OVC-leading JSU throws no-hitter at Southeast Missouri State in pair of 9-0 softball victories

~ The Redhawks were no-hit by Jacksonville State in Game 2 of a doubleheader

The Southeast Missouri State softball team failed to get a hit in Game 2 of a doubleheader against Jacksonville State and dropped both games to the Gamecocks on Friday at the Southeast Softball Complex.

"We posed no threat to them on offense and pitching," Southeast coach Lana Richmond said. "I felt like we had no energy whatsoever out here the entire day, and when you play like that you can't expect to win."

The Redhawks' (2-14 OVC, 7-27 overall) losing streak extended to 10 games after a pair of 9-0 losses to the Gamecocks (15-4 OVC, 31-12). Southeast managed just three hits in Game 1 and were no-hit by Logan Green in Game 2. JSU holds the top spot in the Ohio Valley Conference East division standings as well as the best record in the OVC.

"She had a good assortment all day," Richmond said about Green. "She wasn't overpowering, but she hit her spots and used that change-up effectively."

The no-hitter was the first for the freshman right-hander in her collegiate career. Green (9-2) said she had watched a teammate throw a no-hitter in high school but never thought she would have the opportunity to throw one on the college level.

"My change-up was on point today," Green said. "I've never thrown a no-hitter before, but that pitch and the way our team was hitting today really gave us a shot to do something special."

Green's teammates banged out nine hits in Game 2 and run-ruled the Redhawks for the second time on the day.

She pitched five hitless innings, struck out one and walked two before the Gamecocks' offense built on to a 5-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning by adding four more runs on four hits to make it 9-0. The Redhawks needed a run in their half of the fifth to avoid the eight-run mercy rule but could not muster a hit.

JSU took a lead in the first inning of Game 2 when a sacrifice fly from Cadi Oliver scored Ella Denes, who walked to begin the game. Denes advanced to third on a single in the next at-bat, then tagged up at third base and scored for a 1-0 JSU lead.

The Gamecocks added another run in the second inning when Southeast third baseman Haylee Krack misplayed a ground ball and overthrew the first baseman. The runner on third scored on the error to make it 2-0 Gamecocks.

Three more runs in the fourth gave the Gamecocks a 5-0 lead. Redhawks starting pitcher Keaira Schilling hit two batters in the inning and allowed a single to load the bases. A double from Sara Borders drove in two runs to extend the lead to 7-0. Borders leads the OVC in several hitting categories, including hits (59), runs scored (40), RBIs (41), home runs (11) and total bases (106). The junior second baseman went 4 for 4 in Game 2 with three RBIs.

"We've just been doing so well when it comes to hitting," Green said. "Pitching keeps you in the game, but you've got to have hitting, too. I felt a lot of relief and was happier to go back out to the circle after we kept getting hits and scoring runs in each inning."

Game 1 of the doubleheader was much the same for the Gamecocks, who recorded nine hits in its 9-0 win over the Redhawks while allowing just three. JSU starting pitcher Tiffany Harbin threw all five innings and had eight strikeouts and two walks.

Borders added her 11th home run and 38th RBI of the season in the third inning to give JSU a 2-0 lead. Kalee Tabor scored on a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it 3-0.

In the fifth, Hannah Durham, who replaced Southeast starting pitcher Aubrey Denno, gave up six earned runs to the Gamecocks. Tabor hit JSU's second home run of the day, a three-run shot that bounced off of the pavement on Bertling Street. Durham walked the next two batters she faced, then gave up another three-run home run to Amanda Maldonado giving JSU a 9-0 lead. All six of the runs were scored with two outs.

Durham gave up four hits and six earned runs over two innings. Denno lasted three innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits.

The first two hits of the game for the Redhawks came in the fourth inning. Savannah Carpenter singled to start the inning. After two consecutive strikeouts, Chelsea Smith singled to left field. However, Meagan Touchette struck out to end the inning. Jamie Woodworth had the only other hit of the day for the Redhawks in the fifth inning. Southeast left seven runners on base in the two games combined.