Redhawks settle for split of softball doubleheader with UTM

The Southeast Missouri State softball team staged a late rally to win Saturday's opener of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader.

But visiting Tennessee-Martin foiled the Redhawks' hopes for a sweep by bouncing back in the nightcap.

Host Southeast prevailed 6-5 in eight innings before the Skyhawks posted a 5-2 victory.

The Redhawks (24-24, 11-12) remained sixth in the 10-team OVC, while the Skyhawks (25-24, 9-9) are in fifth place.

Southeast banged out 14 hits in the opener, including three from both Michelle Summers and Megan McDonald.

Summers belted her 13th home run of the season and drove in two runs, while McDonald also had two RBIs. Jennifer Vasquez and Whitney Dupuis each added two hits.

Trailing 5-3 entering their final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Redhawks scored two unearned runs. They tied the game on a two-out RBI double by Alex Ramirez.

In the eighth, Summers' 200-foot single -- it bounced off the bottom of the fence in left-center field -- plated Katie Otterness, who had singled to lead off the inning, with the game-ending run.

Elaine Fisher (19-16) notched the victory, allowing five runs and 10 hits in five innings. Whitney Dupuis hurled three scoreless frames.

The Redhawks had eight hits in the nightcap, led by Otterness with three. She added two RBIs. Ramirez had two hits.

Dupuis took the loss, allowing three runs in the first inning while retiring just one batter before being relieved by Fisher, who went the rest of the way.

Southeast and UTM close their three-game series at 1 p.m. today.