SEMO ROUNDUP: Southeast Missouri State softball drops doubleheader to Eastern Illinois

Southeast Missouri State softball was swept in its home opener doubleheader Saturday.

Eastern Illinois' Jessica Wireman picked up both wins and had nine strikeouts on the day as SEMO fell to 0-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

EIU (19-5, 5-1 OVC) won Game 1 7-5 and Game 2 4-1.

Wireman didn't start Game 1, coming out of the bullpen in the third inning. From that point on, SEMO struggled to produce runs.

SEMO (15-16, 0-6) scored three runs in the third against starter Michelle Rogers before Wireman relieved her. That 4-1 lead was short-lived.

Ashlynne Paul hit a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 4-all.

The winning run came in the fifth when Kiley Pelker was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded.

The Panthers added insurance runs in the seventh when Mady Poulter scored on a wild pitch and Pelker came home on a sacrifice bunt. Pelker's run was unearned.

Darby Pruett produced an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Redhawks couldn't complete the comeback.

Madeline Krumrey gave up eight hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings and fell to 9-5.

SEMO had 10 hits as Rachel Anderson led the way with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.

In Game 2, Wireman started and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning. EIU got on top early with a run in the first and then added two more runs, both unearned, in the third. The Panthers capped the scoring with a run in the seventh.

Pruett produced the Redhawks' sole run of the contest with an RBI double in the seventh inning. SEMO had the tying run at the plate later in the frame but again fell just short.

Alexis Estes took the loss in Game 2 and fell to 5-4. She gave up four runs on eight hits and had three strikeouts.

SEMO will look to snap a nine-game losing streak in Wednesday's doubleheader against Missouri. Southeast has also lost 11 of its last 12 games.

Gymnastics

Southeast junior Alexis Brawner's season came to an end Saturday as she finished 12th in the NCAA Regional all-around competition.

Brawner compiled a score of 37.225 in the Fayetteville, Arkansas regional. The meet was held on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Brawner got a 9.800 on the vault. She followed that with a 8.675 on the bar. She got 9.600 on the beam and 9.150 on the floor.

Utah's MyKayla Skinner won the all-around title with a score of 39.525.

Tennis

Southeast won its fourth straight match with a 5-2 win at Murray State.

The Redhawks (12-4, 4-1 Ohio Valley Conference) claimed the doubles point for an early 1-0. SEMO lost the first doubles game but won the final two to claim the point.

Then, Southeast salted away the conference victory by winning four of the six singles matches.

Isabella Krupa, Kseniya Zonova Mila Majtan and Anais Emelie all won their single matches in straight sets.

"The team played fantastic today," coach Mary Beth Gunn said in a news release. "We got down in doubles, but fought back to get the point, which was huge for us going into singles play."

SEMO continues conference play Tuesday in a home match against UT Martin.