OTAHKS SHOW LITTLE MERCY IN SWEEP

The Southeast Missouri State University softball team improved to 6-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference with two mercy-rule victories over Tennessee State at Park Field on Sunday.

Southeast (23-5) out-hit Tennessee State 12-3 in the first game for an 8-0 win. The Otahkians continued to smack the ball all over the park in the nightcap, totaling 16 hits in an 11-0 victory.

Coming off a Saturday sweep of Tennessee Tech in which the Otahkians gathered just seven hits in the two wins, Southeast coach Lana Richmond liked what she saw Sunday.

"Sometimes you need some games like this just to bring your bats back around," Richmond said.

Four Otahkians -- Tami Hebert, Kim Palmer, Josie Earnest and Renee Enos -- clubbed two hits in the first game. Earnest popped two home runs with her safeties to total three RBIs.

Melissa Thornton (2-0) allowed just three hits in five innings for the win.

Christine Engelhardt (9-2) took a perfect game into the fifth inning of the second game before settling for a two-hit, eight strike out complete game.

Chris Shetley and Jenny Oermann laced three hits each, Shetley providing a home run and five RBIs.

Southeast continues its homestand today with an OVC doubleheader against Middle Tennessee at 2 p.m.