Southeast softball squad endures rough OVC series

The Southeast Missouri State softball team had a rough weekend during its first Ohio Valley Conference home series of the season.

SIU Edwardsville swept the three-game set in blowout fashion, romping 13-0 and 11-1 in Friday's doubleheader before rolling 9-1 Saturday.

All three contests, in which the Redhawks never led, ended early by way of the eight-run mercy rule. Friday's opener went five innings and the nightcap lasted six innings. Saturday's series finale also went six innings.

Southeast fell to 10-18 overall and 3-5 in OVC play. The Cougars are 22-8 and 7-2.

SIUE belted four home runs among its 15 hits during Friday's 13-0 first-game romp that saw the Cougars break things wide open with six runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Brittany Toney homered twice and went 4 for 4 with three RBIs. Taylor Tooley and Kayla Riggs both had grand slams. Riggs went 3 for 4.

Freshman Haley Chambers pitched a three-hit shutout. She struck out three and did not issue a walk.

Sophomore DH Lindsey Patterson had two of Southeast's three hits. Senior Taylor Cowan took the loss, allowing seven runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.

The Cougars also broke open Friday's nightcap late. They led 2-1 before plating nine runs in the sixth inning.

SIUE outhit Southeast 10-9. Toney finished a perfect day, going 2 for 2 with two doubles. Alex McDavid had three hits and three RBIs.

Freshman catcher Chelsea Smith went 2 for 2 and drove in Southeast's lone run with a second-inning single. Junior center fielder Alexis Anderson also had two hits for the Redhawks.

Cowan received her second loss of the day, allowing two runs and two hits in two innings.

Erin Greenwalt pitched SIUE's second complete game of the day, giving up one run and nine hits over six innings.

SIUE led 4-1 Saturday before scoring five sixth-inning runs.

Chambers (12-2) notched her second complete-game win of the series. She gave up an unearned run and seven hits, with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Cowan (6-11) was hit with her third loss of the series, allowing eight runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Cougars outhit the Redhawks 9-7. No Southeast player had more than one hit.

Southeast returns to action Tuesday with a 4 p.m. nonconference home doubleheader against Evansville.

Tennis

Southeast's women dropped two OVC road matches over the weekend, 5-2 at Austin Peay Friday and 7-0 at Murray State Saturday.

The Redhawks fell to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in OVC play. They have suffered five straight losses.

Southeast received wins against Austin Peay from Heather Robinson at No. 1 singles and Elizabeth Nyenwe at No. 2 singles but the Govs swept the remaining matches.

The Redhawks' lone victory against Murray State was by Nyenwe and Jessica Courtnell at No. 2 doubles but the Racers won the doubles point on their way to the shutout victory.

Southeast returns to action Tuesday, hosting OVC opponent Tennessee-Martin at 2 p.m.

Austin Peay 5, Southeast 2

Singles

No. 1 -- Heather Robinson (SE) def. Alison Carre 6-3, 7-5

No. 2 -- Elizabeth Nyenwe (SE) def. Ornella Di Salvo 6-4, 7-6

No. 3 -- Andra Cornea (AP) def. Nikole Novikova 5-7, 6-4, 6-0

No. 4 -- Vanessa Tavares (AP) def. Jessica Courtnell 7-6, 6-3

No. 5 -- Jovana Karac (AP) def. Sarah Uptmor 6-2, 6-0

No. 6 -- Julie Covington (AP) def. Lauren Schaper 6-3, 6-4

Doubles

No. 1 -- Di Salvo-Cornea (AP) def. Robinson-Novikova 6-5 (unfinished)

No. 2 --Carre-Tavares (AP) def. Nyenwe-Courtnell 8-4

No. 3 -- Karac-Mary Theresa Kubek (AP) def. Uptmor-Schaper 8-1

Murray State 7, Southeast 0

Singles

No. 1 -- Ashley Canty (MSU) def. Heather Robinson 5-7, 6-3, 11-9

No. 2 -- Carla Suga (MSU) def. Elizabeth Nyenwe 6-2, 6-0

No. 3 -- Megan Blue (MSU) def. Nikole Novikova 6-1, 6-2

No. 4 -- Erin Patton (MSU) def. Jessica Courtnell 6-3, 6-2

No. 5 -- Carolyn Huerth (MSU) def. Sarah Uptmor 6-0, 6-0

No. 6 -- Suzaan Stoltz (MSU) def. Lauren Schaper 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

No. 1 -- Canty-Huerth (MSU) def. Robinson-Novikova 8-4

No. 2 -- Nyenwe-Courtnell (SE) def. Suga-Blue 8-3

No. 3 -- Patton-Stoltz (MSU) def. Uptmor-Schaper 8-1

-- From staff reports