March 6, 2004

BU Box Score

WKU Box Score

Bowling Green, Ky. - The Southeast Missouri State softball team got its season started on the right foot as they topped Belmont (4-5) in their season-opener Saturday afternoon in the first game of the Hilltopper Classic in Bowling Green, Ky. The Otahks won it 4-2 in an extra-inning affair to record their first victory after heavy rain yesterday postponed the game's finish until this afternoon.

Yesterday Southeast scored in its first at bats of the year, scoring a run in the top of the first, and another in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Belmont then scored on run in the bottom of the second before rain downpour delayed and eventually postponed the conclusion of the inning and the game until this morning.

Belmont came out to score another second inning run this morning as the score remained tied through the seventh and the teams went to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, the Otahks scored a pair of runs and Kelly Birk (1-0) closed out the game to earn the win. The junior righty pitched a complete game, giving up just three hits along the way and striking out six.

Birk also had a stellar game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI. Freshman outfielder Lindsay Pickering also had a good game at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. The Otahkians out-hit Belmont six to three in the game.

Later in the afternoon, the Otahks played tournament-host Western Kentucky (9-2) and fell 10-0 to the Hilltoppers as they faced stellar pitching. WKU pitcher Allison Silver shutout Southeast on just two hits over five innings. Senior first baseman Alana Bagby-Leonard went 1-for-2 and sophomore Charlene Ramirez went 1-for-1 to account for both Southeast hits.

Senior right-handed pitcher Jessica Hunter started the game and pitched two innings, giving up just one unearned run and striking out two. Junior pitcher Amy Fahnestock came into the game in relief and gave up five runs. Melissa Van Velkinburgh relieved Fahnestock and allowed four more runs in the top of the fourth, then closed the door in the fifth with a shutout inning.

Southeast will next play tomorrow against Illinois State at 10 a.m. The Otahkians will then play at either 2 or 4 p.m., depending on the outcome of their game.