Redhawks softball team posts shutout

Southeast Missouri State softball pitcher Elaine Fisher struck out 12 batters in a complete-game 4-0 victory against the University of Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday at the two-day All Missouri Cancer Tournament on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.

Results on the Redhawks' 3 p.m. game against St. Louis University were not available when the Southeast Missourian went to press.

Fisher allowed just four hits and walked two batters to improve to 2-2 on the mound.

The Redhawks (3-4) struck first in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff home run from Michelle Summers, who went 1-for-3 and scored twice.

Southeast put the game away in the fifth inning with three unearned runs. After consecutive walks to Summers and Charlene Ramirez, Megan McDonald reached on an error. Jenn Monaghan then sent Summers home on a sacrifice fly, and Lauren Bradley delivered a two-out, two-run double to left field.

The Redhawks, which managed only four hits, received help from three UMKC errors. Summers, Lauren Bradley, Lindsay Pickering and Stephanie Mata had a hit apiece for Southeast.

The Redhawks were swept in Friday's action, falling to the University of Missouri 7-1 and to Missouri State 2-1.

Southeast managed its lone run against Missouri in the final frame on a home run by Ramirez, who went 2-for-4 in the game. Stephanie Huffman also chipped in with two hits for Southeast.

Against Missouri State, the Redhawks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Bears countered with two runs in the bottom of that frame and held on.

Southeast had only four hits, led by McDonald, who went 2-for-3 and scored the Redhawks' lone run.

Iowa State Invitational

The 1,600-meter relay team of Walter Washington, Miles Smith, Alonzo Nelson and Chris Smith set a school record time of 3 minutes, 9.16 seconds on Saturday at the Cyclone National Track and Field Qualifier on the campus of Iowa State University.

"It's really a tremendous accomplishment," Southeast coach Joey Haines said.

The Redhawks finished fifth in the event, and the time met the NCAA provision mark, but Haines said the time likely ranks around 15th or 16th nationally, and only 12 relay teams make the national meet.

The Redhawks will find out for sure by Monday night.

Miles Smith finished ninth in the 400 in 47.17. Smith has already qualified for the national meet in the 400. The NCAA Track and Field Championships will start on Friday in Fayeteville, Ark.

-- From staff reports