Lady Raiders Sweep SEMO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee softball (13-6) swept Southeast Missouri 5-0, 10-0 (4-12) Thursday at Edmonds Field at Aquinas College.

The Lady Raiders were forced to move their game to Aquinas College and use the field courtesy of Belmont University softball. The Lady Raiders' field was damaged by high winds yesterday and was unfit to play on.

In first game action, Middle Tennessee scored all of their runs on Southeast Missouri miscues. The Lady Raiders jumped on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second when first baseman Megan Cherinka scored on a wild pitch by SEMO's Jessica Hunter.

Middle Tennessee added another run in the fifth inning as Jennifer Dorais from third base on a SEMO error. The Lady Raiders added three runs in the sixth inning that began with a lead-off double by Cortney Mitchell. It was Mitchell's second double of the game.

After a Leah Grothause singled to send Mitchell to third, Mitchell scored with the bases loaded when Kristina Hieb advanced to first after being hit by a pitch. Grothause scored on a SEMO error and the final run of the inning was scored when an illegal pitch was called on relief pitcher VanVelkenbur to send home pinch runner Brandy Davis.

Senior hurler Stayc Preator threw her fifth complete game of the season and picked up the win to improve to 7-2 on the season. In her three hit shut out she struck out two and walked no one.  

The first inning of game two was highlighted by an RBI double by Cortney Mitchell, it was the third double of the day for the junior, who sent home Muriel Ledbetter from first base. The Lady Raiders exploded in the third inning with five innings that began with Muriel Ledbetter drawing a walk and Mitchell's single past the short stop. With the bases loaded, SEMO pitcher Melissa VanVelkenbur walked Erica Buhl to send in Mitchell.

SEMO pitching walked another batter in the same third inning to send in Megan Cherinka and then the Lady Raiders did some damage on their own when Jennifer Dorais hit a two a RBI single. Right fielder Michelle Wilkes continued the barrage with an RBI single.

Buhl topped off inning four with a three run homer of the left field wall, after she had fouled off numerous balls from SEMO pitching. Her long ball action was the second of the season and the seventh of her career.

Freshman Tiffany Childress picked up the win and improves to 3-1 on the season. She threw five innings allowing three hits, striking out one and walking one.

Middle Tennessee was scheduled to begin play in the Buzz Classic on Friday, but the tournament has been rescheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The Lady Raiders will play all the teams in their field, but there will be no bracket play.

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