SEMO SPORTS: OTAHKIAN GYMNASTS SQUEEZE OUT VICTORY AT ILLINOIS STATE

NORMAL, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's gymnastics team improved its record to 8-4 Monday night by nipping host Illinois State.

The Otahkians finished with 193.000 points to squeeze past the Redbirds, who had 192.450 points.

Malia Roberts and Aaron Craig were Southeast's top two all-around performers as they finished second and third with scores of 38.800 and 38.600, respectively.

Southeast's Erin Chenier was fifth in the all-around (38.400) while ISU's Beth Larson won the title (38.875).

Roberts was first on both floor (9.850) and bars (9.850) while Chenier placed first in vaulting (9.850).

Placing second for the Otahkians were Craig in vaulting (9.725) and on floor (9.825), Kristin Frohlich on bars (9.800) and Kathy Smith on beam (9.800). Jen Leaman tied with Craig for second in vaulting (9.725).

The Otahkians will return to action Saturday night when they compete in the Midwest Independent Championships in Chicago.

Softball wins in Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Southeast's softball team won both its games here Monday in the Rebel Spring Games, beating Fordham 5-0 and Wisconsin-Green Bay 6-2.

The Otahkians are now 7-3 on the season as they pushed their record to 3-1 in the Rebel Spring Games that continue until the end of the week.

Debbie Schmelz pitched a three-hit shutout against Fordham. She struck out one and did not issue a walk in the full seven innings.

Kim Palmer belted two home runs and drove in five runs against Wisconsin-Green Bay. Christine Engelhardt got the victory, allowing five hits and two runs in five innings.

Southeast will have two more games today, facing Yale and Manhattan.

Baseball games canceled

Southeast's two-game home baseball series with Iowa scheduled for today and Wednesday has been canceled because of bad weather.

The forecast for the entire week includes rain each day and even this weekend's Ohio Valley Conference home series with Eastern Kentucky is being threatened by rain.

The Indians are 9-9 overall and 3-3 in OVC play after losing two out of three games at Tennessee Tech over the weekend.

Kyle Yount continues to lead the Indians offensively with a .429 batting average and 18 runs batted in. Yount has a 14-game hitting streak going.

Also hitting above .300 for the Indians are Robert Kern (.349), Charlie Marino (.333), Jeff Bourbon (.326), Steve Lowe (.316) and Jeremy Johnson (.314). Kern and Marino both have five home runs.

Pitching leaders are Ryan Spille (4-0, 2.38 earned-run average) and Jason Swearingen (3-1, 2.87 ERA).