The Southeast Missouri State softball team extended their winning streak to five games en route to their series sweep conference opponent TSU, besting the Tigers on Saturday, March 19th, and taking both games of a double header Sunday, March 20th, powered by clutch hitting performances and stingy pitching from sophomore catcher Kat Sackett and a four hit shutout performance from sophomore pitcher Paytience Holman, respectively.

In Saturday's matchup, Southeast mercy-ruled TSU after six innings by a score of 9-1, only rendering one run to the Tigers, and picking up RBIs from seven different batters.

Freshman infielder Aubrie Shore continued to produce at the plate, hitting her team-leading fourth home-run and improving her RBI total to 19, another team leading total.

On Sunday, Sackett picked up her first two homers of the season, going 2-3 with two two-run homers in Sunday’s first game, followed by a 1-2 with one RBI performance in the second game. Sackett’s home runs came on an 0-2 count with the ball just sneaking fair over the right field foul pole in the bottom of the second and the other a no-doubter over the center field wall on the first pitch of the at bat in the bottom of the third. Sackett thought the key to her performance at the plate was staying relaxed.

“I was just looking to relax up there and score my teammates, I was just thinking to myself because sometimes you get up there and you swing out of your shoes. I was thinking to stay within myself and drive.” Sackett said.

Holman picked up her first complete game shut-out of the season, holding TSU to five hits on eight strikeouts. Holman utilized her off-speed pitch to frustrate the TSU hitters, earning six swing and miss strikeouts out of her eight total.

“I was able to show up today and my defense was behind me. Everything was there it was just a good day all around.” Holman said.

In the final game of the weekend, the Redhawk bats proved to be the difference maker, totaling four homers from four different batters, all of which came in the bottom of the second.

Junior pitcher Marisa Davis started the game, registering four and a third innings of work and rendering three runs, two of which were earned. Semo’s all-time leading strikeout leader, senior Rachel Rook came in to relieve Davis and would hold the Tigers scoreless for the rest of the game for a final score of 11-3.

Redhawks coach Mark Redburn said he likes how his team has played as of late, and thinks his team is finding a rhythm on the mound and at the plate.

“I thought there were a lot of players that contributed and I told them at the end [of the game] I’m just really happy and feel like it's kind of coming together,” Redburn said. “I thought those big wins over UMKC and Iowa helped to propel us here and then to put it in place as we go into this conference weekend. They really stepped up.

Southeast softball will be back in action against regional rival Southern Illinois University at the Southeast Softball Complex at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23.