March 4, 2003

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State University Softball team (1-1) broke through the bad weather to play their season opener today at Nashville, Tenn. The game was scheduled last minute to make up for the previously scheduled season opener that was cancelled due to poor weather.

Southeast won the first game of a two game series with 6-0 but fell short in the second game losing to the Lady Bisons 6-5. Southeast was off to a good start with the first two runs scored in the fourth inning. Senior Brooke Nett scored Southeast first run after Senior Katie Cerneka singled to left center. Another single from sophomore Kelly Birk brought in Cerneka.

It wasn't until the seventh before Southeast would score again bringing in the remaining four runs. Kelly Birk singled to center field. Junior Amy Thompson grounded out to pitcher advancing Birk to second. Junior Jamie Birk had a fly ball out to third. Junior Marie Coode homered bringing in Kelly Birk with her. Junior Amy Murphy walked and Freshman Kate Groden singled to right center. Nett doubled to center field bringing in Groden and Murphy.

Kelly Birk pitched the entire first game with a W, 1-0. Lipscomb's Danielle Catalano pitched for the opposition seven innings as well.

The Otahkians were barely edged by the Lady Bisons in the second game. It wasn't until the fourth inning again until scores were put on the scoreboard. Lipscomb scored four funs while two were unearned after an error by Southeast. White and Olsen scored the unearned runs while Denton and Gipson both scored earned runs for Lipscomb. In the fifth Lipscomb tacked on two more runs by Tidwell and Parker.

Southeast gave a gallant effort in the sixth earning five runs. Kelly Birk singled to center field bringing in the second run for Nett. Coode doubled to right center bringing in Cerneka and Junior Alana Bagby-Leonard. Murphy's single brought in Southeast final two scorers Coode and Birk. This was not enough as the Otahkians lost 6-5.

Southeast will head to Evansville, Ind. tomorrow. The Otahkians will challenge the Purple Aces at Cooper Stadium at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. Southeast will have its home opener this weekend with the Southeast Softball Classic March 7-9. Drake, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee, Siena, and Southwest will join Southeast at the Southeast Softball Complex.