Redhawks lose 6-2 in OVC opener

The Southeast Missouri State softball team opened Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday with a 6-2 loss at Eastern Kentucky.

Southeast, which fell to 10-12 overall, led 2-1 before the Colonels (11-7) exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

EKU's key blow in the frame was a grand slam by Jena Handley that put the Colonels ahead for good.

The Redhawks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a home run by Stacia Dopudja.

After EKU tied it in the bottom of the fourth, Southeast went back ahead in the fifth on Michelle Summers' team-leading fifth homer of the season.

Summers, already Southeast's single-season and career home run leader, along with being the school's career doubles leader, also is now No. 2 in career hits with 196.

Summers and Katie Otterness both had two of Southeast's five hits.

Losing pitcher Elaine Fisher (5-8), who worked all six innings, allowed six hits and five earned runs. She struck out two and walked two.

Fisher made her 88th career start, tying her for second in program history.

Southeast and EKU will close out their three-game series today with a doubleheader.

Tennis falls on road

The Southeast women's tennis team suffered a 4-3 nonconference loss at Memphis on Thursday.

Southeast (3-6) captured the doubles point, but won just two of the six singles matches. Those singles victories were by No. 1 Bryce Kristal and No. 3 Julia Masotti.

The Redhawks, 2-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play, return to OVC action Friday at Eastern Kentucky.

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Memphis 4, Southeast 3

Singles

No. 1 -- Bryce Kristal, Bryce (S) def. Ashley Murdock 6-4, 4-6, 10-3

No. 2 -- Marjorie Ondeck (M) def. Drew Kristal 6-0, 6-1

No. 3 -- Julia Masotti (S) def. Amanda Brown 6-2, 6-1

No. 4 -- Lindsay Wiseman (M) def. Alyce Kelly 6-2, 6-0

No. 5 -- Kristen Chamberlain (M) def. Elise Nattier 6-4, 6-1

No. 6 -- Dara Toulch (M) def. Taylor Orahood 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

No. 1 -- Kristal-Kristal (S) def. Murdock-Ondeck 8-6

No. 2 -- Masotti-Kelly (S) def. Brown-Ekin Zafir 8-2

No. 3 -- Wiseman-Toulch (M) def. Nattier-Orahood 8-5

-- From staff reports