Southeast softball team opens with win over Jackson State

The Southeast Missouri State softball team opened its season Thursday with an 11-3 road win over Jackson State in Jackson, Miss.

Southeast banged out 13 hits, led by Shelby Stein and Renee Kertz with three apiece. Kertz drove in three runs while freshman HaLeigh Willis added two RBIs.

Stefanie Barnes pitched the first five innings for the victory. She allowed four hits and three runs, two earned, while striking out five and walking one.

Whitney Dupuis finished with two scoreless innings, allowing two hits.

Southeast scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back. The closest Jackson State got was 5-3 after four innings, but the Redhawks outscored the Tigers 6-0 the rest of the way.

The Redhawks play five games over the next three days at the Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, La. They face Jackson State again today, along with a contest against Southeastern Louisiana.