April 14, 2002

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - After being Southeast Missouri's first shutout victim of the season on Saturday, the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles turned the tables on the Otahkians on Sunday, winning 7-0 and taking the three-game series by a 2-1 margin.

Unlike both games on Saturday, Tennessee Tech (25-19, 8-3 OVC) was the first team to strike on Sunday, scoring two unearned runs in the top of the second inning. The inning started out routine and Tech 2B Holly Speiser was on first base with two outs after reaching on a fielder's choice. Then SS Marianne Novac's blooper to center was misplayed by Southeast (8-21, 5-9 OVC). Novac then stole second and Speiser came home to score on the throw for the game's first run. RF Dana Yates then singled to leftfield and Novac came home to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

Tech added its third run of the game in the third inning after 3B Samantha Lovelady reached on a fielder's choice, stole second base and was driven in on a single by 1B LeeAnne Mongar. An inning later, the Golden Eagles scored for the third inning in a row when they put a three-spot on the board to increase their advantage to 6-0. C Amy Goad led the inning off getting hit by a pitch and advanced to third on Speiser's double off the leftfield wall. Goad and Speiser would both come around to score on a single to center by Novac. Novac scored the inning's final run on a RBI-groundout by LF Jadryen Layne.

TTU added its seventh run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Speiser that scored Mongar, who had singled earlier in the inning.

Southeast's trio of pitchers did not have an answer for the Golden Eagle attack. After pitching a complete game shutout on Saturday, Kelly Birk (3-7) took the loss on Sunday. She pitched three innings, gave up five hits and was charged with six runs, although only three were earned.

"We started down 3-0 immediately and our defense really put us in a hole," said Southeast skipper Lana Richmond referring to three early unearned runs. "It is difficult to overcome that type of deficit. We really need Kelly Birk to be strong for us next week. We have six important games and I think we can go 6-0. But we definitely have to have five of our last seven conference games to make the OVC Tournament."

Tech's Lisa Lamb (11-7) was the winning pitcher, going six innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. She was dominant in the game and retired 11 of 12 Otahkian batters at one point between Southeast's first and second hits on the game. In total, Lamb allowed only four Southeast base runners all day, two of which were erased by Golden Eagles double plays.

Tech was led offensively by Speiser. Although only 1-3 on the day, she had a double, an RBI, scored two runs and had a sacrifice fly. Novac was 1-2 with two runs and two RBI's, drew a walk and also stole a base.

Southeast finished its eight-game home stand with a 3-5 record after sweeping a doubleheader from Austin Peay in the home stand opener.

Southeast will head on the road for its next six contests, starting Tuesday against the University of Tennessee at Martin. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. for the conference doubleheader.