Redhawks finish second in Mississippi tourney

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Southeast Missouri State softball team split two more games Sunday in the Mississippi State Invitational as the Redhawks finished second.

Southeast (2-2) also split a pair of games in the four-team, round-robin event Friday, when the Redhawks opened their season. Saturday's two scheduled contests were rained out.

The Redhawks beat Northwestern State 12-7 in Sunday's opener, then fell to undefeated Mississippi State 3-0 as the Bulldogs continued their best start in school history. Southeast's two losses in the tournament were to the host squad.

Southeast had 11 hits against Northwestern State (7-7), led by freshman Lauren Bradley's 4-for-4 performance.

Senior Stephanie Huffman went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs, while junior Lindsay Pickering added three RBIs.

Huffman pitched all seven innings for the victory, allowing nine hits and five earned runs. She struck out two and walked six.

The Redhawks had just three hits against Mississippi State (13-0), which scored all of its runs in the first three inning.

Elaine Fisher took the loss, allowing eight hits and two earned runs in six innings. She struck out one and walked none.

Southeast returns to action Friday at the All Missouri Cancer Tournament in Springfield, Mo.