Redhawks win home opener in 8 innings

The Southeast Missouri State softball team snapped a five-game losing streak Wednesday with a win in its home opener.

Southeast scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat visiting Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne 4-3.

The Redhawks improved to 5-7 while IPFW fell to 6-7.

After the regulation seven innings ended with a 3-3 tie, the international tiebreaker rule was put into place where a runner is sent to second base to start the frame.

IPFW failed to score in the top of the eighth. In the bottom half, Shelby Stein was placed on second and Alex Ramirez walked. Carmen Fowler singled to right-center field to plate Stein with the game-ending run.

Southeast had just five hits, including a home run by Nicole Troncoso leading off the bottom of the first.

The Redhawks trailed 2-1 when Ramirez delivered a two-run single in the fifth to put Southeast back on top 3-2. IPFW tied it in the sixth, setting the stage for Fowler's walk-off single.

Whitney Dupuis pitched all eight innings for the victory. She allowed seven hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out none.

Southeast will host Illinois State at 3:30 p.m. today.