Redhawks blank Billikens

The Southeast Missouri State softball team won its third straight game Saturday at the All-Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament before running into nationally ranked Missouri.

Southeast slipped past Saint Louis University 1-0, but then No. 12 Missouri no-hit the Redhawks 8-0 in a contest stopped after five innings by the eight-run mercy rule.

Still, it was a successful tournament for the Redhawks (7-5), who opened play in Springfield, Mo., on Friday by beating host Missouri State and Missouri-Kansas City.

Freshman Stefania Barnes (1-0) notched her first collegiate victory by firing a four-hit shutout against Saint Louis. She struck out two and walked one.

The Redhawks scored the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning on the second collegiate homer by freshman Giana Zimmerman.

Freshman Renee Kertz and Nicole Troncoso both had two of Southeast's seven hits.

Southeast was then no-hit by Missouri's Chelsea Thomas as the Tigers moved to 16-3.

Zimmerman (4-2) took the loss, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

After playing its first 12 games either on the road or at neutral sites, Southeast opens its home schedule Thursday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Indiana State.