Softball falls; track shines

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team was denied a series sweep of Tennessee State as the visiting Tigers rolled to a 10-4 victory Sunday.

The Otahkians, who swept Saturday's doubleheader, fell to 6-15 overall and 2-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Tigers are 6-19 and 3-5.

Six errors helped doom Southeast as TSU scored just two earned runs. A lack of offense also hurt the Otahkians as they managed only four hits.

Melissa Van Velkinburgh was the losing pitcher. In five innings, she allowed nine hits and five runs (two earned). Kelly Birk allowed one hit and five unearned runs in two innings.

Katie Cerneka had two of Southeast's hits while Brooke Nett drove in two runs.

Alana Thomas went 4-for-4 to lead TSU. She was also the winning pitcher.

Southeast will host Missouri at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Track teams shine

Southeast's women's track team opened the outdoor season Saturday by winning 11 events at the Memphis Big Cat Classic.

Heather Jenkins was a double winner for Southeast, capturing the shot put (46-1) and discus (154-8).

Hannah Stuckenschneider won the 400-meters (56.21) and anchored the winning 4x400-meter relay team. LaQuita Andrews ran on the winning 4x400 (4:06.71) and 4x100 (46.70) relay squads.

Other 4x400 members were Laura VanHoevelaak and Brooke Woodruff. Also on the 4x100 team were Rose Fulton, Meleisa Greene and Natasha Fortenberry.

Lyndsey Stevenson won the 100 hurdles (14.97), VanHoevelaak won the 400 hurdles (63.51) and Coleen Burke captured the 3,000 steeplechase (11:49.66).

The Southeast domination in the field events also saw Greene win the long jump (18-3), Michelle Jett win the pole vault (10-0) and Courtney Haman claim the javelin (125-9).

The Southeast men's team had three victories in the non-scored meet.

Shelton Scott won the triple jump (47-8 1/2), Andrew Lambert won the high jump (6-4 3/4) and Jordan Willi captured the pole vault (14-6).

Placing second for Southeast's women were Fulton (100), Fortenberry (200), Andrews (400), VanHoevelaak (100 hurdles), Stevenson (400 hurdles), Lori Sarantakis (pole vault), Megan Youse (shot put) and Megan Rosenkoetter (javelin).

Finishing second for Southeast's men were Lambert (triple jump), Jay Heddell (discus), Shawn Statler (long jump), Jared Tanz (800), Chad Sierman (3,000 steeplechase), Brian Whitehead (5,000) and the 4x100 relay team of Statler, Emmanuel Opoku, Gabe Nicholson and David Herman.

Tennis rescheduled

Southeast's tennis team will play Austin Peay at 2 p.m. today in a match that was postponed Sunday because of cold weather.

-- From staff reports