Redhawks softball debuts in Classic

The Southeast Missouri State softball team opened its season by going 1-3 during the first two days of the Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, La.

Southeast defeated Indiana State 6-2 and lost to host Louisiana-Monroe 6-1 on Saturday after falling to Northwestern State 2-1 and Louisiana-Monroe 11-3 in five innings Friday.

Freshman Alora Marble was the winning pitcher against Indiana State, hurling 5 2/3 innings of four-hit, shutout ball in relief. She struck out one and walked none.

Senior Carmen Fowler went 3 for 3, including a triple, with four RBIs as Southeast had nine hits.

Fowler had another big offensive game in Saturday's loss to Louisiana-Monroe, going 3 for 4 as Southeast had seven hits.

Freshman Shea Cothren took the loss on the mound, allowing five runs before being knocked out in the second inning. Junior Stefanie Barnes gave up just one run over the final five innings.

Cothren had a strong debut in Friday's 2-1 loss to Northwestern State. She went the distance, allowing three hits while striking out three and walking three.

Oklahoma transfer Evan Sallis drove in the only run with a triple.

Boston University transfer Taylor Cowan belted a three-run homer in Friday's 11-3, run-rule loss to Louisiana-Monroe. Senior Melissa Walker had two hits.

Marble took the loss despite giving up just four hits and one earned run in three innings. Southeast committed six errors, leading to eight unearned runs. The Redhawks had no errors in their other three games.

Southeast had four hits in each contest Friday.

The Redhawks finish the Mardi Gras Classic today with a 9 a.m. game against Northwestern State.

Gymnasts win at home

The Southeast gymnastics team avenged a loss in its season opener by beating visiting Illinois State 193.775 to 192.925 Friday night.

ISU (6-5) knocked off the Redhawks (2-5) on Jan. 8 in Bloomington, Ill.

Southeast won three of the four events, including a season-high 48.925 on vault that is the second-highest in program history, just behind the 49.000 in 1995.

The Redhawks swept the top three vault spots, led by senior Brianna Gaddie with a career-high 9.9 to tie for the fifth-highest vault score in program history. It was her fifth vault title this season and 15th of her career.

Sophomore Margaret O'Neal was second (career-high 9.85), while freshman Megan Fosnow and sophomore Emma Garrett tied for third (9.775) with career highs.

Senior Christina Sundgren won bars (9.825). It was her fourth bars title of the season and 12th of her career.

Junior Christa Soekamto was fourth (career-high 9.725).

Sophomore Taylor Westrick was second on beam (9.825), with Gaddie fourth (9.750).

Gaddie wrapped up the meet by winning floor (season-high 9.875), capturing her third floor title of season and 16th of her career.

Westrick was fourth (career-high 9.775).

Westrick was second in the all-around (career-high 38.725) and Sundgren placed third (38.500).

Southeast returns to action 1 p.m. Saturday with a home meet against Texas Woman's University.

Track performs well

Southeast track and field athletes had numerous strong finishes during the Hoosier Hills Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.

Brandon Colbert was second in both the shot put (55 feet, 10 1/2 inches) and weight throw (60-6 1/2).

Central graduate Brianna Egbuka was second in the weight throw (55-3 1/2) and fifth in the shot put (44-1/2).

Jackson product Rachel Kahle was fifth in the triple jump (36-2).

Placing sixth were Craig Robinson in the weight throw (55-7 3/4), Jessica Bollinger in the 3,000 meters (10 minutes, 24.45 seconds) and Chris Loseman in the mile (4:20.57).

Finishing seventh were Max Wieser from Saxony Lutheran in the 800 (1:58.41) and DeAndre Simmons in the 400 (50.40).

The men's distance medley relay of Loseman, Joel Krause, Robert Delaria and Nate Shipley was third (10:29.28).

Southeast returns to action Friday, hosting its annual Redhawks Invitational at the Student Recreation Center.

-- From staff reports