April 6, 2008

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Sunday, April 06, 2008) The Redhawks softball team collected their third straight Ohio Valley Conference series victory as they took the series finale against Tennessee State on a beautiful afternoon at the Southeast Softball Complex. After splitting a doubleheader against the Lady Tigers on Saturday they used two homeruns, one which was a grand slam, to win 6-3 and improve to 6-1 at home.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the second the Redhawks (17-18, 7-7 OVC) led off the inning with a walk to Alex Ramirez (Corona, CA/El Modena). Katie Otterness (Schaumburg, IL/Hoffman Estates) then hit a grounder to the Lady Tigers (13-23, 5-9 OVC) second baseman who attempted to get the force out at second base but instead threw the ball off a hustling Ramirez resulting in both her and Otterness being safe at their respected bases.

Lady Tigers starter Amanda Vaught got Carmen Fowler (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) to pop up on a sacrifice bunt attempt and then struckout Whitney Dupuis (Sulphur, LA/Sulphur). Michelle Summers (Glendale, CA/Hoover) then walked to load the bases with two-outs. Jennifer Vasquez (Placentia, CA/El Dorado) then launched a towering shot to leftfield for her first career grand slam and a comfortable 5-2 lead.

After the Lady Tigers struck first in the opening inning with two unearned runs off of Redhawks ace Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) Summers countered with her 13th career lead-off homerun with a solo shot to centerfield to cut the deficit to one run, 2-1 before the four-run second inning for the Redhawks gave them the lead for good.

In the fourth the Redhawks added an insurance run. Dupuis walked with two outs and Summers drove her home with her 10th double of the season.

Elaine Fisher recorded her 12th win of the season

The Lady Tigers struck for a run in the sixth to make it 6-3 and threatened in the seventh with two runners in scoring position but Fisher pitched out of trouble and evened her season record at 12-12.

Fisher recorded her 17th complete game of the season and her 12th-straight complete game. She allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking one.

Vasquez and Summers accounted for four of the Redhawks five hits. Summers went a perfect 2-2 with a double, a homerun, two runs scored and two RBIs. It was her team-leading 17th multi-hit game of the season.

Vasquez went 2-3 with her grand slam accounting for all of her four RBIs and her run scored.

Vaught (10-15) received the loss, her second of the series. She lasted only two innings allowing five runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three.

The Redhawks look to continue their winning ways at home as they host non-conference opponent Middle Tennessee State for a doubleheader at Southeast Softball Complex on Wednesday, April 9. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.