Redhawks split pair with Tennessee Tech

Giana Zimmerman continued her impressive rookie season for the Southeast Missouri State softball team Saturday.

Zimmerman struck out a career-high 13 batters to lead the Redhawks past visiting Tennessee Tech 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader.

That marked the Eagles' first Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season, but they bounced back in the nightcap to pound Southeast 13-0 in a five-inning, run-rule contest.

The squads close out their three-game series at 1 p.m. today.

Southeast is 12-9 overall and 3-2 in OVC play. Tech is 18-16 and 6-1.

Zimmerman improved her record to 7-3 with her seventh complete game of the season. The freshman from Colorado worked all seven innings, allowing six hits and three walks to go with those 13 strikeouts.

The Redhawks had seven hits, led by sophomore Elise Sperakos and junior Alex Ramirez with two each.

Sophomore Nicole Troncoso drove in two runs for Southeast with a first-inning single that put the Redhawks up for good at 2-1. The blow extended her hitting streak to a team-high 10 games.

Freshman Renee Kertz delivered a two-out RBI double in the fifth inning for the Redhawks that would turn out to be the game-winning hit.

Lacie Coquerille accounted for both Tech runs with a pair of solo homers, including a shot to lead off the game. She connected with one out in the seventh, but Zimmerman retired the next two batters to close out the victory.

The second game was no contest as the Eagles scored five first-inning runs to knock out Southeast freshman starter Stefanie Barnes (3-2) after she retired just one batter.

Southeast managed only two hits off Maddi Schmissrauter (10-8), who struck out five and walked two.

Tech's 11-hit attack was led by Callie Schmidt, who homered, doubled and drove in six runs. Kaleigh Gates had three hits while Jessica Steele homered and had four RBIs.

Sophomore Whitney Dupuis pitched the final 4 2/3 innings for Southeast. She allowed eight runs, only two earned, as the Redhawks committed four errors.

The Redhawks had no errors in the first game.