Southeast roundup: Softball team suffers sweep

The Southeast Missouri State softball team managed just one run and seven hits Saturday while being swept in a doubleheader.

Host Tennessee Tech clinched a berth in the six-team Ohio Valley Conference tournament with 4-0 and 2-1 wins.

The Eagles improved to 25-27 overall and a fifth-place 11-11 in the OVC.

Southeast, which already had been eliminated from contention for an OVC tournament berth, fell to 16-31 and 5-17. The Redhawks assured themselves of a last-place finish in the 10-team league.

The Redhawks end their season today with the final game of the series in Cookeville, Tenn.

Southeast nearly earned a split Saturday.

Senior Alex Ramirez homered in the fourth inning of the nightcap for a 1-0 lead that the Redhawks carried into the seventh inning, only to see Tech rally with two runs for the victory.

Whitney Dupuis was the tough-luck loser, allowing five hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings. She struck out three and walked one.

Southeast, which had only three hits in the nightcap, managed just four in the opener as it was shut out.

Stefanie Barnes took the loss, allowing seven hits and two earned runs in six innings. She struck out two and walked three.

Track wins two titles

The Southeast track and field program won two individual titles and recorded eight top-10 finishes at Friday's Billy Hayes Invitational in Bloomington, Ind.

Tyler Terry claimed his third long jump title of the season. Terry, fresh off winning the long jump and triple jump at last weekend's OVC outdoor meet, had a distance of 23 feet 10 inches.

Samantha Espiricueta took home her fourth javelin title of the year with a season-best 162-2. The throw moved her from 34th up to 17th on the national list.

Chris Gill was third in the 400 meters, recording a personal-best time of 47.38 seconds that ranks seventh on the school's all-time list.

Brandon Colbert finished fourth in the shot put (53-10 1/4) and discus (169-11). He also placed sixth in the hammer throw (189-8).

Also for Southeast's women, Ashley Brewer was fourth in the discus (139-8); Rachel Kahle was fifth in the 100 (12.15); Jerika Lewis was sixth in the 400 (56.49); and Brianna Egbuka was ninth in the shot put (44-2 3/4) and 14th in the hammer (150-6).

All those competitors will have one more shot to improve their marks next weekend at the Georgia Tech Invitational before the NCAA West Regional on May 28 and 29.

-- From staff reports