Southeast softball team splits doubleheader with Austin Peay

Junior Haylee Krack provided all of the offense the Southeast Missouri State softball team would need to help lead the Redhawks to a win in Game 2 of a doubleheader against Austin Peay on Saturday at the Southeast Softball Complex.

Krack had three hits, including a home run, five RBIs and two runs scored as the Redhawks' offense exploded for 14 hits in Game 2 to dismantle the Governors 13-4 in five innings. The Redhawks had just five hits in a 4-1 loss in the day's first game.

"We're really battling right now, even with all of the injuries we've had to deal with this season," coach Lana Richmond said of her team's offensive onslaught. "If we can bang out 14 hits like we did today, we can stay in any game and hang with anyone."

The Governors (15-16, 4-4 in the OVC) scored first in Game 2 when Lauren de Castro singled in Kayla Davidson, who had doubled to start the game.

The Redhawks' (7-17, 2-4 in the OVC) offense answered when Krack drove in her first run of the game in the bottom of the first on a line-drive single to center field. The single scored leadoff hitter Leah Duffe who reached base with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Smith.

Lauren Patterson followed with a single that advanced Krack to second. Krack and Patterson both scored during the next at-bat when Jamie Woodworth doubled off the left center field wall putting the Redhawks up 3-1 after one inning.

Austin Peay starting pitcher Sidney Hooper was pulled after the hit and replaced by Taylor Mills. Hooper lasted 1/3 of an inning, allowing three earned runs on three hits.

The pitching change had no effect on the Redhawks who scored four more runs in the second inning off Mills. Another lead-off walk by Kelsey Gass got things going for Southeast. Nicole Deering showed off her speed by beating out an infield hit and advanced Gass to second. Mills then walked Duffe to load the bases for Smith, who singled to score Duffe. The single advanced all runners and extend the Redhawk lead to 4-0.

Krack added another RBI single in the inning, which scored Deering from third and made it 5-0 Redhawks. The Governors then pulled Mills and replaced her with Brianna Bartuccio. Mills lasted just 2/3 of an inning and allowed four earned runs on three hits.

Bartuccio pitched the remaining three innings and gave up six earned runs on eight hits. With the bases still loaded in the second, Patterson singled in her only run of the day. Woodworth followed up Patterson's single with one of her own, a bloop hit that fell in between the left fielder and third baseman. The hit scored Smith and put the Redhawks up 7-0 after two innings.

The Governors cut in to the Redhawks lead with a three-run inning in their half of the fourth to cut Southeast's lead to 7-4.

Southeast starting pitcher Aubrey Denno retired three batters in a row to end the threat and the inning. Denno pitched four innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out two.

Southeast added three more runs in the fourth inning when Meaghan Touchette hit a home run with runners on first and second base giving the Redhawks a 10-4 lead.

Krack ended her day on a high note with a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning that enacted the eight-run mercy rule, ending any chance the Governors had of staging a comeback.

"I like to not think when I'm at the plate, that's my thing," Krack said. "When I start thinking too much, I think of what not to do and I end up doing something wrong, but today I saw the ball well and did everything right and I'm just happy to get a conference win."

Richmond made a lineup change after Game 1 when she moved Deering, the usual leadoff hitter, to the No. 9 spot.

"We started off with our speedster [Deering] in Game 1, but she wasn't placing the ball in play," Richmond said. "When I look at that number one spot and you don't have speed that can consistently put the ball in play, then you have to go with someone who can consistently hit and the was Duffe for us today because she has been hitting well and consistent and it really paid off for us."

In Game 1, de Castro earned the complete-game win for the Governors, allowing one run on five hits while striking out 11.

The one bright spot for the Redhawks was Krack, who got her first RBI of the day on lead-off solo home run in the sixth inning. Krack finished the day with six RBIs and two home runs.

Southeast's starting pitcher Keaira Schilling pitched all seven innings in Game 1, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.

"She started and went the whole game as a freshman, which is hard to do," Richmond said. "I was really impressed with her today because she helped us out a lot. With most of my pitchers out I needed her to go the whole game and she did better than I expected. She just ran in to some tough spots where her defense could have helped her but didn't, and I expect her to be just as good for Game 3 tomorrow."

Schilling allowed two runs in the third when Austin Peay hit three consecutive doubles off the right-handed hurler to give the Governors a 2-1 lead, which they would not relinquish.

Austin Peay got two more in the seventh on a bases-loaded double off the bat of Kayla Davidson.

"I feel like she's getting better every time she goes out there," Richmond said of Schilling. "There are always things to work on, but she learns so quick from her mistakes that I have no doubt she'll be just as good if not better in her next outing."

Schilling will face the Governors again in the final game of the three-game set at 1 p.m. today at the Southeast Softball Complex.