Southeast Missouri State softball team shows big improvement

~ The Redhawks already matched last year's OVC win total

Giving up a four-run lead in the final inning wasn't the way the Southeast Missouri State softball team wanted to start a seven-game homestand.

The Redhawks overcame that scenario, plating a run in the bottom of the seventh to beat defending Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champion Tennessee-Martin 5-4 on Wednesday.

UTM rebounded to salvage a split of the doubleheader with a 7-1 victory.

"It was a big win, but we came out flat the second game," junior shortstop Renee Kertz said.

Southeast (10-19, 6-5) still matched its OVC win total from 2010, when the Redhawks finished last. They are fourth out of 11 squads, behind third-place UTM (20-12, 9-3).

"We've played some of the top teams in the conference already," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond, whose squad went 6-17 in OVC play a year ago. "I'm definitely pleased with our progress.

Richmond, the OVC's all-time winningest coach in her 29th season at Southeast, has blended seven returning players with 12 newcomers.

That mix has helped the Redhawks post some big wins, including taking two of three from perennial OVC power Tennessee Tech and handing defending OVC tournament champion Jacksonville State its lone league loss while nearly beating the Gamecocks twice.

"We've beaten some upper-tier teams in the conference," Richmond said.

Senior second baseman Carmen Fowler and Kertz, Southeast's two leading hitters who have started since they were freshmen, said the Redhawks have blended together well.

"I just think we have really good chemistry. We all get along," said Fowler, who paces Southeast in most offensive categories, including a .400 average that ranks among the OVC leaders and 23 RBIs.

Kertz, who is batting .321, has hit four home runs, which ties Boston University sophomore transfer Taylor Cowan for the team lead.

"Our chemistry is really good this year," Kertz said. "Our energy has been up."

A blend of the old and new paced the Redhawks to Wednesday's victory.

Southeast exploded for four first-inning runs, sparked by a two-run homer from Kertz. The blast extended her string to four home runs in five games.

Freshman pitcher Shea Cothren carried a two-hit shutout into the seventh inning but was relieved by freshman Alora Marble after the first two batters singled.

UTM wound up tying the game with four runs before Southeast answered in the bottom of the seventh.

Sophomore junior college transfer third baseman Kaitlin Wallace walked with two outs. Junior left fielder Shelby Stein, another starter since she was a freshman, singled. Juco transfer right fielder Cheyenne Gipson then singled through the right side to score Wallace with the winning run.

"It was a changeup on the inside. I was actually looking for it," said Gipson, Southeast's third-leading hitter with a .287 average.

Cothren did not figure into the decision despite pitching so well. She was charged with two runs on four hits. Marble was credited with the victory, her team-high fifth to go with two saves. Cothren is next with three wins.

"We're relying on two freshmen in the circle," Richmond said. "It's tough, but they're getting a lot of experience."

Stein, Gipson and junior center fielder Evan Sallis, a transfer from Oklahoma, each had two of Southeast's 10 hits.

Southeast had just one hit in the nightcap off UTM ace Chelsea Jones (10-4).

The Redhawks got their lone run in the second inning on an RBI double by Cowan, Southeast's first baseman. Marble worked the first four innings and took the loss.

Southeast continues its homestand this weekend with a three-game OVC series against Austin Peay starting with Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader.