SEMO softball team drops series opener vs. Panthers

A late home run downed the Southeast Missouri State softball team in Game 1 of its three-game series vs. Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon in Charleston, Illinois.

April Markowski snapped a tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Panthers a 4-3 victory.

Southeast never led in the contest and dropped to 15-32 and 9-16 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

EIU went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third. Ashlynn Paul doubled and advanced to third on an error by first baseman Savannah Carpenter. Kayla Bear drove her in with a single to right.

Kylie Bennett made it 2-0 in the fourth with a leadoff home run to left. Markowski followed with an infield single, was bunted to third and scored on a single up the middle by Paul.

The Redhawks got on the board in the top of the fifth. Darby Pruett struck out swinging, but reached and advanced to second on an error by the catcher. She moved to third on a groundout and scored on a groundout by Claire Wernig to cut it to 3-1.

Brittany Stevens evened it at 3-3 in the sixth with a two-out, two-run home run before Markowski's game-winning homer in the home half.

Southeast was out-hit 7-5 and left five runners on base, including stranding them loaded in the top of the first. Wernig was the only Redhawk with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot. Bennett, Markowski and Paul each went 2-for-3 for EIU, which improved to 22-25 and 16-7 in the OVC.

Maddie Krumrey took the loss in the circle. She dropped to 5-14 after allowing four earned runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Aubrey Denno didn't allow a run or hit in 2/3 of an inning of relief.

Jessica Wireman (16-17) picked up the complete-game win. She allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

The two teams close out the regular season with a doubleheader that begins at noon today.

Track & Field

The Southeast track and field team concluded the regular season at the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana on Friday.

Kevin Farley won the discus with a throw of 55.63 meters, took second in the shot put (18.88m) and was fifth in the hammer throw (63.10m). Jason Walker finished fifth in the discus (51.44m).

Andrew Ryan and Duncan finished fourth (51.49 meters) and eighth (47.85 meters), respectively, in the javelin. Ross' vault of 4.55 meters was good for seventh in the pole vault.

Craig Munie finished the 3,000-meter run in 8 minutes, 42.06 seconds, taking third in the event. Marc Maton came in fourth in the 1,500 in 3:46.31.

Shane Browns' time of 9:45.35 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase was good for a seventh-place finish.

Paden Wachter was eighth in the women's discus and shot put with throws of 40.18 meters and 11.77 meters, respectively.

The Redhawks compete Friday and Saturday at the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which are hosted by Tennessee State in Nashville, Tennessee.