Redhawks softball drops pair to Jacksonville State

The Southeast Missouri State softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Jacksonville State on Friday.

The Redhawks dropped the first game 6-3 and the second game 9-4. They have lost five of their last six.

Southeast jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning of game one, but surrendered five runs in the fourth and couldn't recover.

Senior Stephanie Mata went 2-for-3, including a home run, and two runs batted in for the Redhawks in the first game. Junior Megan McDonald, a Central graduate, went 4-for-5.

Southeast took another lead in the second game with two runs in the first, but Jacksonville State got one in the first, two in the second and never trailed again.

Freshman Elise Sperakos homered for the Redhawks and drove in two runs.

Junior Michelle Summers went 3-for-4 in the loss.

Elaine Fisher took the loss in the first game, while Stacia Dopudja suffered the defeat in game two.

The Redhawks (10-19 overall, 4-7 in the OVC) will try to avoid the sweep today when they face Jacksonville State at noon.

Track and field

Southern Illinois' Brittany Riley set a new Gatorade Classic and Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex record in the hammer throw with a throw of 209 feet, 10 inches. Southeast Missouri State's Heather Jenkins held the previous record (171-4).

On the men's side, Southern Illinois' Joe Mueller won the hammer throw with a toss of 180-4. Southeast's Andy Croxford was the Redhawks' lone entry. He took seventh with a throw of 151-10.

The Gatorade Classic continues today at the Abe Stuber Complex.

-- From staff reports