This Week's Games
TUESDAY, MARCH 9
Eastern Kentucky at North Carolina A&T (2) - 12 p.m.
Missouri State at SIU Edwardsville - 2 p.m.
Lipscomb at Tennessee Tech (2) - 3 p.m.
Travecca Nazarene at Murray State (2) - 3 p.m.
Austin Peay at Stetson (2) - 4 p.m.
Jacksonville State at UAB - 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10
Eastern Kentucky at Elon - TBA
SIU Edwardsville at Morehead State (2) - 1 p.m.
IPFW at Southeast Missouri (2) - 3:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, MARCH 11
Liberty at Tennessee Tech (2) - 2 p.m.
Illinois State at Southeast Missouri - 3:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 12
Eastern Kentucky vs. Hartford (Rock Hill, S.C.) - 3 p.m.
Jacksonville State vs. Indiana (@Tampa, Fla.) - 4 p.m.
Jacksonville State vs. Cleveland State (@Tampa, Fla.) - 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13
Tennessee Tech vs. Liberty (@Knoxville, Tenn.) - 9 a.m.
Jacksonville State vs. Boston University (@Tampa, Fla.) - 9:30 a.m.
SIU Edwardsville vs. Louisiana Tech (@Fayetteville, Ark.) - 11 a.m.
Jacksonville State vs. St. Joseph's (@Tampa, Fla.) - 11:30 a.m.
Belmont at Murray State - 12 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at Tennessee - 12:30 p.m.
Morehead State at Ohio (2) - 1 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky vs. Towson (@Rock Hill, S.C.) - 1 p.m.
Southeast Missouri vs. SIU Edwardsville - 1:30 p.m.
Alcorn State at Murray State - 2:30 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky vs. Winston-Salem State - 5 p.m.
Southeast Missouri at Arkansas - 6:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 14
SIU Edwardsville at Arkansas Invitational - TBA
Southeast Missouri at Arkansas Invitational - TBA
Jacksonville State vs. Temple (@Tampa, Fla.) - 8:30 a.m.
Southeast Missouri vs. Louisiana Tech (@Fayetteville, Ark.) - 9 a.m.
Eastern Kentucky vs. South Carolina Upstate (@Rock Hills, S.C.) - 10 a.m.
SIU Edwardsville at Arkansas - 11 a.m.
Tennessee Tech vs. Campbell (@Knoxville, Tenn.) - 11 a.m.
Morehead State at Ohio (2) - 1 p.m.
Tennessee Tech vs. Liberty (@Knoxville, Tenn.) - 1:30 p.m.
Alcorn State at Murray State - 2:30 p.m.
UT Martin vs. Marist (@Kissimmee, Fla.) - 3 p.m.
Belmont at Murray State - 5 p.m.
UT Martin vs. Manhattan (@Kissimmee, Fla.) - 5 p.m.
OVC Players of the Week - March 8
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Jenny Bain, SS, So., 5'2, Hendersonville, Tenn. - UT Martin
Bain hit .400 over five games at the Buzz Classic, collecting eight hits to help her be responsible for a team-high 11 of the Skyhawks' 25 runs over the weekend. She knocked in six RBI and scored five runs while striking out only once in 20 plate appearances. She also hit a pair of doubles and launched two home runs. Bain also had a pair of stolen bases on three attempts.
Others Nominated: Jenna Bradley, Murray State; Bridget Metzger, Tennessee State; Lacie Coquerille, Tennessee Tech
Co-PITCHERS OF THE WEEK:
Alex Gjevre, P, Sr., 5'8, Billings, Mont. - Morehead State
Gjevre recorded her first shutout of the season and allowed only two hits in the 3-0 win over Pitt. She struck out seven Panthers. She returned in the second game versus Pitt in a relief roll and pitched 4.2 innings of shutout ball while allowing just two hits to go along with six strikeouts.
Maddie Schmissrauter, P, Jr., 5'7, Chattanooga, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech
Schmissrauter allowed just one earned run in 12 innings of work as she pitched two complete games, including a shutout. She struck out eight and allowed four hits in an 11-0 win over Western Carolina. She allowed one run against Ole Miss as she struck out seven. She was named to the Buzz Classic All-Tournament team for her efforts.
Others Nominated: Chelsey Sullivan, Murray State; Paij Lintz, UT Martin
2010 OVC Softball Team Notes
AUSTIN PEAY (4-13 overall, 0-0 OVC): Austin Peay went 1-4 last week at the USF Under Armor Invitational last week. The Lady Govs defeated Quinnipiac (2-0) and lost to Western Michigan (9-0), Florida Gulf Coast (10-0), Jacksonville (8-0), Wagner (5-4). Junior Tiffany Smith led the team with a .214 batting average. Freshman Morgan Brewer picked up the Austin Peay's lone win of the week as she struck out six batters versus Quinnipiac. The Lady Govs will return the field on Tuesday as it travels to Stetson for a pair of games.
EASTERN ILLINOIS (6-7 overall, 0-0 OVC): Eastern Illinois went 1-3 at the Arkansas Razorback Invitational last week. The Panthers defeated Iowa State (5-3) before losing to Arkansas (9-1), Southern Miss (6-2) and Louisiana-Lafayette. Senior Angie Danca and junior Kiley Holtz paced the team as they each hit .300 for the week. Holtz also drove in a pair of runs. Eastern Illinois will have the week off.
EASTERN KENTUCKY (1-12 overall, 0-0 OVC): Eastern Kentucky went 1-3 at the Lipscomb Tournament last week. The Colonels defeated Evansville (6-4) for their first win of the season before falling to Lipscomb (5-2), Murray State (5-4) and Evansville (6-1). Junior Ashley Dollins hit .357 over the four games with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Eastern Kentucky will travel to North Carolina A&T for a doubleheader on Tuesday and Elon for a single game on Wednesday. The Colonels will also participate in the Wintrop/adidas Invitational this weekend.
JACKSONVILLE STATE (6-7 overall, 0-0 OVC): Jacksonville State picked up a pair of wins at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic last week. The Gamecocks defeated Western Kentucky (9-8) and UNC Greensboro (4-2). JSU also lost to Kentucky (14-1), Winthrop (6-0) and North Florida (10-2). Senior Hilary Downs hit .429 over the five games with one home run and three RBI to lead the team. Junior Ashley Eliasson earned a pair of victories in the circle as she recorded a 1.73 ERA and struck out 19. Jacksonville State will travel to UAB on Tuesday before participating in the South Florida Tournament this weekend.
MOREHEAD STATE (3-8 overall, 0-0 OVC): Morehead State went 3-1 at its own Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational. The Eagles defeated IPFW (9-1) and Pitt (3-0) before dropping a 3-2 decision to the Panthers. Senior Alex Gjevre recorded her first shutout of the season and allowed only two hits while striking out seven in the win over the Pitt. She pitched 4.2 innings in relief versus the Panthers. She did not allow a run and struck out six in the relief appearance. The Eagles return to the field on Wednesday as they host SIU Edwardsville for a twinbill before traveling to Ohio this weekend to play a pair of doubleheaders.
MURRAY STATE (2-9 overall, 0-0 OVC): Murray State, which is competing in its first season of softball, split its first home doubleheader with Evansville (2-6, 6-2) before going 1-3 at the Lipscomb Tournament. The Racers picked up a win over Eastern Kentucky (5-4) and fell to Lipscomb twice (6-0, 9-2) and Evansville (4-3). Junior Jenna Bradley hit a two-run home run in the seventh to put Murray State up against EKU. She finished the week with a .214 batting average, two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI. Sophomore Chelsey Sullivan earned her first win against Eastern Kentucky. For the week, Sullivan struck out seven in 10.0 innings of work. Murray State will entertain Travecca Nazarene for a doubleheader on Tuesday before hosting the Racer Classic this weekend.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI (4-7 overall, 0-0 OVC): Southeast Missouri fell to UMKC (7-1), Saint Louis (10-2), Missouri (13-0) and Missouri State (7-3) at the Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament. Junior Melissa Walker led the team with a .375 batting average over the four games while senior Alex Ramirez hit .364 and collected four walks to move into third on the school's all-time career charts with 68. Sophomore Shelby Stein batted .357 as she recorded two multiple hit games during the tournament. Junior Nicole Troncoso saw her career-high 14-game hitting streak snapped versus Missouri. Southeast Missouri will host IPFW on Wednesday and Illinois State on Thursday before playing in the Arkansas Invitational this weekend.
SIU EDWARDSVILLE (9-9 overall): SIU Edwardsville went 3-1 at the Coach B Classic last week. The Cougars defeated UIC (4-1), Western Illinois (2-1) and Kansas (5-2) before dropping a 6-4 decision to Southern Illinois. Junior Erika Taylor went 2-1 with a save last week. She struck out 18 batters over the four games. SIU Edwardsville will host Missouri State on Tuesday and travel to Morehead State for a pair on Wednesday. The Cougars will also play in the Arkansas Tournament this weekend.
TENNESSEE STATE (3-10 overall, 0-0 OVC): Tennessee State went 1-3 at the War Eagle Classic last week. The Tigers defeated Alabama State (4-1) and fell to Auburn (9-1), Valparaiso (8-0) and Louisiana Tech (11-3). Senior Bridget Metzger went 2-for-4 from the plate, recording a double and two RBI versus Louisiana Tech. She also tallied two hits against Auburn. Metzger reached base in every game last week. Tennessee State will have the week off and back on the field on March 17 when it hosts Belmont.
TENNESSEE TECH (8-7 overall, 0-0 OVC): Tennessee Tech went 3-2 at the Buzz Classic last week. The Golden Eagles earned wins over Western Carolina (11-0), James Madison (2-1) and Ole Miss (4-3) while falling to Mercer (1-0) and UNC Greensboro (4-1). Junior Lacie Coquerille went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, two RBI and three runs scored in her 2010 debut versus Western Carolina after missing the team's first 10 games with an injury. She finished with a hit in each of the team's five games last week. Coquerille was also perfect in the field with 12 putouts and five assists. Junior Maddie Schmissrauter allowed just one earned run while striking out 15 in 12 innings of work. The Golden Eagles will host Lipscomb for a doubleheader on Tuesday and Liberty for a single game on Thursday. Tech will also participate in the UT Invitational this weekend.
UT MARTIN (12-3 overall, 0-0 OVC): UT Martin went 3-2 at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic last week. The Skyhawks picked up victories over Bowling Green (7-3), Ole Miss (7-6) and Western Kentucky (5-3). UT Martin also fell to Kennesaw State (5-3) and Winthrop (5-3). Sophomore Jenny Bain hit .400 with six RBI, five runs scored, 2 home runs and two doubles. She also swiped two bases in three attempts. Senior Paij Lintz went 2-0 in the circle with a 2.25 ERA. She struck out 14 batters and walked just three in 16.0 innings of work. UT Martin received votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and Ultimate College Softball polls for the first time in program history last week. The Skyhawks will travel to Florida to participate in the Rebel Spring Games this weekend.