Kristen Waldron
Staff writer
The Southeastern softball team swept Ouachita Baptist in a four-game series April 12-13. This makes the current standing 36-7 for the overall season for a national ranking of fourth and 21-3 as the top team in the Great American conference. The team is heading to the GAC conference championship on April 25-27 in an eight-team, double-elimination in Bentonville, Ark. at the Bentonville Visitors and Convention Bureau.
During the first game of the series on April 12, the score was tied at three runs at the bottom of the seventh inning. This extended the game to more innings. In the top of the ninth inning Ouachita Baptist scored three runs to make the score 6-3. The Savage Storm answered back with four runs to win the game at 7-6.
The top performances of the game were Courtney Riddle, freshman education major, had two runs, three hits out of four at bats and three RBIs. Courtney Moore, senior psychology major, had three hits out of five at bats and two RBIs.
The second game of the series was another win by the Storm at 5-1. In the bottom of the first inning the women scored four runs, and the final run of the game occurred at the bottom of the third.
Mindy McElroy, junior business major, had two RBIs and one hit out of two at bats. Those who help make the win possible were senior business major Paige Priest, sophomore pre-nursing major Whitney Hamilton and Moore had each a single RBIs.
The third game of the series was a win by run rule with the score of 9-1.
At the bottom of the first inning Darrian Williams, sophomore pre-veterinarian medicine major, was walked on to base, but stole second with Riddle at bat, who was hit by the pitcher to take first. Moore hit a single to load the bases. With two outs Laramie Beal, freshman health, physical education and recreation major, hit a double to gain three RBIs.
In the bottom of the fifth inning Lacie Cook, junior health, physical education and recreation major, hit for a single, followed by pinch hitter Brittany Wilson, junior biology major was substituted for Williams, received two pitches before was brought back in Williams to strike out.
Riddle came to bat and hit a single to left field. Moore was walked to load the bases. Hamilton was subsequently walked to receive an RBI. With bases still loaded Beal hit a home run to score four more RBIs to make her total to seven RBIs in a single game.
The final game of the series was a complete shut out; the Storm won 5-0 to complete the four game series against Ouachita Baptist. The players that led the game were Cook, Beal, Priest, Rachel Jones, freshman biology major and Kaija Morris, senior safety major, all scored single RBIs.
April 13 was also the last home conference game for the lady storm. The four senior players were recognized before the first game. The seniors and their families were presented to the crowd at the SE Softball Field. The graduating seniors are Dakota Palmer, health, physical education and recreation major, Courtney Moore, Kaija Morris and Paige Priest.
Palmer played second base and out fielder for three seasons at SE. When talking about how playing at SE benefited her, Palmer said, “First it got me an education and made me mentally tough. I learned a lot more about softball here then I could anywhere else.”
Moore said about her favorite memory at SE, “Winning at the Arizona tournament, we went in as the underdogs and came out winning the entire thing.” For two seasons Moore has played catcher.
Kaija Morris talked about what is next for her after graduation said, “I will work at a psychology counseling center until my fiancé (SE baseball player Travis Caraway) graduates and we will see from there.” Morris has spent two seasons at SE playing catcher and third base.
Priest talking about her favorite memories from SE said, “The way Coach Faubion makes the umpires get the rules book and is usually right about the calls.” Priest has spent two seasons playing out fielder for SE.
The Savage Storm softball team heads up north to Northwestern for a four games series on April 19-20, then back home on April 23 to play Northeastern in a doubleheader.