Even in defeat, freshman Kelly Birk showed the kind of progress that keeps coach Lana Richmond hopeful.

Birk, a pitcher for the Southeast Missouri State University softball team, added to her late-season surge Wednesday with seven strong innings in the Otahkians' 3-1 loss to visiting Southern Illinois in the first game of a scheduled non-conference doubleheader. The second game was rained out.

The Otahkians, assured of finishing with the first losing record in Richmond's 20 years as their coach, fell to 12-24. The Salukis improved to 27-14 with their third win of the season over Southeast.

But Birk did all she could to give the Otahkians a chance. She scattered seven hits and allowed just one earned run in falling to 6-9.

"I can't say enough about Kelly," Richmond said. "She has really come on."

After a rocky start to her college career, Birk has settled in with a 4-3 record and a 1.25 earned-run average in her last eight appearances.

"I've tried to keep the ball down a lot more and I think I've gained some confidence after we started winning some games," Birk said.

Birk's solid recent performances have coincided with an overall surge by the Otahkians, who have won four of their last six Ohio Valley Conference games to clinch a spot in next week's OVC Tournament. Six of the league's eight teams qualify.

"I'm pleased that we're winning and I'm happy that we made it to the tournament," Birk said.

SIU freshman Amy Harre, limited the Otahkians to three hits and improved to 16-8. Harre struck out nine.

The Salukis went ahead on a first-inning run, but the Otahkians tied it in the bottom of the first when Courtney Eklund's double drove home Katie Cerneka, who reached on a fielder's choice. It was Eklund's 25th career double, placing her 10th on the school's all-time list.

SIU went ahead for good and completed the day's scoring with two unearned runs in the second inning.

Southeast will close the regular season Saturday, hosting Tenn.-Martin at 1 p.m. The Otahkians can finish as high as fourth in the league, the spot they occupy now.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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