SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE ROUNDUP: Redhawks gymnastics team places second at MIC Championships

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team came up short in its quest for the Midwest Independent Conference Championship.

The Redhawks posted a season-best 194.375, but Lindenwood topped them with a 194.925 to win its second consecutive title at the six-team event at Houck Field House on Saturday night.

Texas Woman's was third with a score of 193.325 while Illinois State (192.825), Illinois-Chicago (191.625) and Centenary (188.825) finished in the bottom half of the standings.

"There's so much to be proud of tonight," coach Kristi Ewasko said in a press release. "The team really put it together and showed grit and fight. We've trained the details all the way to the finish this week, and they finally realized what they're capable of. I am looking forward to seeing where this ranks our individuals in the fight for a spot at NCAA Regionals."

Southeast Missouri State's Alexis Brawner competes on vault in the Midwest Independent Conference Championships on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Houck Field House.Fred Lynch

Southeast started off the meet with a 47.925 on vault. Sophomore Alexis Brawner's score of 9.825 was good for a tie for the event title and first-team all-conference. Junior Ashley Thomas posted a 9.700, which earned her second-team honors.

The Redhawks tied their season-high on the uneven bars in the second rotation with a 48.850. Junior Alyssa Tucker won the event with a season-best 9.850. She and Brawner, who took second with a 9.825, earned first-team all-conference while freshman McKenna Stanley, who came in third with a 9.800, earned second-team honors.

Southeast scored a 48.600 on balance beam. Tucker and Stanley picked up second-team honors with a season-high 9.825 and 9.800, respectively.

Southeast Missouri State's Ashley Thomas competes in the floor exercise during the Midwest Independent Conference Championships on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Houck Field House.Fred Lynch

The Redhawks saved their best for last, scoring a season-high 49.000 on floor with all five competitors posting their best scores of the season.

Jones' 9.925 won her the title and Brawner posted a 9.875 for first-team honors. Thomas was second-team all-conference with a 9.825.

Brawner, who was named the conference's Athlete of the Year on Friday night, finished third and was first-team all-conference in the all-around competition with a 38.650. Jones and Stanley received second-team honors with scores of 38.625 and 38.550, respectively.

Illinois State's Amanda Mohler was chosen as the MIC Senior Athlete of the Year and Illinois-Chicago's Mikailla Northern was selected MIC Newcomer of the Year.

Lindenwood's Jen Kesler was voted Coach of the Year and Jennifer Grabowski was named MIC Assistant Coach of the Year.

Softball

The Southeast softball team opened Ohio Valley Conference action with a doubleheader sweep of Murray State on Saturday.

The Redhawks held off the Racers' in Game 1 to win 4-3 before posting a lopsided 9-1 victory in the second game at the Southeast Softball Complex.

Southeast freshman left fielder Brittany Stevens went 4 for 7 with two runs and three RBIs in the two games.

She scored the first run of the day as part of a four-run second inning for the Redhawks. She led off the inning, during which Southast strung together six hits, with a single.

First baseman Savannah Carpenter doubled and shortstop Sarah Messex singled up the middle to score Stevens.

Designated hitter Darby Pruett plated Carpenter and Messex with a single to short and later scored on an RBI single by right fielder Claire Wernig to put the Redhawks up 4-0 after two innings.

The Racers scored two in the top of the third with help from three Southeast errors, all of which came with two outs, to cut it to 4-2.

MSU threatened again in the top of the seventh. Center fielder Mallory Young reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an error by second baseman Harli Wheeler that allowed third baseman Brenna Finck to get on base.

A fielder's choice got Young out at third for the second out. Back to back walks allowed Finck to score to cut it to 4-3 before Maddie Krumrey ended the game and stranded the bases loaded with her with her fifth strikeout.

Krumrey (4-3) got the complete-game win in the circle. She allowed three runs, all unearned, on four hits with three walks and five Ks.

Mason Robinson (6-7) took the loss for MSU. She gave up four earned runs on 10 hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

The Racers scored first in Game 2. Left fielder Cayla Levins hit a one-out home run to center off Haley Thogmartin in the top of the second.

Southeast took the lead for good in the bottom of the third when third baseman Haylee Krack hit a two-run homer to center with two outs to make it 2-1 Redhawks.

Pruett drove in a run in the fourth and Southeast scored four runs on six hits in the fifth.

Stevens capped the day with a two-RBI triple to center in the sixth for the final score.

Thogmartin improved to 4-5 as she allowed just one earned run on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 6 innings. Starter Haven Campbell (3-4) took the loss after giving up five earned runs on 10 hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

The Redhawks outhit MSU 25-10 in the doubleheader and improved to 8-11 and 2-0 in conference. MSU dropped to 9-13 and 0-2.

The two teams face off again at 1 p.m. today.

Track and field

The Southeast track and field team began its outdoor season at the Rhodes Invitational in Memphis, Tennessee.

Jason Walker and Stephen Zagurski were the Redhawks' top finishers on Day 1, taking first and second with throws of 53.25 and 53.03 meters, respectively, in the weight throw on Friday. On Saturday Zagurski took second in the shot put with a throw of 14.0 and Walker was second in the discus (51.03).

Paden Wachter took second in the hammer throw on the women's side with a throw of 46.0 while Aaliah Herron was fifth (38.36). Herron was second in the discus (38.64) on Saturday while Wachter was third (38.61).

Andrew Ryan was fourth in the men's javelin at 47.60.

Miya Dorsey was second in the women's 400-meter hurdles on Saturday with a time of 1 minute, 4.38 seconds.

Mariam Ajiroba took third in the 100-meter dash (12.27). Cheyanne Tunti was fourth in the 200 in 25.17.

The Redhawks compete at the Arkansas Spring Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

Tennis

The Southeast tennis team dropped a 6-0 decision at SIU Edwardsville on Saturday.

The loss was the Redhawks' 10th in a row. They fall to 1-11 and 0-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference while SIUE improved to 9-4 and 1-1 in conference.

Mariya Kostiuk and Anais Emelie lost 6-2 in No. 1 doubles and Annisa Warasanti and Ana Canahuate-Torrese were defeated 6-1 in No. 3 doubles.

Kostiuk lost 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles, Mila Maitan lost 6-1, 7-5 at the No. 3 spot and Warasanti was defeated 6-2, 6-4 in No. 4 action.

Isabella Krupa and Emelie forced third sets in the No. 2 and 5 matches, respectively. Krupa dropped a 5-7, 6-2, 10-6 decision and Emelie lost 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.

Krupa and Maitan's No. 2 doubles match went unfinished and Viviana Ortiz did not finish the No. 6 singles match.

The Redhawks travel to Martin, Tennessee, to face the UT Martin Skyhawks at 2 p.m. Thursday.