Softball Sweeps Day Two at Invitational

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern bounced back on day two of the Southeastern Regional Invitational and picked up a pair of wins, thus evening its record after downing Missouri Southern State 7-4 and finishing the day with win over Central Missouri at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex on Saturday.
 
The wins move the Savage Storm to 2-2 on the season heading into the final two games of the tournament on Sunday with a rematch against Pittsburg State at 10 a.m. followed by a 12:30 matchup with Central Oklahoma.
 
SE jumped ahead in the first inning of the first game when Sydney Kramer singled and an error by the center fielder allowed Keeshia Thompson to score for a 1-0 lead.
 
MSSU answered however with a three-run homer in the third and a solo shot in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Jordyn James started the comeback with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-2.
 
Destiny Riddle and Conner Harmon reached on back-to-back hit by pitches and Simmons singled on a bunt to load the bases.
 
The Lions recorded a pair of outs, but then Laramie Beal drew an RBI walk and Courtney Riddle was hit by a pitch to tie the game at 4-4.
 
After a pitching change Kramer would come home on a wild pitch to put the Storm in front 5-4.
 
Simmons would triple home Harmon in the bottom of the fifth and follow by stealing home to fashion the 7-4 final score.
 
Simmons finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI, two runs scored, a triple and a stolen base.
 
Four others had a hit each, while Beal, Riddle and James each had an RBI as well.
 
Jessica Seay got the start and the win to move to 1-0 on the season after allowing four runs on five hits with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched before Emily Cudd came on to toss the final 3.0 innings, allowing no runs on four hits with four K's to collect her first save.
 
The Storm again found themselves in a hole in the nightcap after UCM scored a run in the first, two more in the second and another in the fourth to open up a 4-0 lead midway through the game.
 
SE finally got moving in the sixth, loading the bases before Harmon drew a walk to make the score 4-1.
 
Simmons followed with a a two-run double to plate Cudd and James and cut the deficit to 4-3.
 
Two batters later Kramer would hit a sac fly to left which allowed Simmons to score and knot the game at 4-4.
 
two pitches later Beal would connect on a two-run homer to give the Storm the lead at 6-4 which would hold to be the final score as Cudd would retire the side in order in the top of the seventh.
 
Destiny Riddle got the start and tossed 3.2 innings but was hit for four runs, two earned, on three hits with a strikeout.
 
Hunter Offill came on in relief and recorded an out to finish the fourth inning before Cudd came on to toss the final 3.0 innings without allowing a hit and striking out two to collect her first win.