SE Swept on Final Day at NFCA Leadoff

TUCSON, Ari. – No. 4 Southeastern closed out its trip to the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic in disappointing fashion on Sunday, first dropping a rematch with Colorado Mesa 14-5 before suffering an 11-4 loss to Midwestern State in the weekend finale in Tucson, Ari.
 
The losses dropped the Savage Storm to 2-4 on the season heading into its home tournament slated for Feb. 13-15 at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex.
 
In game one Courtney Riddle turned in a 3-for-3 performance with a pair of RBI, while four others each added a hit.
 
Breanna Smith also tallied two RBI, while Connor Harmon drove in one.
 
Ashley Moore got the start and was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs, five earned, on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Laramie Beal got her first action in the circle where she tossed 2.0 innings and allowed seven runs, four earned, on six hits.
 
CMU posted a pair of runs in each of the first two innings before Smith and Harmon each drove in a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the deficit to 4-2.
 
However, the Mavericks would follow up with three runs in the third and seven in the fifth to open up a 14-2 lead.
 
SE got three back in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-run Riddle single and a bases loaded walk drawn by Smith, but it was not enough to stave off the run-rule in five innings in a 14-5 loss.
 
Jessica Simmons led the offense in the finale with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
 
Sydney Kramer and Laramie Beal each added a pair of hits, while three others each collected one hit, including Riddle who hit her second home run of the weekend.
 
Jacee Bennett was handed the loss and dropped to 1-2 on the season after allowing 10 runs, nine earned, over 6.0 innings with 14 hits and one strikeout.
 
Moore tossed the final inning and allowed a run on two hits.
 
MSU came out firing and put up seven runs in the top of the first inning.
 
Riddle would connect on a three-run homer in the bottom half of the first to answer for the Storm.
 
The Mustangs would add another run in the second, and a Simmons single in the bottom half would keep the gap at 8-4.
 
MSU would score the game's final three runs though with two in the sixth and another one in the seventh to fashion the 11-4 final score.