Southeast Missouri State softball team wins its opening OVC series

It wasn't quite as dramatic as Saturday's rally.

But the Southeast Missouri State softball team used another big comeback to win its Ohio Valley Conference-opening series.

The Redhawks scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday to beat visiting Morehead State 9-5.

"It was an exciting win," junior Taylor Cowan said. "The key [to coming back] is always staying positive and never say die."

Southeast (6-12, 2-1) and MSU (6-10, 1-2) split Saturday's doubleheader, the Redhawks scoring six runs in the seventh and final inning of the opener to prevail 11-10.

Southeast Missouri State’s Alora Marble pitches to a Morehead State batter during the sixth inning Sunday at the Southeast Softball Complex. Marble won in relief. (Fred Lynch)

"That's what you want to do. You want to take every OVC series," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond, whose squad opened its home schedule over the weekend. "It's hard to sweep a team."

The Redhawks fell behind 4-0 after 2 1/2 innings Sunday and trailed 5-3 entering the bottom of the sixth.

Southeast took advantage of three walks and three errors to score six runs on just two hits. Three of the runs were unearned.

"They gave us some opportunities, but you still have to hit the ball and make things happen," Richmond said. "It was a lot of different kids coming through both days. This shows a lot of our team's character."

Senior Shelby Stein drew a one-out walk to get the sixth inning started. Sophomore Alene Bethel reached on an error and junior Kaitlin Wallace singled. Stein scored on an error on the hit by Wallace, with the runners advancing to second and third.

Southeast Missouri State left fielder Shelby Stein catches a fly ball during the third inning.

Sophomore Brittany Smith walked to load the bases. Senior Evan Sallis also walked, forcing in a run to tie the contest at 5-5.

Senior Cheyenne Gipson's ground ball to shortstop probably would have scored the go-ahead run, but it plated two runs when the ball was misplayed for an error.

Cowan added insurance with a two-out, two-RBI single to round out the scoring.

"It was a really good comeback. We stayed positive. That helps," Gipson said. "It was just being relaxed at the plate, staying patient."

Sophomore Alora Marble (3-5) notched the victory in the circle with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. She allowed an unearned run while striking out one and walking none.

Southeast Missouri State reliever Alora Marble pitches to a Morehead State batter during the sixth inning Sunday, March 11, 2012 at the Southeast Softball Complex. (Fred Lynch)

MSU led 4-2 when Marble came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning. Marble escaped the jam with a strikeout.

"I thought it was huge for [Marble] to come on in relief and shut it down," Richmond said.

Sophomore Shea Cothren started in the circle and went 4 2/3 innings. She allowed seven hits and four runs. She struck out three and walked two.

Gipson went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Wallace added two of Southeast's nine hits. Cowan delivered three RBIs, while Wallace and Sallis both scored twice.

Amber Riddle led MSU with two hits and four RBIs. Her second home run of the series, a three-run shot in the third inning, gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead. MSU scored all of its runs with two outs.

"I have to give Morehead a lot of credit. They did a great job hitting with two outs," Richmond said.

The Redhawks were able to shrug off the nine-game losing streak they carried into their first OVC series.

And they didn't mind getting up extra early after Sunday's start time was moved up to 10:30 a.m. from 1 p.m. due to the threat of rain later in the day.

"Conference is what matters," Cowan said.