Redhawks wins two games in tournament

The Southeast Missouri State softball team won both its games Friday at the All Missouri Cancer Tournament in Springfield.

Southeast (6-4) defeated host Missouri State 4-1, then routed Missouri-Kansas City 10-3.

Freshman Giana Zimmerman continued the impressive start to her Southeast career against Missouri State.

Zimmerman improved to 4-1 on the mound with a three-hitter. She struck out two and walked two.

Zimmerman also hit her first collegiate home run while going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Another Southeast freshman, Renee Kertz, also belted her first collegiate homer and had two RBIs.

Jennifer Vasquez went 2-for-3 as Southeast finished with seven hits.

The Redhawks banged out 12 hits against UMKC, including two more home runs.

Alex Ramirez got her second homer of the season, while Elise Sperakos recorded her first of the campaign, a grand slam.

Sperakos went 3-for-4 with the four RBIs and Ramirez delivered three RBIs.

Carmen Fowler went 3-for-4, including two doubles, and had two RBIs. Freshman Shelby Stein went 2-for-4.

Whitney Dupuis (2-3) notched the victory with a six-hitter as all three runs she allowed were unearned. She struck out four and walked three.

The Redhawks close out the tournament today with games against Saint Louis and Missouri, ranked 12th nationally.

Gymnasts win

The Southeast gymnastics team posted a 193.775-191.100 victory over Centenary in Shreveport, La., on Friday night.

Southeast, ranked 33rd nationally, improved its record to 9-3 overall and finished undefeated in the Midwest Independent Conference at 7-0.

"It was a solid meet, just a really solid road performance," Southeast coach Tom Farden said. "It's the first time we've finished undefeated in conference."

The Redhawks captured the top two all-around spots, with Sandra Blake first (38.825) and Rikara Turner second (38.625).

Blake was also first on floor (9.850) and tied for third on bars with teammates Erica Moore and Kelley Krengiel (9.650). Turner was third on vault (9.750).

Southeast's other event victory came from Christina Sundgren and Lauren Dinan, who tied for the top spot on bars (9.725).

Brianna Gaddie was second on vault (9.825), second on floor (9.825) and tied for second on beam with freshman teammate Christa Soekamto (9.650).

Southeast returns to action at 7 p.m. March 14 with its final home meet against Air Force.

-- From staff reports