MOREHEAD, Ky. – Sophomores
Maddy Christopher and
Sela Pickford continued their hot bats, and the Morehead State softball team completed its weekend road series against Southeast Missouri at the Southeast Softball Complex in Cape Girardeau, Mo., without making an error, but it was not enough as the Redhawks capped off the sweep with an 8-1 victory on Sunday.
Pickford led off the game with a home run, but from there it was all Southeast Missouri (19-13/12-6). Despite making three errors, the hosts collected eight hits and raised their winning streak to five games and their home record to 6-3.
"We played good defense and, for the most part, Rylie (Burney) pitched well," said MSU head coach
Megan Griffith. "But our limited pitching options hurt us again today."
It was the final outing of a five-game road swing for Morehead State (4-36/2-15), which has now dropped its 10 straight overall and 15 in a row on the road and fell to 1-28 away from home this year.
The Eagles had a promising start. After Pickford's homer, Christopher, a left fielder, singled and sophomore third baseman
Kendra Lewis reached on an error. Junior first baseman
Jordan Donato added another single, but the inning ended with MSU stranding two runners. The Blue and Gold finished the afternoon with six runners left on base.
The Redhawks drew three consecutive walks to begin their half of the first, forcing Morehead State to make a pitching change. Another walk ensued plating SEMO's first run. Then a pair of wild pitches pushed the lead to 3-1.
The hosts tacked on two more runs on three hits, including a double, home run and a single.
The Eagles struggled to put together much offense after the first inning, going down in order in the second and third, before senior center fielder
Darlene Montoya singled to lead off the fourth.
The Redhawks kept the pressure on in the bottom of the fourth. For the third time, SEMO put its first three batters on base, courtesy of a home run, single and a triple.
Morehead State put together a threat in the fifth after Pickford, the shortstop, reached base on an error and Christopher singled with one out. However, Southeast Missouri induced the next two batters to commit outs.
SEMO added a pair of hits in the sixth inning but left both stranded.
MSU went down in order in both the sixth and seventh to end the game.
Morehead State finished with five hits, stretching its totals to 29 outings with at least five. It was the 10th time this year the team did not make an error, with the current three-game streak the longest consecutive run this spring.
Pickford completed an outstanding weekend with a 1-for-4, one-run, one-RBI performance. Christopher added two hits as both players finished the three-game set batting over .400. Montoya and Donato each added hits. Pickford, Christopher and Montoya all extended their hitting streak to eight games.
Six Redhawks collected a hit, led by Brittany Affolter and Tatum Gerwitz, who each went 2-for-3, with a run. Affolter also drove in a pair. Brooklyn Saysoff finished 1-for-3, with two RBI and two runs.
Starting pitcher
Taikibrea Campbell lasted just three batters, all three walks, before she yielded to
Emma Solis. The junior pitched two innings and gave up two runs on three hits, with a walk and no strikeouts. Burney finished the outing, throwing four innings and surrendering three runs on five hits, with a strikeout and a walk. Campbell suffered the loss to drop to 0-2.
Delaney Kell (6-3) picked up the win for the Redhawks. She went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits. She also had four strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Elliott Stinson finished the final 1.1 innings. She gave up no runs, hits or walks, while striking out one.
Morehead State returns home for its longest string of games at the University Field at Prefontaine Park with six beginning with Lindenwood on Friday and Saturday. The game times are noon, 2:30 p.m. and noon. The Eagles will then complete the home portion of their schedule by entertaining Western Illinois for three contests on Apr. 26-27.
