFTBALL SQUAD SWEEPS N. IOWA

Southeast Missouri State University's highly-regarded softball team opened its home season Sunday with a thrilling doubleheader sweep of Northern Iowa at Parker Field.

The Otahkians prevailed 6-4 and 6-5 as they improved their record to 4-2. Northern Iowa fell to 2-7.

Southeast had 14 hits on the day, including eight in the second game. The Otahkians committed just one error in the two games.

"These were two good ballgames," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond. "I thought overall we played pretty well. It was nice to get our home schedule started."

Chris Shetley had two hits in each contest and finished the day 4-for-7. Jenny Oermann had two hits in the opener while Erin Frazier went 3-for-3 in the nightcap. Tami Herbert had the Otahkians' lone home run of the day in the second game.

Debbie Schmelz earned both victories Sunday. She pitched all seven innings of the opener, allowing six hits and just one earned run while striking out five and walking four.

Schmelz then hurled two innings of two-hit, shutout relief in the nightcap after starter Christine Engelhardt had allowed five hits and five runs in the first five innings.

The Otahkians led all the way in the first game but rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the second game and eventually broke a 5-5 tie with a run in the sixth.

Southeast will be off until next Sunday when the Otahkians begin play in the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.