Southeast women's softball team defeats UMKC, Kansas in Jayhawk Classic

The Southeast Missouri State softball team picked up a pair of wins Friday in the Jayhawk Classic in Lawrence, Kansas.

Ashley Ellis belted two home runs in an 8-2 win over the University of Missouri-Kansas City, before Rachel Rook blanked host Kansas in the second game, a 2-0 victory for the Redhawks.

Ellis provided the first run of the game against UMKC with a leadoff home run in the fourth off losing pitcher DJ Cannon (6-3), sparking a three-run inning.

After UMKC retaliated with a run in the bottom of the fourth, Ellis struck again in a nearly identical fifth. The first baseman, who bats cleanup, again blasted a leadoff HR in a three-run frame, giving Southeast a 6-1 lead.

Ellis and Mykaela Arellanes both went 3-for-4 for the Redhawks, who finished with nine hits. Parker Bandy added a pair of hits, including a double.

Haley Thogmartin (7-3) pitched the first five innings for the win. She allowed three hits, walked one and struck out six. Kaylee Anderson allowed one hit and one run over the final two innings.

Southeast banged out three doubles and eights hits overall against Kansas. Ellis doubled home the game's first run in the fifth, and Addison Barnouski provided an insurance run with a RBI double in the seventh. Rachel Anderson also doubled and went 2-for-3, as did Ellis.

Rook (3-2) allowed four hits, struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Brynn Minor (2-8) took the loss for Kansas (4-15).

Southeast, which improved to 14-7, will face both squads again Saturday before closing play against Maine on Sunday.