Southeast Missouri State roundup: Redhawks drop pair at softball tournament

The Southeast Missouri State softball team saw its losing streak reach seven games with a pair of defeats Saturday at the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Southeast (4-9) fell 5-4 in eight innings to Saint Louis University then was routed 9-0 in five innings by 13th-ranked Missouri.

The Redhawks rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning against Saint Louis to forge a 4-4 tie, but the Billikens pushed across a run in the eighth to win.

Kaitlin Wallace had two of Southeast's six hits and drove in two runs. Alora Marble allowed one hit and one earned run over 3 1/3 innings to take the loss. Starter Shea Cochren gave up four hits and one earned run over 4 2/3 innings.

Evan Sallis had Southeast's only hit, a first-inning leadoff single, against perennial national power Missouri. Kristin Nottelmann struck out six, walked none and hit a batter.

Taylor Cowan took the loss. She allowed nine hits and eight earned runs over 3 1/3 innings.

Southeast concludes the tournament today with games against host Missouri-Kansas City and Missouri State.

Gymnastics

Southeast finished last Saturday in a quadrangular meet hosted by Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas.

Iowa won with a score of 195.875, followed by Texas Woman's (195.125), BYU (194.900) and Southeast (188.925).

Taylor Westrick posted two top-five individual finishes to lead the Redhawks (1-10). She tied for fourth on the balance beam (9.825) and tied for fifth on the uneven bars (9.825).

"I'm proud of Taylor's accomplishments tonight," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said. "She puts in the hard work in practice day in and day out. It's exciting to see her continue to fight for a spot at regionals."

Southeast's Megan Fosnow was fifth in the all-around (37.425).

The Redhawks return to action Friday when they host Auburn at 6:30 p.m.

Track

Four Southeast athletes competed at two meets over the weekend.

Senior Josh Uchtman and junior Craig Robinson captured titles Friday at the North Central College Last Chance Meet in Naperville, Ill.

Uchtman won the shot put (57 feet, 11 1/4 inches) and Robinson the weight throw (64-2 1/4).

Senior Jessica Bollinger was 21st in the 5,000 meters at the University of Notre Dame by running a season-best time of 17 minutes, 43.57 seconds. 

Freshman Mohamed Souleiman placed 44th in the 800 (1:55.37) at Notre Dame.

The Redhawks now await word if any of their individuals qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships March 9 and 10 in Boise, Idaho.

-- From staff reports