Otahkians hit well but lose two

Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team outhit powerful Jacksonville (Ala.) State during Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader.

But the Otahkians had little to show for their efforts as the visiting Gamecocks posted a sweep, 6-5 and 6-3.

JSU is 28-16 overall and 7-6 in OVC play. Southeast fell to 11-26 and 6-6. The squads close out the three-game series at 1 p.m. today.

The Gamecocks entered play third nationally with a .337 batting average while Southeast was batting just .238. But the Otahkians had 18 hits in the two games compared to 15 for the Gamecocks.

Seven errors were particularly damaging for Southeast. Only six of JSU's runs were earned. The Gamecocks made just one error.

Alana Bagby-Leonard and Kelly Birk both had three hits on the day for Southeast, with Bagby-Leonard driving in four runs.

For JSU, Melinda McDonald and Jessica Ford each had three hits.

JSU rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh inning to win the opener. Amy Fahnestock suffered the loss while Emily Espenel posted the victory.

The Gamecocks never trailed in the nightcap. Birk took the loss.

Track competes in Kansas

Southeast's track teams finished up the Kansas Relays on Saturday with several strong performances.

Lindsay Zeiler won the women's 1,500 meters while freshman Miles Smith captured the men's 400.

Brooke Woodruff was second in the women's 800 and broke her own school record that she had set last weekend at Mississippi State.

Southeast results

Women

1,500 -- 1. Lindsay Zeiler, 4:36.24; 4. Kaci Pilcher, 4:44.21

800 -- 2. Brooke Woodruff, 2:07.06

400 relay -- 3. Nyisha Porter, Natasha Fortenberry, LaQuita Andrews, Rose Fulton, 46.50

Sprint medley relay -- 4. Colleen Burke, Taryn Phillips, Fortenberry, Kyra Joiner (no time available)

1,600 relay -- 5. Andrews, Juanita Coleman, Porter, Woodruff, 3:52.89

Discus -- 2. Megan Youse, 149-5; 3. Heather Jenkins, 147-8Men

400 -- 1. Miles Smith, 47.18

400 hurdles -- 3. Alonzo Nelson, 52.52

Sprint medley relay -- 4. Tim Jefferson, Chaz Brown, Jon Jefferson, Jared Tanz, 3:29.38

1,600 relay -- 5. Brown, Smith, Nelson, Tanz, 3:15.68.