Redhawks sweep TSU, improve to 10-7 in OVC

The Southeast Missouri State softball team notched an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader road sweep Saturday.

Southeast beat Tennessee State 6-5 and 5-3 in Nashville, Tenn. The squads conclude their three-game series today.

The Redhawks improved to 16-21 overall and 10-7 in OVC play as they remained fourth in the 11-team league. Last-place TSU is 10-32 and 4-15.

Southeast rallied in the opener, scoring three sixth-inning runs to erase a 5-3 deficit.

The Redhawks banged out 14 hits, led by a 4 for 4 performance from junior Renee Kertz.

Junior Evan Sallis had three hits. Senior Carmen Fowler added two hits and two RBIs while junior Shelby Stein contributed two hits.

Freshman Shea Cothren notched the victory with two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief. Freshman Alora Marble pitched a perfect seventh inning for her OVC-leading third save of the year.

Southeast led all the way in the nightcap, building a 5-0 advantage and holding on.

Kertz had two hits and two RBIs. She finished the twin bill 6 for 7 with three RBIs and doubled in each game.

Sophomore Kaitlin Wallace added three of Southeast's 11 hits and junior Cheyenne Gipson contributed two hits. Sophomore Taylor Cowan recorded her second double of the day.

Marble (7-6) increased her team-high victory total, pitching all seven innings. She allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out six and walking four.

Tennis

The Southeast women's tennis team suffered a pair of losses, 7-0 Friday at home to Eastern Kentucky and 6-1 Saturday to Creighton in Carbondale, Ill.

Southeast fell to 2-13 overall and Friday's defeat dropped the Redhawks to 1-6 in OVC play.

Southeast's lone win Friday was at No. 1 doubles as sophomore Nikole Novikova and freshman Elizabeth Nyenwe prevailed 8-4.

Nyenwe suffered her first OVC loss and had her five-match winning streak snapped.

The Redhawks picked up two victories Saturday, including at No. 1 singles as Novikova romped 6-0, 6-0 to secure Southeast's only point. Novikova and Nyenwe won 8-6 at No. 1 doubles.

Nyenwe dropped a close match at No. 2 singles, 7-6, 6-4. She still has by far Southeast's top singles record of 8-7.

The Redhawks end the season today with their final OVC match at Eastern Illinois.

-- From staff reports