SE, LOYOLA-CHICAGO SPLIT DOUBLE-HEADER DOWN THE MIDDLE

Seldom are double-header splits as evenly divided than the one between Southeast Missouri and Loyola-Chicago in softball action played Thursday at University Field.

Over the course of the two games, both teams had three runs, both had 10 hits and both committed just one error. It seemed appropriate that each came away with one win. Loyola won the opener 3-1 before Southeast came back to win the nightcap 2-0.

The split put Southeast's season record at 3-4 while Loyola emerged at 2-6.

In the opener, the Otahks took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning as they managed two of their three hits on the game. Brooke Nett, who had two of Southeast's hits, opened the inning with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Michelle Frank.

Loyola answered with a three-run sixth off Southeast starter Renee Meuller (2-2), who allowed three of her seven hits in the inning. Meuller struck out five in the game and did not walk a batter.

Carole Gorecki held Southeast hitless over the next two innings for the win.

Southeast's Jennifer Dippel (1-1) limited Loyola to just three hits in the nightcap in recording her first win of the season.

The Otahks struck for the game's only two runs in the third inning. Jenny Doehring chased home the first run with an RBI single while the second run came on a bases-loaded walk to Frank. The walk was one of four issued by losing pitcher Erin Smith, who struck out six and allowed seven hits. She managed to leave 10 Otahkian base runners stranded in the game.

Kelsey White had two of Southeast's hits.

Southeast returns to action Monday when it visits St. Louis University for a 2:30 p.m. contest.