April 16, 2002

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn.- Needing to win at least one of the games against OVC second place Tennessee-Martin, Southeast got a huge two-run homerun from senior outfielder Courtney Eklund to vault them into a victory in game one. Southeast struck quickly in game two but was unable to hold its 1-0 advantage as UT-Martin scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to gain a split of the Tuesday doubleheader.

After a pitcher's duel through the first three innings of game one, Southeast Missouri (9-22, 6-10 OVC) finally hit the board in the top of the fourth. C Jennifer Cobin and SS Dawn Piantino singled back-to-back to open the inning and start the threat. Cobin was pinch run for by Stacy DeClue and with runners on second and third and no outs, Piantino scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch by UTM starter Nicole Davis. A batter later, Eklund smashed her first homerun of the season to rightfield to put Southeast up 3-0.

An inning later, Tennessee-Martin (22-23, 11-4 OVC) would cut into the lead thanks to a two-run homerun by DP Amy Harclerode that trimmed the Otahkian margin to only one at 3-2.

Southeast would not record a hit the rest of the game after Eklund's homerun, but it did not matter as Kelly Birk's pitching was fantastic. Birk (4-7) got out of a bases loaded jam in the UTM half of fifth inning and cruised to the victory. She allowed only four hits, two runs on the homerun and struck out two UTM batters while walking only one.

Davis (5-9) took the loss for the Skyhawks. She also allowed four hits but three runs.

Using the momentum from game one, Southeast struck quickly in game two when 2B Brooke Nett scored on Kelly Birk's (playing DP in game two) double to rightfield in the first inning.

In another pitcher's duel, the score would remain 1-0 in favor of Southeast until the bottom of the sixth inning. Following a walk to Meredith Ramsey, the Skyhawks got back-to-back-to-back singles from Davis, Stephanie Paris and Angela Baize to put two runs on the boards and take a 2-1 lead. Southeast went quietly in the seventh and UTM salvaged a split of the doubleheader.

Kristen King (1-9) took the tough loss in the game for Southeast. She allowed seven hits but only the two runs in the sixth. Reigning OVC Pitcher of the Week Kendra Kosco (14-5), the OVC leader in strikeouts and complete game shutouts, went the distance allowing five hits and the one run while striking out seven.

Southeast continues its important week by travelling to Charleston, Ill. to battle Eastern Illinois University on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. for a single game. The Otahkians will turn right around and travel to Morehead, Ky. for a three-game series with the Eagles on Saturday and Sunday.