CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University's softball team opened the 1998 season by going 2-2 during the Southern Illinois Classic held here Saturday and Sunday.

The Otahkians won a pair of Saturday games, beating Bradley 9-1 and Kentucky 9-6, but lost a pair of Sunday games, falling to host SIU 3-0 and Northern Illinois 10-3.

"It was great to play four games. We saw very good competition and it was a good way to open up," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond. "We're not playing as well as we will be later, but one of the positive things is we're hitting the ball well."

Southeast had 32 hits in the four games, Chris Shetley leading the way with eight and Kim Palmer adding six.

Pitchers Debbie Schmelz and Christine Engelhardt both went 1-1 on the weekend.

Against Bradley Saturday, Palmer had three hits and Shetley two during a game that ended after five innings because of the eight-run rule. Schmelz got the win.

Southeast then rallied from a 4-0 deficit to clip Kentucky. Palmer and Jenny Oermann both had two hits while Engelhardt got the victory.

Sunday, Shetley had three hits but SIU hurlers Tracy Remspecher and Carisa Winters blanked the Otahkians. Schmelz took the loss.

Later in the day, Southeast grabbed an early 3-0 lead but Northern Illinois used a nine-run fourth inning to break things open. Shetley had two hits and Engelhardt was the loser.

The Otahkians will return to action Sunday when they open their home schedule by facing Northern Iowa at 1 p.m. at Parker Field.