OTAHKS' STREAK IN LIMBO

CHATTANOOGA -- The Frost Cutlery Tournament was officially canceled due to rain Saturday, but that did not prevent controversy from surrounding Southeast Missouri State University's nation-leading 32-game win streak in women's softball.

As of today, Southeast's streak, three shy of the national record, is in the balance.

The Otahkians played just enough softball Saturday to create a situation which will have to be ruled on by the NCAA on Monday.

After both of Friday's games were canceled due to rain, Southeast (32-0) was scheduled to play three games on Saturday against Tennessee-Chattanooga, North Carolina-Charlotte and Nicholls State.

Southeast played six innings of its 9 a.m. game with Chattanooga and trailed 3-1 when rains halted play. The Otahkians had taken a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but saw Chattanooga score three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Southeast had a runner aboard with two outs in the sixth when play was stopped.

"They suspended play for all pool games," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond. "They said all the games were incomplete and they would start single elimination on Sunday."

Continued rains later washed out the entire tournament. Richmond said she made a point to ask tournament officials the status of the games.

"I was told all the games were suspended and incomplete and the tournament was off," said Richmond.

Richmond later seemed surprised when the University of Chattanooga claimed victory.

"UTC is claiming a win because cause they did play five innings," said tournament director Steve Chattin. "They're saying the NCAA rules on suspended games says five innings constitutes a complete game."

Chattin, who saw only 12 of 47 scheduled games washed away, was not eager to get in the middle.

"We're wet, cold and tired, and I don't really care," said Chattin. "What the official rule is, that's what the rule is. I assume UTC cares and SEMO cares."

The Otahkians won a five-inning game earlier this season against Evansville. In that game, Evansville led in the sixth inning when darkness suspended play, reverting the final score back to fifth when Southeast led. Richmond said Saturday's games were operating under tournament rules.

Ted Hallisey of the Southeast Missouri Sports Information Department said from an official tournament standpoint, all of the games were suspended and none count.

"Sports Information will contact the NCAA and get a ruling on Monday," said Hallisey.

Hallisey said Southeast tried contacting the NCAA Saturday night but nobody was in the office.

"As of now it's in limbo," said Hallisey.

Should the NCAA rule the game does not count, Southeast will resume its pursuit of the record on Wednesday with a doubleheader at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Should the Otahkians win, the record could be tied and surpassed in a Saturday doubleheader at Morehead State.

Currently, Canisius of Buffalo and Cal State Fullerton share the record of 35 consecutive wins.