UT-Martin win ends Otahkians' season

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Tennessee-Martin used a two-out seventh-inning rally to force extra innings and followed with three runs in the eighth to defeat Southeast Missouri State University 4-1 Saturday, eliminating the Otahkians from the Ohio Valley Conference Softball Tournament.

The loss, the second straight after an opening-round victory, ended Southeast's season at 14-27.

The Otahkians took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on a Dawn Piantino RBI double. The hit scored Shelley Conroy, pinch-running for Katie Cerneka, who opened the inning with a single.

Southeast starter Kelly Birk (7-12) allowed just two hits over the first six innings, but surrendered a pair of two-out hits in the seventh. After Linsey Moffitt singled, Sarah Daws doubled -- her third hit of the day -- to score the tying run.

UTM (25-32) then broke loose for four hits and three runs in the eighth.

Brooke Nett went 2-for-4 for Southeast, which had seven hits off winning pitcher Kendra Kosco (16-9).