OTAHKIANS SWEEP IN HOME FINALE

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team closed out its home schedule in style Sunday afternoon.

The Otahkians solidified their hold on first place in the Ohio Valley Conference as they swept a doubleheader from Eastern Kentucky. Both games were 4-3, with the nightcap going nine innings.

Southeast, gunning for a fifth straight OVC title, improved to 25-14 overall and 15-1 in league play. EKU is 19-24 overall, 9-7 in the OVC.

"Eastern Kentucky has a good team and I knew it would be a battle," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond. "It was a crucial weekend for us and this sets up a major road conference doubleheader Wednesday (at Eastern Illinois)."

As has been the case virtually all season, seniors Debbie Schmelz and Christine Engelhart combined to do all the pitching Sunday.

Schmelz, in fact, earned the victory in both games. She went 5 1/3 innings in the opener, allowing one earned run. Then Engelhardt came on to get the save with 1 2/3 shutout innings as she struck out five.

The Otahkians had 10 hits, three from Renee Enos and two from senior Jenny Oermann. Oermann and senior Anne Trieb each drove in two runs.

The nightcap was a real thriller. The teams were tied 2-2 heading into the ninth inning, when EKU scored a run.

But Southeast rallied with two in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Emmy Kisaka doubled, Michelle Frank singled and senior Joanna Hicks singled to score pinch-runner Jenni Gaines and tie the contest, but Frank was thrown out at third for the second out, with Hicks taking second. Kelsey White then delivered a double that scored Hicks with the winning run.

"I was really proud of the way we came back," Richmond said.

Engelhardt started and gave up one earned run in 3 1/3 innings. Schmelz pitched the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run and fanning five.

Again the Otahkians had 10 hits, two each by White, Frank and Kisaka.