Southeast Missouri State softball team drops opener of road trip

The Southeast Missouri State softball team kicked off a five-game road swing Thursday with a 10-3 loss at Western Kentucky.

Southeast, which is 1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play, fell to 8-13 overall. The Hilltoppers, 5-1 in the Sun Belt Conference, improved to 16-9 overall.

Sophomore Lindsey Patterson belted two solo home runs to lead Southeast's six-hit attack. WKU also had two homers among its 10 hits.

Senior Taylor Cowan took the loss in the circle, allowing six runs in just 1 1/3 innings.

The Redhawks remain on the road for a pair of noon OVC doubleheaders in Nashville, Tenn., against Belmont Saturday and Tennessee State Sunday.

Gymnastics

Southeast senior Emma Garrett was named the Midwest Independent Conference co-specialist of the week on Thursday.

Garrett shared the floor title and placed sixth on vault in last week's quad meet at Kent State. She posted a 9.825 on floor while matching a season high with a 9.775 on vault.

Garrett has won specialist of the week a league-high three times this season.

Southeast competes at the MIC Championships in Shreveport, La., at 5 p.m. Saturday.

-- From staff reports