Redhawks split two games in Spring Classic

~ Southeast coach Richmond picked up her 699th career victory.

Southeast Missouri State softball coach Lana Richmond will have to wait at least one more day for her 700th victory with the program.

Richmond entered the four-team, two-day Southeast Spring Classic with 698 wins, but the Redhawks lost their tournament opener Saturday, falling 3-2 to Lipscomb.

The Redhawks (5-7) bounced back later in the day to rally past IUPUI 18-7 -- thanks to a 14-run seventh inning -- leaving Richmond with a 699-457-2 record in 24 years at Southeast.

Southeast will have two chances today to hand Richmond her historic victory.

The Redhawks conclude the round-robin portion of the tournament with a 10 a.m. game against Northern Iowa. They'll then play either for third place or the championship.

Southeast, after losing to Lipscomb, trailed Indiana University/Purdue University-Indianapolis 7-4 entering their final at-bat in the top of the seventh, as the Redhawks were the visiting team on the scoreboard.

But the Redhawks exploded for 14 runs, on 13 hits. Stephanie Mata's two-run home run put Southeast ahead 8-7, and they added plenty of insurance.

Southeast finished with 24 hits. Michelle Summers went 6-for-6 with three RBIs, while Charlene Ramirez went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Jenn Monaghan also had three hits.

Mata, Megan McDonald, Lauren Bradley, Lyndsey Webb and Lindsay Pickering all added two hits, one of Pickering's being a homer. Jessica Rosencrants was the winning pitcher in relief.

Against Lipscomb, Mata also homered, but Southeast managed just six hits, led by McDonald with two.

Elaine Fisher pitched all seven innings and took the loss, allowing 10 hits.

Sara Meek struck out 13 for the win, and she also went 4-for-4. Heather Collins and Jessica Wilson both homered for Lipscomb.

Also Saturday, Northern Iowa (6-9-1) won twice, beating IUPUI 2-0 and Lipscomb 10-0 in five innings.

After Southeast faces Northern Iowa this morning, round-robin play will conclude with a noon game between IUPUI (1-11) and Lipscomb (7-13).

Then, based on records, the top two teams will play for the championship and the next two squads will play for third place.

The third-place game is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m., with the championship at 4 p.m., although Northern Iowa will play at 2 p.m. regardless because of travel commitments.