Win streak hits 12

~ The Redhawks softball team sits a game out of second.

Lauren Bradley's official senior day was Sunday.

But Bradley put an exclamation point on her final home appearance as a Southeast Missouri State softball player Wednesday.

Bradley, Southeast's lone senior, belted two home runs as the red-hot Redhawks won their 12th straight game, 8-3 over Eastern Illinois.

"It's a great last home game for Lauren," Southeast coach Lana Richmond said.

Southeast (24-19, 13-8) solidified its hold on third place in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference entering the final weekend of league play.

The Redhawks' winning streak is the program's longest since 1998 and the sixth-longest ever.

"It's very exciting," said Bradley of her two homers, but she seemed more fired up about the Redhawks' continued resurgence.

Southeast has locked up a spot in the six-team OVC tournament, after the former conference power failed to qualify the previous two years.

"I'm just excited the team is on an amazing winning streak," Bradley said. "It seems like every time we get down, we just pull it out."

Bradley has overcome several injuries, which forced her to miss much of her sophomore season and the start of this year, to forge a solid college career.

Bradley, who has played a variety of positions at Southeast before settling in at first base this season, is tied for fourth on the program's all-time home run list with 16.

"Lauren has done everything we've asked her to do. We asked her to pitch one year and she did that," Richmond said. "She's been injured, but she's bounced back. I'm very happy for her."

Bradley, who has three home runs this season, had mixed emotions following Wednesday's contest.

While the native of Overland Park, Kan., was happy that Southeast won again and she was a prime contributor, she said: "It's bittersweet. It's been an amazing four years. But it's so sad it's my last home game."

Bradley's two-run shot to dead center in the fourth inning put Southeast up 2-1, and her solo blast to left in the fifth was part of a six-run outburst that wiped out a 3-2 EIU lead.

Junior Elise Sperakos preceded Bradley's fifth-inning homer with a two-run shot to left as they went back-to-back.

Sperakos is second on the squad with four home runs, behind the six of junior Alex Ramirez and just ahead of Bradley's three.

"We're not a home run hitting team, but the long ball really helped us today," said Richmond, whose team has 19 homers on the season. "They broke loose in the fifth inning."

Freshman ace Giana Zimmerman, a leading candidate for OVC freshman of the year honors, notched her eighth straight win and recorded her 18th complete game in 22 starts.

Zimmerman (15-8) allowed six hits while striking out seven and walking one. Her ERA is a solid 2.68.

"What a freshman year she's had," Richmond said.

Sophomore shortstop Nicole Troncoso went 3-for-3 as the Redhawks had eight hits, five coming in the fifth inning.

Troncoso, a transfer from Boston College, boosted her average to .327. She is one of two Southeast players hitting above .300, with Ramirez leading the way at .339.

EIU (24-25, 8-12) got a two-run homer from Denee' Menzione as the Panthers suffered their 11th straight loss.

Southeast ends the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at Tennessee State.

The top two finishers in the OVC earn a first-round bye for the conference tournament, and Southeast is just one game out of second place.

"That's our goal right now, to get second," Bradley said.