Southeast Missouri State softball team drops final two games at Sand Dollar Classic

The Southeast Missouri State softball team sustained a pair of losses Sunday and closed the season-opening Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with a 1-4 record.

Central Arkansas used three home runs to overtake the Redhawks for a 5-4 victory, before 25th-ranked South Alabama prevailed 5-2.

The Redhawks were entering the day on the heels of their first win of the season, a 10-7 triumph against Houston Baptist on Saturday.

Against Central Arkansas (4-1), Haylee Krack staked Southeast to a 2-0 lead with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Southeast took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth, where it added two unearned runs with the help of four UCA errors.

Sam Forrest and Jessie Taylor blasted solo home runs for UCA in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-3.

UCA pulled even in the sixth inning on another solo home run by Hannah Stirton.

UCA scored an unearned run in the seventh for the win. Taylor ultimately chased home the winning run on a one-out double down the left-field line.

Hailey Thogmartin (1-1) took the loss in relief, allowing one hit, one walk and one unearned run in 1/3 of an inning. She struck out one before yielding to Aubrey Denno, who allowed the hit to Taylor.

Madeline Krumrey pitched the first six innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs. She struck out five, hit one batter and did not issue a walk.

Savannah Carpenter and Riley Hayes had doubles for the Redhawks. who finished with six hits.

Shivaun Landeros recorded the win for UCA, allowing one hit and striking out five over 3 2/3 shutout innings.

UCA finished with nine hits.

In the second game, South Alabama scored the final four runs of the game to improve to 5-0.

Carpenter belted a home run in the top of the first inning to give the Redhawks the lead, but USA pulled even in the bottom half off Thogmartin (1-2).

Southeast used a pair of singles and a fielding error to regain a 2-1 lead in the second.

USA pulled even in the third inning and went ahead for good with two runs in the fourth. Thogmartin surrendered a leadoff single to Megan Harris before yielding to Mackenzie Hoelting. A bunt single and a throwing error by Hoelting on a bunt scored Harris with the game-winning run. An RBI groundout later in the inning gave USA a 4-2 lead. Emily Messer, who went 4-for-4, provided an additional insurance run in the fifth with an RBI single.

Devin Brown recorded the win for USA with eight strikeouts over four no-hit innings of relief.

Harli Wheeler had two hits for the Redhawks, who were outhit 11-5.

Southeast returns to action at the Western Kentucky Tournament on Feb. 26-28.