Southeast Missouri State softball sweeps OVC series vs. Tennessee State

The Southeast Missouri State softball team completed its second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference series sweep to celebrate senior day in style Sunday.

Southeast eased past visiting Tennessee State 6-2. That came after the Redhawks won both ends of Saturday's doubleheader 2-0 and 12-4.

The Redhawks, seventh in the 11-team league, are 22-25 overall and 13-13 in conference play. TSU is 11-34 and 3-21.

"I thought we played well this weekend and built some momentum as we enter our final weeks of the season," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond, whose squad has won eight of its last nine games. "We know what we have to do down the stretch."

Alora Marble (13-12) fired an eight-hitter for her second win of the series and her 20th complete game of the season. She struck out eight and walked three.

Southeast Missouri State shortstop Renee Kertz prepares to tag out Tennessee State baserunner Jennifer Givens during Sunday’s game at the Southeast Softball Complex. (Laura Simon)

Southeast had nine hits, led by Evan Sallis, Taylor Cowan and Lindsey Patterson with two apiece. Cowan drove in two runs.

Renee Kertz homered for the second consecutive day. She has a team-high five homers and is second in the OVC with 38 RBIs.

Southeast trailed 2-1 after three innings but went ahead for good with two in the fourth. Simone Patterson's RBI double was the game-winner.

The Redhawks broke things open with a three-run fifth, highlighted by Cowan's two-RBI single.

Kertz, Sallis, Stefanie Barnes, Cheyenne Gipson and Shelby Stein were the five Southeast seniors recognized before the game. Kertz and Stein are four-year starters.

Sallis (.346) and Gipson (.331) rank among the OVC's top 15 hitters. They also are among the league leaders in stolen bases with 17 each.

Kertz broke Southeast's single-season RBI record last season.

"I can't say enough about this senior class," said Richmond, whose club has one more home date left, a May 2 nonconference doubleheader against Belmont. "Three of the five [Kertz, Barnes and Stein] have been here four years. All of these individuals are excellent student-athletes."

The Redhawks play their next six games on the road beginning with a nonconference matchup against SIU Carbondale at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Southeast concludes its OVC schedule Saturday and Sunday with a series at fourth-place Murray State. The series will figure heavily in determining whether the Redhawks qualify for the six-team league tournament.