Southeast Missouri State softball team rallies to dump Morehead State in Ohio Valley Conference opener

The Southeast Missouri State softball team ended its nine-game losing streak in dramatic fashion Saturday.

Cheyenne Gipson's bases-loaded walk capped a six-run bottom of the seventh inning to rally the Redhawks past visiting Morehead State 11-10.

But Southeast was unable to sweep the Ohio Valley Conference-opening doubleheader. The Eagles posted a 3-1 win in the nightcap.

Southeast (5-12, 1-1) and MSU (6-9, 1-1) will decide the three-game series at 10:30 a.m. today. The contest has been moved up from its original 1 p.m. starting time due to the threat of rain later in the day.

The Redhawks led 5-3 entering the seventh and final inning, but MSU stunned the Redhawks by scoring seven times to go ahead 10-5.

Southeast came right back. The Redhawks loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before Taylor Cowan drew a walk to make it 10-6 and bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out.

Lindsey Patterson delivered a two-run single to make it 10-8. Shelby Stein was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases.

Reliever Katie Pfost retired the first two batters she faced on a strikeout and a force out at home.

The Redhawks, who were down to their final out, got an RBI walk from pinch-hitter Brittany Smith to make it 10-9 and bring leadoff batter Evan Sallis to the plate.

Sallis came through with a game-tying single. Gipson then drew a four-pitch walk to cap the comeback.

"That was a huge comeback," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond, whose squad played its first home games of the season. "They did it by being patient and doing the things they needed to do. When you are in that situation, you aren't five runs down, you are playing with three outs.

"Our batters recognized that and it was good for them to come back and get the win. We have a chance to come out tomorrow and take two out of three to open conference play."

Patterson was Southeast's offensive star. She went 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs. She also recorded the final two outs in the top of the seventh to improve to 2-0 in the circle.

"Lindsey had several key hits," Richmond said. "She drove in a lot of runs in the first game and she responded when we called on her to stop the Morehead offense.

"A lot of players stepped up in the comeback, but she really stood out. She had a really good day."

Sallis and Gipson both added two of Southeast's 11 hits.

Kayla Ashbrook had three of MSU's 14 hits, including the game's only home run.

Southeast starter Alora Marble allowed only one hit and struck out five over the first four shutout innings. Marble pitched into the seventh. She allowed seven runs and nine hits.

The Redhawks' bats then went silent in the nightcap. Pfost fired a complete-game three-hitter. She struck out five and walked one.

Stein's fifth-inning RBI double tied things at 1-1, but the Eagles scored in the sixth and seventh innings to prevail.

Cowan went the distance in the circle. She allowed 10 hits.

Amber Riddle homered, while Katie Raile had three hits for the Eagles.

"We're disappointed that we couldn't get a sweep today," Richmond said. "I give Morehead a lot of credit. They came through in the clutch when they had runners on in the second game. Unfortunately our bats weren't able to get it done in game two."