The Southeast Missouri State softball team continued to struggle Wednesday, losing 7-1 to host Eastern Illinois.

Southeast, which suffered its seventh consecutive defeat, fell to 27-19 overall and 14-10 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks remained third in the 10-team league.

Eastern Illinois improved to 31-24-1 overall and a fifth-place 13-11 in the OVC.

The Redhawks have scored just five runs in their last seven games, after previously averaging more than five runs per contest.

Southeast had four hits, led by Lindsay Pickering with two. She scored the Redhawks' lone run, in the second inning, as she tripled and came home on a single by Stephanie Huffman.

But the Redhawks' 1-0 lead did not last long. The Panthers went ahead for good with two runs in the third inning and broke things open with a five-run sixth.

Elaine Fisher took the loss, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs in six innings.

The Redhawks finish the regular season this weekend with a three-game home series against Jacksonville State.

Baseball canceled

The Southeast baseball team had its scheduled nonconference home game with Arkansas State canceled Wednesday night due to wet field conditions after several hours of heavy rain.

Southeast (16-26, 7-11 OVC) returns to league action this weekend with a three-game home series against Eastern Kentucky.

-- From staff reports