Redhawks eager to build on winning streak

The Southeast Missouri State softball team will try to keep climbing the Ohio Valley Conference standings when the Redhawks begin a three-game home series today.

Tennessee State visits Southeast for a 1 p.m. doubleheader, followed by a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

The Redhawks are 15-17 overall and 5-6 in OVC play, which puts them fifth in the 10-team league. Southeast has won four of its past five conference games.

Tennessee State (12-21, 4-7) is tied for eighth place.

Southeast features two of the OVC's top three hitters in seniors Megan McDonald and Michelle Summers.

McDonald, a Central High School graduate, leads the way with a .430 batting average, while Summers is third at .410.

Summers is second in the league in home runs (10) and RBIs (31). She is Southeast's career leader in homers, RBIs, doubles and runs scored, while also holding the school record for single-season home runs.

Senior Elaine Fisher is Southeast's No. 1 pitcher with a 10-11 record and a 2.17 ERA.

Today's games begin a stretch that has Southeast playing 11 of its next 17 contests at home.

Track meet begins

Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois defended her title in the hammer throw Friday as the 27th annual SEmotion Relays track and field meet got under way at Southeast's Abe Stuber Complex.

Riley, ranked No. 1 nationally by Track & Field News, won Friday's event with a meet-record distance of 222 feet 8 inches. She broke her own mark of 209-10 set last year.

Riley will try to defend her meet titles in the shot put and discus today.

Susan King of Memphis and Sasha Leeth of SIU finished second and third, respectively, with throws of 172-11 and 172-8.

Southeast's Brianna Egbuka, a freshman from Central High School, was eighth at 115-3.

In the men's hammer throw, Steffen Nerdel of Memphis also broke the meet record with a toss of 221-3.

SIU's Brenton Siemons (196-9) was second, while SIU-Edwardsville's Scott Block (183-5) finished third.

The hammer throw was the only event held Friday. The rest of the meet will be today beginning at 11 a.m.

Tennis falls at home

The Southeast women's tennis team suffered a 7-0 OVC loss to visiting Jacksonville State on Friday. The match was played indoors at the Class Act Family Fitness Center in Jackson.

Southeast is 5-9 overall and 2-4 in the OVC. JSU is 8-9 and 5-1.

The Redhawks' lone victory came at No. 2 doubles as Julia Masotti and Alyce Kelly prevailed 8-6, but Southeast still dropped the doubles point.

Southeast plays the second of three straight OVC home matches today at noon against Tennessee Tech. The Redhawks host Samford on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be held outdoors.

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Jacksonville State 7, Southeast 0

Singles

No. 1 — Viviane Marani (J) def. Bryce Kristal 6-2, 6-2.

No. 2 — Martina Dessbesell (J) def. Julia Masotti 6-3, 6-3.

No. 3 — Kimberly Ferris (J) def. Drew Kristal 6-2, 6-2.

No. 4 — Julianna Renesto (J) def. Elise Nattier 6-1, 6-2.

No. 5 — Eloah Lopes (J) def. Alyce Kelly 6-3, 6-3.

No. 6 — Kristen Fuller (J) def. Taylor Orahood 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles

No. 1 — Marani-Dessbesell (J) def. Kristal-Kristal 8-5.

No. 2 — Masotti-Kelly (S) def. Ferris-Lopes 8-6.

No. 3 — Fuller-Babette Lombardo (J) def. Nattier-Orahood 8-5.

— From staff reports