OTAHKIANS MISS OUT ON SHARE OF OVC TITLE

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- A shocking loss Tuesday prevented Southeast Missouri State University's softball team from finishing with a share of the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship.

Host Austin Peay, which had not beaten Southeast since 1993 -- a span of 30 games -- pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun the Otahkians 1-0.

So the Otahkians, who would have finished as OVC co-champions with a victory, wind up in second place in the eight-team league at 16-5, finishing one game behind Tennessee Tech (17-4). Southeast is 24-23 overall.

Austin Peay improved to 13-40 overall and 8-13 in conference play.

In the decisive bottom of the seventh, a single, a ground ball and a wild pitch put a runner on third with one out. The next two batters were intentionally walked to load the bases, then pinch-hitter Christina Garza singled to score pinch-runner Jennifer Adcock and end the contest.

The Lady Govs' Holly Rickets (9-22) pitched a gem, allowing just two hits while striking out four and walking none in going the seven-inning distance.

Southeast's Kristen King (8-14) was the tough-luck loser. In 6 1/3 innings, she allowed six hits, with one strikeout and three walks, two of them intentional.

Jenny Doehring and Reagan Hamlin both singled for the Otahkians' only hits.

Both squads will compete in this weekend's six-team OVC Tournament in Cookeville, Tenn. Southeast, the No. 2 seed, will play at noon Friday against either No. 3 Eastern Kentucky or No. 6 Austin Peay, who square off at 10 a.m.