OTAHKIANS PLACE 1ST IN SALUKI INVITATIONAL

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southeast Missouri State University softball team split two games on Saturday and landed in first place in the Saluki Invitational.

The Otahkians (10-11) ended up in a three-way tie for first place with Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa, but took first place based on the least number of runs allowed.

Southeast defeated SIU 5-4 in its second game on Saturday. Earlier it lost to Northern Iowa 3-1.

Against SIU, Southeast scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the win.

Southeast catcher Renee Enos provided the game-winning hit, an RBI single to right field to score shortstop Jenny Oermann.

Oermann got the other RBI in the seventh on a single to second.

Southeast left fielder Ricki DeArmon was the only Otahkian with two hits against the Salukis (19-13).

Debbie Schmelz (4-7) was the winning pitcher. She went seven innings and gave up four runs (two earned) on seven hits and four walks. She struck out eight.

SIU's Carisa Winters (7-8) suffered the loss, despite becoming the first Saluki to ever strike out 500 batters in a career. She allowed five runs, eight hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. She struck out five.

In Southeast's earlier game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, the Otahkians' only run came on a an RBI single by center fielder Anne Trieb in the fourth inning.

Northern Iowa scored one run in the first, second and fourth innings.

Christine Engelhardt (6-4) suffered the loss for Southeast. She went six innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits and a walk. She struck out six

Melissa Navntoft pitched seven innings for the win. She allowed one run on seven hits and a walk, while striking out four.

Oermann went 3-for-3 with a triple and scored the Otahks' only run.