Cougars Drop Pair at SEMO
Fall 9-8 and 4-1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri defended its home turf Sunday with a pair of victories over SIUE in college softball action at the SE Softball Complex.
SIUE, now 11-19 overall and 3-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference, lost 9-8 in the opener and 4-1 in the nightcap against SEMO, which improved to 12-17 overall and 5-5 in the OVC.
The Cougars and the Redhawks played a Sunday doubleheader after being idle Saturday. Southeast Missouri's field was deemed unplayable due to poor field conditions Saturday.
"We can't catch a break, and we aren't playing tough enough," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery. "We certainly hit the ball well today. That can't be the reason."
Freshman Brittany Toney was the offensive stronghold for the Cougars in Sunday's opener. She finished 4 for 4 with two doubles and five runs batted in. Toney's three-run double in the first inning put the Cougars ahead early.
"She was awesome. She hit the ball well. She pulled the ball and hit it to the opposite field," Montgomery said.
SIUE banged out 10 hits against SEMO starter Alora Marble. The Cougars were in control early and led 5-0 after a solo home run by Taylor Tooley in the top of the second inning.
The Redhawks clawed their way back against SIUE starter Amanda Lambrecht, scoring three runs in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth. Rebecca Gray entered the game in the fourth inning and held SEMO scoreless until the seventh. The Redhawks would close out the game in the bottom of the seventh on an infield error, and Cheyenne Gipson would score the game winner on a wild pitch.
In the nightcap, SIUE scored first when Tooley singled home Chelsea Yankolovich in the fourth inning.
Montgomery said SIUE made what turned out to be a crucial error in the second game on a dropped foul ball. After the fourth inning play, Lindsey Patterson tied the game up 1-1 with a solo home run.
"We're just not playing with toughness," said Montgomery. "We've got to get past it if we want to win."
SEMO starter Shea Cothren would pick up the win in the nightcap after giving up six hits overall. SEMO rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to distance itself from SIUE.
SIUE gets a brief break from OVC play with a Tuesday non-conference single game against SIU Carbondale. Game time is 3 p.m. at Cougar Field. SIUE returns to league play Thursday with a single game against Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m.
