Southeast Missouri State softball team finishes 1-2 at Mardi Gras Classic

The Redhawks lost 8-5 to Alabama State and 11-3 to the University of Louisiana-Monroe on Friday before picking up an 11-7 victory over Grambling State on Saturday at the Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, Louisiana.

Alabama State plated three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead.

Southeast cut the deficit to one on a home run by senior center fielder Kayla Fortner in the top of the fourth, and took a 4-3 lead in the fifth.

Senior second baseman Meaghan Touchette scored on an error and freshman designated hitter Claire Wernig was driven in on a single by Fortner, a transfer from Evansville.

After an ASU homer, the Redhawks evened it at five in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by freshman catcher Riley Hayes.

The Hornets scored three runs in their half of the inning and the Redhawks were retired in order in the seventh.

Freshman pitcher Madeline Krumrey took the loss, allowing six earned runs on eight hits in five innings of work.

ULM jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings in Southeast's second game.

The Redhawks didn't record a hit until the fourth inning, and cut it to 5-1 with an RBI single by senior first baseman Lindsey Patterson.

The Warhawks added a run in the bottom of both the fourth and fifth innings to push the lead to 8-1.

Fortner hit a two-run shot to center in the top of the sixth that made it a five-run game, but ULM added three in its half of the inning for the final score.

Southeast fell behind 7-3 Saturday but scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of Saturday's come-from-behind win. Patterson was 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs in Southeast's come-from-behind win Saturday.

Keaira Schilling recorded her first win of the season. She had one strikeout and scattered three hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Gymnastics

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team posted a season-low 191.150 on Friday in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Host Arkansas finished the meet with a 196.650 and Illinois State scored a 192.025.

"I'm really proud of the athletes that stepped up tonight," coach Kristi Ewasko said in a news release. "We had falls and mistakes that shouldn't be happening, so now we will refocus and make adjustments for Sunday. Alyssa Tucker and Ashley Thomas really did their jobs in the all-around while a few freshmen stepped up on individual events. We are looking to move past tonight and will be ready to go strong on Sunday."

Sophomores Ashley Thomas and Alyssa Tucker's scores of 38.800 and 38.575 were good for third and fourth in the all-around competition, respectively.

Arkansas' Amanda Wellick claimed the all-around title with a 39.425.

Thomas posted the Redhawks' highest score of the meet with a 9.775 on the uneven bars. Tucker and freshman McKenna Stanley each scored a 9.675 on the event, on which Southeast posted a 47.775.

The Redhawks' highest event score was a 48.225 on the vault. Freshman Alexis Brawner scored a 9.775 to lead Southeast.

Its 47.400 on the balance beam and 47.750 on the floor exercise were season lows. Tucker posted a 9.725 on beam while Thomas scored a 9.700 on beam and 9.625 on floor.

The Redhawks host Texas Woman's at 1 p.m. Sunday at Houck Field House.

Track & Field

The Southeast Missouri State track & field team competed at the Hoosier Hills Invitation, hosted by Indiana University, on Friday.

Junior Ayonna Cartwright placed second in a pair of events to lead the Redhawks on Friday. She finished second in the 60-meter dash in 7.60 seconds and in the 200m with a time of 25.13.

Junior Kayla Gutierrez took third in the weight throw with a distance of 63 feet, 4 3/4 inches while senior Sarah Hall was fourth in the shot put with a throw of 46-10.

Senior Shon Kyle's throw of 55-3/4 was good for fourth in the men's shot put.

Junior Cole Davis was fourth in the 600m in 1 minute, 22.18 seconds while sophomore Marc Maton was fifth in the 1600m with a time of 4:12.22.

Southeast distance runners competed at the DePauw Invitational on Saturday in Greencastle, Indiana.

The Redhawks claimed the top 4 spots in the women's 5,000m on Saturday. Senior Gloria Westlake won the event in 17 minutes, 38.43 seconds. Junior Lindsey Seabaugh (18:16.27), junior Kristen Richardet (18:16.81) and freshman Sydney O'Brien (18:21.57) rounded out the top 4.

Senior Tyler Holmes claimed the 800m title in 1:58.53 while freshman Dan Plunkett won the mile in 4:27.34.

Junior Craig Munie's time of 14:57.71 was good for first in the 5,000m.

Southeast hosts the Redhawks Invite on Friday.