Southeast Missouri State softball team sweeps Williams Baptist

The Southeast Missouri State softball team wrapped up a six-game homestand Friday by sweeping a nonconference doubleheader from Williams Baptist.

Southeast beat the nationally ranked NAIA squad from Walnut Ridge, Ark., 4-1 and 5-2.

The Redhawks improved to 22-24 after going 5-1 on the homestand. The Eagles fell to 26-10.

Southeast had 14 hits and three home runs on the day, led by freshman Shelby Kuryllo. She continued her recent home run binge with one in each game. She has seven this season and has homered in four straight contests.

Sophomore Taylor Cowan also homered in the second game, her team-leading eighth homer of the year.

Kuryllo and senior Carmen Fowler both went 3 for 5 in the doubleheader. Kuryllo drove in five of Southeast's nine runs. Fowler raised her team-high batting average to .413.

Cowan went 3 for 6 with two doubles in addition to her home run.

Freshman Alora Marble (11-6) continued her strong rookie season in the circle by firing a five-hitter in the opener. She struck out five and walked none to notch her fifth consecutive victory.

Southeast had seven hits, including a two-run homer by Kuryllo, in the fourth inning that made it 4-0.

Third-inning RBI doubles by Fowler and senior Melissa Walker staked Southeast to a 2-0 lead.

Williams Baptist got its only run on a solo homer by Wendy Eftink, a junior from Oran, in the fifth inning.

The Eagles scored single runs in each of the first two innings of the second game to lead 2-0.

Cowan's leadoff homer in the second inning made it 2-1, and Southeast went ahead for good with a three-run third inning. Cowan's RBI double tied things, and Kuryllo's two-run homer broke the deadlock.

Kuryllo's fifth-inning RBI single capped the scoring.

Fowler joined Kuryllo and Cowan in getting two of Southeast's seven hits.

Cowan (4-6) recorded the win with 5 2/3 innings of two-hit, shutout relief. She struck out three and walked one after taking over for freshman Shea Cothren.

Eftink had a single and an RBI for the Eagles, who finished the day with 10 hits.

Southeast returns to action Tuesday with a 1 p.m. nonconference doubleheader at Middle Tennessee State.