Southeast Missouri State softball team is swept by Belmont

The Southeast Missouri State softball team was swept by Belmont Thursday in a nonconference doubleheader played in Nashville, Tenn.

Belmont (7-16) won the opener 3-0 and took the nightcap 6-5 in eight innings.

Southeast (5-14) had just one hit in the opener, a single by Evan Sallis. Shea Cothren was the losing pitcher, allowing seven hits and three runs in six innings.

The Redhawks outhit Belmont 12-11 in the nightcap. Cheyenne Gibson led Southeast with four hits and two RBIs. Carmen Fowler and Kaitlin Wallace both added two hits.

Stefanie Barnes suffered the loss, working the final 2 1/3 innings. She allowed just one hit but the Bruins won the game with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Southeast (2-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference) resumes its league schedule this weekend with a three-game home series against Tennessee Tech. There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

The Redhawks have played 18 of their first 19 games away from home.

Gymnasts host MIC

The Southeast gymnastics squad will compete at home for the last time this season Saturday when the Redhawks host the five-team Midwest Independent Conference Championships.

Joining Southeast for the 2 p.m. meet will be defending champion Texas Women's University, Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago and Centenary. The Redhawks were third during last year's competition in Denton, Texas.

The meet will be the Redhawks' final chance to improve their regional qualifying score that is currently an MIC-best 193.875.

Southeast is ranked 37th nationally, with the top 36 qualifying for regionals. The Redhawks narrowly trail No. 36 Arizona State (193.900).

-- From staff reports