Southeast Missouri State drops OVC softball series at EKU

The Southeast Missouri State softball team gave up three unearned runs Sunday, which proved decisive.

Eastern Kentucky took advantage to post a 4-2 victory in Richmond, Ky. The Colonels won the three-game Ohio Valley Conference series that saw the squads split Saturday's doubleheader.

Southeast fell to 10-15 overall and 3-3 in OVC play. EKU improved to 8-13 and 2-1.

Alora Marble took the loss in the circle, allowing five hits and one earned run. She struck out three and walked one.

The Redhawks had just four hits, including a solo home run by Shelby Stein, her first homer of the season. Xia Wilson had Southeast's other RBI.

Southeast fell behind 4-0 after four innings. The Redhawks scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings but got no closer.

The Redhawks are back in action Wednesday with a 3 p.m. OVC doubleheader at Tennessee-Martin.

Track and field

Southeast had one title and nine top-five finishes as it opened the outdoor season Saturday at the Rhodes Invitational in Memphis, Tenn.

Kevin Farley recorded three top-three finishes. He tied for first in the shot put with a distance of 50 feet, 4 inches while placing second in the hammer throw (158-4) and third in the discus (148-5).

Placing fourth for Southeast's men were Central High School graduate Zach Horrell in the hammer throw (150-4) and Brian Grote in the javelin (171-1).

Southeast's women were led by a second-place finish from the 1,600-meter relay team of Magan Edwards, Jerika Lewis, Angelica Larrier and Tianna Borner. The group clocked 3 minutes, 52.65 seconds.

Placing fifth for Southeast's women were Larrier in the 100 (12.24), Courtney Gapelu in the shot put (40-0) and Jessica Brown in the long jump (18-0 1/4).

Gapelu also was sixth in the discus (117-3), Lewis was seventh in the 100 (12.32) and Edwards placed eighth in the 200 (25.85).

Tennis

Southeast opened OVC play Sunday with a 6-1 loss at Tennessee-Martin.

The Redhawks fell to 3-6 overall, while UTM improved to 3-8 overall and 2-0 in the OVC.

Southeast's lone victory came at No. 2 singles as Elizabeth Nyenwe beat Johanie Van Zyl, 6-3, 7-6. Nyenwe has won four consecutive singles matches and improved her record to 7-2.

Singles

1. Jodie Tiley (UTM) def. Nikole Novikova 6-1, 6-4

2. Elizabeth Nyenwe (SE) def. Johanie Van Zyl 6-3, 7-6

3. Anna Winkelmann (UTM) def. Jessica Courtnell 6-7, 6-4, 7-5

4. Ivon Simic (UTM) def. Melissa Martin 6-4, 6-0

5. Anna Marie Herbold (UTM) def. Heather Robinson 6-3, 6-4

6. Alice Laing (UTM) def. Laura Garcia 6-4, 6-1

Doubles

1. Simic/Tiley (UTM) def. Novikova/Robinson 8-2

2. Herbold/Laing (UTM) def. Courtnell/Martin 8-4

3. Katie McCall/Van Zyl (UTM) def. Nyenwe/Lauren Schaper 8-5