Redhawks cruise in home opener

The Southeast Missouri State softball team opened its home schedule Friday afternoon by blasting Belmont 9-0 in a game shortened to 5 1/2 innings by the eight-run mercy rule.

Southeast (3-4) began an eight-game homestand that features its annual tournament this weekend.

Sophomore first baseman Lauren Bradley belted a pair of home runs and drove in four runs to lead the Redhawks past the Bruins (3-12). They were Bradley's first homers of the season.

Junior third baseman Michelle Summers, who became Southeast's career home-run leader in her first two seasons, hit her second homer of the year, a solo shot in the first inning that put the Redhawks ahead to stay.

Junior shortstop Megan McDonald, a Central High School product, joined Bradley in having two of Southeast's nine hits. McDonald doubled and drove in a pair of runs.

Junior Elaine Fisher notched her first win of the season by pitching the complete-game shutout. Fisher (1-3) allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five.

The Redhawks will join Belmont, Bradley, IUPUI and Illinois State -- ranked 18th nationally -- for the Southeast Spring Classic today and Sunday.

Southeast will play four games in the tournament, beginning today against Belmont at 11:30 a.m. and Bradley at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, the Redhawks face Illinois State at 1:30 p.m. and IUPUI at 5:30 p.m.

Tennis falls on road

The Southeast women's tennis team suffered a 5-2 loss at Arkansas State on Friday.

Junior Drew Kristal at No. 2 and freshman Elisa Nattier at No. 5 picked up the lone singles wins for the Redhawks (3-5).

Kristal and her twin sister Drew prevailed at No. 1 doubles.

The Redhawks play their first home match of the season Sunday when Ohio Valley Conference opponent Morehead State visits the Southeast Tennis Complex for a 9 a.m. start. Southeast is 1-1 in the OVC.

Arkansas State 5, Southeast 2

Singles

No. 1 -- Maria Oprea (AS) def. Bryce Kristal 6-2, 6-2; No. 2 -- Drew Kristal (SE) def. Rone van Wyk 6-3, 6-2; No. 3 -- Paula Chelminska (AS) def. Luz Garcia 6-2, 6-2; No. 4 -- Renee Branker (AS) def. Julia Masotti 6-3, 1-6, 6-4; No. 5 -- Elise Nattier (SE) def. My-Hang Nguyen 6-3, 1-6, 6-4; No. 6 -- Ashlesha Lokhande (AS) def. Kimmy Anderson 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles

No. 1 -- B. Kristal-D. Kristal (SE) def. Chelminska-Nguyen 8-1; No. 2 -- Oprea-Branker (AS) def. Masotti-Nattier 8-2; No. 3 -- van Wyk-Lokhande (AS) def. Garcia-Anderson 8-0.

Ryan earns scholarship

Former Southeast women's basketball player Tiffanne Ryan has been awarded an NCAA Ethnic Minority Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship.

Ryan, who was a senior on last year's Redhawks team that played in the NCAA Division I tournament for the first time, will graduate from Southeast in May with a degree in sports management and a minor in business.

Ryan is currently serving an internship with the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"I'm very excited to receive the NCAA scholarship that will allow me to pursue my graduate degree," Ryan said in a news release. "I plan to apply at Ohio University, where they have a dual MBA/MSA program."

The Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics programs were developed by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.

The NCAA awards 13 scholarships to ethnic minorities and 13 scholarships to female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies. Each award is valued at $6,000.

-- From staff reports