TSU hands pair of OVC losses to Southeast Missouri State softball team

The Southeast Missouri State softball team dropped its second doubleheader of the weekend, losing both games to Tennessee State on Sunday at the Southeast Softball Complex.

The Redhawks (7-22, 2-9 OVC) managed just two hits in the first game, a 3-1 loss to the Tigers. Southeast held a lead in the second game, but ultimately lost 4-3. Southeast has lost six of its last seven games and is in last place in the Ohio Valley Conference West division.

The opener featured a pitching duel between Southeast's starter Hannah Durham and TSU starter Hannah St. Clair. Durham struck out four, allowed two hits and two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. St. Clair one upped her counterpart, pitching a complete game. St. Clair struck out five, allowed two hits and did not give up an earned run.

Durham walked the first two batters in the sixth inning, and a fielding error by shortstop Haylee Krack loaded the bases. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on an RBI ground out.

Durham was then relieved by Aubrey Denno, who threw a wild pitch to the first batter she faced that scored the runner from third for a 2-0 lead. A two-out single by Kate Morris extended TSU's lead to 3-0.

Southeast Missouri State third baseman Jamie Woodworth fields a ground ball during the fifth inning of the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against Tennessee State at the Southeast Softball Complex. TSU won 3-1. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast countered with its lone run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Meaghan Touchette that scored pinch runner KC Saxe. Savannah Carpenter opened the inning with a single and was pinch run for by Saxe. The Redhawks loaded the bases with two outs but stranded the runners.

"We're riddled with injuries, riddled," Southeast coach Lana Richmond said after having to make some defensive adjustments in Sunday's doubleheader. "It's like we get one player back and another one goes down, and that makes it really hard for our team to show some consistency."

Leah Duffe suffered a broken finger in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader loss to Belmont, forcing Richmond to realign her defense. Kracke, who normally plays third base, replaced Duffe at shortstop. Rachel Duncan also hurt her shoulder in Saturday's doubleheader and was replaced at second base by Touchette, who is usually an outfielder. Richmond said Duncan is day to day.

"I have a first baseman [Carpenter] with a hurt knee who is batting on one leg and a middle infield that has to mesh a little more together before they get some consistency," Richmond said. "It's been a tough year and I'm looking at new strategies every day, but you can't put your head down and quit. You've got to play through the season."

While the injury-ridden Redhawks have not had the start they wanted, Richmond said there are some players who are showing their talent because they're getting playing time due to injuries.

Lindsey Patterson was moved to designated hitter in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader after Carpenter, who usually takes care of the role, had to fill in at first base. Patterson came through in her new role with a two-run home over the left-field wall during the fifth to put Southeast ahead 3-2.

"She gave me an inside pitch to hit, which I had been looking for all game," Patterson said. "I saw the pitch twice in the at-bat and earlier in the game and finally decided to do something with it."

The blast scored Carpenter, who had an RBI single in the previous at-bat. Nicole Deering opened the inning with a single, advanced to second and scored on Carpenter's hit.

The Redhawks' lead was short lived as the Tigers answered with a two-run home run of their own in the sixth inning for a 4-3 lead.

Kierea Schilling, who relieved Aubrey Denno, allowed the home run and suffered the loss. Schilling pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits. Denno allowed two earned runs on four hits over 3 1/3 innings. Denno and Schilling combined for nine strikeouts.

"This group doesn't hang their heads. They're tough," Richmond said. "We take it one game at a time and know that there is always another one to be played."