SE SOFTBALL REMAINS TIED ATOP OVC

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's softball team remained in a first-place Ohio Valley Conference tie as the Otahkians knocked off host Tennessee-Martin Wednesday afternoon.

The Otahkians actually swept a doubleheader, 3-2 and 5-2, but only the opener counts in the OVC standings.

Southeast is now in a two-way tie with Tennessee Tech for the league's top spot, both squads 13-4. Eastern Kentucky fell one game back after losing to Tennessee Tech 8-0 Wednesday.

Southeast improved to 21-22 overall while dropping UT-Martin to 9-42.

Jenny Doehring was a two-way star for the Otahkians in the all-important opener.

Doehring pitched all seven innings, allowing seven hits while striking out five and walking two as she raised her record to 14-8.

Offensively, Doehring had three of the Otahkians' eight hits and she delivered by far the game's biggest blow, a three-run home run in the third inning that erased a 2-0 deficit and ended the scoring in the contest.

In the nightcap, Kristen King, who had been pitching in plenty of bad luck lately, improved to 6-13. In seven innings, she scattered eight hits and both runs she allowed were unearned.

Brooke Nett and Reagan Hamlin both had three of the Otahkians' 10 second-game hits while Renee Enos added two. Nett had four hits on the day.

The Otahkians again trailed early as they fell behind 2-1 after one inning but a four-run third sent them on their way to the sweep.

Southeast will return to action Saturday, hosting Morehead State in a key OVC doubleheader set for a 1 p.m. start. The squads will also have a 1 p.m. single game Sunday.

Golfers place eighth

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Southeast's golf team wound up eighth out of nine squads during the three-day OVC Championship that concluded Wednesday.

Austin Peay scored 865 to edge Murray State by one stroke for the title. Host Eastern Kentucky was a solid third at 875.

Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee-Martin all tied for fourth with scores of 886. Morehead State (887) was seventh, followed by Southeast (888) and Tennessee State (916).

Murray State's Brandon Henson, who shot a 5-under-par 67 in Wednesday's final round, was the individual medalist for the tournament with a 9-under 207.

Southeast's top finisher was Woody Hill, who tied for 12th with a 3-over 219. Bryan Johnson tied for 16th at 220, Andy Golden was 22nd at 224, John Litzelfelner tied for 36th at 232 and Dan Johnson tied for 40th at 236.

Bryan Johnson, Southeast's top player during the season, earned all-OVC honors as voted on by the league's coaches before the conference tournament began.

Track at Drake Relays

Southeast's track and field program will have four individuals and six relay entries in the 92nd annual Drake Relays today through Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa.

Individual entries will feature Glenn Haley in the 400-meter hurdles, Jaret Willi in the pole vault, Shelton Scott in the triple jump and Jay Heddell in the shot put.

The Southeast women's team will compete in the 4x200, 4x400 and sprint medley relays.

Running on the 4x200 squad will be Heather Keltner, Robbi Durham, Darla Hannon and Natalie Talley. The sprint medley group will feature Hannon, Talley, Keltner and Kaci Pilcher while the 4x400 team will consist of Durham, Lyndsey Stevenson, Laura VanHoevelaak and Keltner.

The Southeast's men's squad will participate in the 4x100, 4x200 and sprint medley relays.

On the 4x100 and 4x200 teams will be Leslie Weaver, Emmanuel Opoku, Chris Donze and Derrick Brown. The sprint medley group will feature Brown, Opoku, Jason Campbell and Tyson Brown.