Southeast Missouri State softball team misses out on sweep of Saint Louis University

It took Alora Marble a while to get used to Division I college softball.

Her adjustment period apparently ended some time ago because the freshman pitcher has been on quite a roll.

Marble continued to shine in the circle for Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday, helping the Redhawks split a nonconference doubleheader against visiting Saint Louis University.

Marble notched her ninth straight win in the 5-1 opener before the Billikens captured the nightcap 3-2.

Southeast is 26-26 while SLU ended its season 29-24. The Redhawks have gone 21-12 since a 5-14 start and won seven of their last nine.

Southeast Missouri State pitcher Alora Marble delivers a pitch to a Saint Louis University batter during the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader. (Laura Simon)

"We want to keep the momentum going into the [Ohio Valley Conference] tournament," senior second baseman Carmen Fowler said.

Marble continued her momentum, improving to 14-6 with her seventh consecutive complete game. She allowed three hits, struck out six, walked one and nearly had her second collegiate shutout until Rachel Faletto led off the top of the seventh inning with a home run.

Marble ended the contest with two strikeouts and an infield pop fly.

"She pitched another really good game," Southeast coach Lana Richmond said.

Marble, a three-time all-stater at Blair Oaks High School near Jefferson City, Mo., was 5-6 with a 4.50 ERA after suffering a March 30 loss.

Southeast Missouri State's Evan Sallis bunts during the second inning of the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader.

She is 9-0 since then and her ERA has dropped to 3.38.

"It's just an adjustment [from high school]. It's different being away from home," said Marble, who pitched the final two innings of a combined no-hitter in the 2010 Class 2 state championship game, helping Blair Oaks capture its first title. "I think I just finally relaxed a little bit instead of being so tense. And my teammates have really helped me through it."

Marble is 9-3 in Ohio Valley Conference games. She also has three saves, which ties for the OVC lead and the school's single-season record.

"It's exciting," Marble said about her success. "It's fun to play because the team always gives 100 percent."

Richmond said Marble has matured as a pitcher over the past several weeks.

"We keep telling here it's not how you start, it's how you finish," Richmond said. "She's got a lot of confidence right now. She's throwing well.

"She's matured out there. Her mistakes are less than they were. She's learning."

Southeast supported Marble with 13 hits. Junior shortstop Renee Kertz went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs.

Kertz also drove in a second-game run -- on a bases-loaded walk -- giving her 47 RBIs, which breaks the school's single-season record of 46 by Shelly Trieb in 1993.

"I guess it's cool," said Kertz, who finished the day 4 for 5. She is Southeast's second-leading hitter with a .351 average.

Fowler, senior Nicole Troncoso, junior Evan Sallis and sophomore Kaitlin Wallace all added two hits.

Fowler went 3 for 5 in the twin bill, giving her 69 hits to break Southeast's single-season school record of 68 by Jenny Oermann in 1998.

Fowler is batting .421 as she tries to break the program's seasonal record of .413 by Kim Palmer in 1998. Fowler has a 12-game hitting streak.

"It's not really that important," said Fowler, who leads the OVC in batting. "I just want to get a [OVC tournament championship] ring."

Said Richmond of Kertz and Fowler: "They have both just had amazing years. They've come through time and again."

After rolling in the opener, Southeast was limited to four hits by Hannah Huebbe (14-7). She struck out eight and walked three.

Sophomore Taylor Cowan (5-7) took the loss. She allowed all three runs, two earned, and five hits in four innings.

Freshman Shea Cothren fired off three one-hit, shutout innings for the Redhawks.

"She pitched well," Richmond said. "We've thrown our freshmen out there this year."

Jessica Van Nostrand's two-run fourth-inning homer off Cowan that made it 3-0 was the game's big blow.

The Redhawks pulled within 3-2 in the sixth inning when Kertz and freshman Shelby Kuryllo drew bases-loaded, one-out walks. But the rally died there and Southeast went down in order in the seventh.

"We've got a good-hitting team, but we didn't hit that game," said Richmond, whose squad is batting .293.

Southeast continues its five-game homestand to end the regular season when OVC opponent Eastern Kentucky visits this weekend.

There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

The Redhawks, a fifth-place 16-10 in the 11-team OVC, have clinched a berth for next week's six-team conference tournament in Charleston, Ill.