Southeast Missouri State roundup: Salukis hold off Redhawks 7-6 in softball showdown

The Southeast Missouri State softball team began a stretch of six straight road games Wednesday with a 7-6 loss at perennial powerhouse SIU Carbondale.

Southeast fell to 22-26 as the Redhawks suffered just their second defeat in their last 10 contests. They are 3-15 in one-run games.

Southeast took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning on four straight hits with one out.

Evan Sallis tripled and Cheyenne Gipson bunted for a single to give the Redhawks runners at first and third. Renee Kertz and Taylor Cowan delivered RBI singles.

SIU (31-14) answered with three runs in the bottom of the third.

The Redhawks went back ahead when Cowan belted a three-run home run with one out in the fifth inning. Gipson and Kertz singled before Cowan's third homer of the season gave the Redhawks a 5-3 lead.

SIU came right back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 7-5, and the Salukis held on.

Southeast outhit SIU 10-5. Sallis went 3 for 5, while Gipson, Kertz and Cowan all added two hits. Cowan had four RBIs.

Cowan (1-5) suffered the loss in the circle. She allowed four runs on two hits and three walks over two innings.

Ace pitcher Alora Marble, Southeast's starter, gave up three runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks over four innings.

The Redhawks resume Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend with their final league series at Murray State. There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

Track

Southeast freshman Kevin Farley has been named the OVC co-male field athlete of the week.

Farley finished in the top five in all three of his throwing events over the weekend at the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational in Louisville, Ky.

Farley launched a career-best throw of 58 feet, 2 inches to place second in the shot put and move atop the OVC's performance list. He currently ranks 23rd in the NCAA West Region.

Farley also tossed the discus 157-6 to place second. He was fifth in the hammer throw (171-4).

Southeast competes today through Saturday at the 103rd annual Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.

-- From staff reports