Southeast Missouri State softball team ends Salukis' reign at 14 games

The Southeast Missouri State softball team scored a season-high run total Thursday and gave coach Lana Richmond her 600th Division I victory.

Southeast banged out 14 hits, including three home runs, and beat visiting SIU Carbondale 14-7 as the Redhawks notched their first win over the Salukis since 2001.

The Redhawks improved to 15-27 and snapped a 14-game losing streak to SIU. The Salukis, having a rare down season, fell to 21-25.

Richmond, in her 31st season at Southeast, has a career record of 873-670-2. She is the Ohio Valley Conference's all-time winningest softball coach.

Junior center fielder Alexis Anderson went 3 for 4 with her sixth home run of the season, a triple, three runs scored and two RBIs.

Southeast Missouri State catcher Chelsea Smith tags out SIU Carbondale’s Morgan Barchan at home plate during the first inning Thursday at the Southeast Softball Complex. Southeast won 14-7. (ADAM VOGLER)

Senior right fielder Simone Patterson belted her team-leading seventh home run of the season. She had two hits and four RBIs.

Senior shortstop Kaitlin Zink connected for her second homer of the year. She had two hits and three RBIs.

Also getting two hits for Southeast were senior first baseman Xia Wilson, sophomore DH Lindsey Patterson and freshman catcher Chelsea Smith.

Senior Taylor Cowan was the winning pitcher. She allowed eight hits and six runs, five earned, in five innings. Freshman Hannah Clemons finished, giving up three hits and one run over the final two innings.

Southeast led 6-0 after two innings, fell behind 7-6 and regained the lead for good with a six-run fifth inning.

Southeast resumes OVC play this weekend with a three-game series at Austin Peay. There will be a noon doubleheader Saturday and a noon contest Sunday.

-- From staff report