Southeast Missouri State roundup: Redhawks gymnasts grab second place at four-team meet

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team posted a season-high road score to finish second during Friday's quad meet hosted by the University of Missouri.

Southeast scored 194.675, just behind Missouri's 194.775. Centenary (190.750) and Temple (190.125) rounded out the field.

The Redhawks' 48.950 beam score ranks sixth on the school's all-time list.

Sophomore Taylor Westrick tied for second on beam at 9.875 to match her career best.

Sophomore Angela Serafini and freshman Samantha Marrero tied for fourth at 9.825, career highs for both.

Sophomore Margaret O'Neal tied for second on vault (9.800), while sophomore Emma Garrett and freshman Megan Fosnow tied for fifth (9.750).

Senior Christina Sundgren was second on bars at 9.800. Fosnow finished fifth with a career-high 9.750, followed by O'Neal in sixth (9.700).

Senior Erica Moore and sophomore Sarah Brillhart tied for seventh (9.675). Moore set a career best.

Garrett was Southeast's top floor finisher, placing sixth with a season-high 9.800.

Westrick was third in the all-around (38.800), with Sundgren fourth (38.775).

Southeast senior Brianna Gaddie was named the Midwest Independent Conference specialist of the week for her performance at the Central Michigan quad Feb. 24. It is the sixth time this season she has received the honor and the eighth time in her career.

Gaddie won her sixth vault title of the season and 16th of her career while tying for fifth on floor at that meet.

Gaddie ranks first in the MIC and eighth in the South Central Region on vault. She also leads the conference and ranks 10th in the region on floor.

The Redhawks host Centenary at 2 p.m. today. It will be senior day, and Southeast will recognize Gaddie, Sundgren, Moore and Jacqueline Heath.

Softball

The Southeast softball team found the going tough over the weekend against rugged competition.

Southeast (3-10) went 0-3 at the Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness tournament hosted by Saint Louis University, including a 5-0 loss to Missouri, ranked 17th nationally.

That defeat came Friday, as did a 3-2 setback to Missouri State. Southeast lost 8-3 to host SLU and had its final game against Missouri-Kansas City canceled Saturday.

The Redhawks played Missouri tough. The Tigers had just four hits and led only 2-0 through six innings.

Losing sophomore pitcher Taylor Cowan, who went the distance, was hurt by seven walks. Southeast had three hits.

Missouri State scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun Southeast. Just one run was earned. Cowan took the loss. Both squads had four hits.

Notre Dame Regional High School graduate Kristain Burger sparked SLU's win over Southeast. The junior first baseman had a home run and two RBIs. The Billikens banged out 12 hits, including three homers.

Southeast had nine hits, led by senior Carmen Fowler and junior Renee Kertz with two apiece. Freshman Shea Cothren took the loss in the circle.

The Redhawks play their first home game Wednesday, when SIU-Carbondale visits at 3 p.m.

Women's tennis

The Southeast tennis team suffered a 5-2 home loss Saturday to defending Ohio Valley Conference tournament champion Austin Peay. The match was played indoors at the Class Act Family Fitness Center.

Southeast, which had Friday's scheduled home match with Tennessee State canceled, is 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the OVC. Austin Peay is 5-3 and 2-0.

Freshman Elizabeth Nyenwe picked up a 7-6, 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles. Southeast also won by default at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.

The Redhawks return to action Monday, facing BYU in Montgomery, Ala.

-- From staff reports