Freshman pitcher Mariah Ramirez limited Southeast Missouri State to two runs and just six hits, but two pitchers quieted the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's bats as the Mocs were eliminated Saturday at the NCAA softball regional at Oxford, Mississippi. The score was 2-1.
Southeast Missouri (46-18) later was eliminated by host Ole Miss, 10-0. The Rebels (39-18) will face Louisiana in Sunday's championship round. Louisiana (52-6) defeated Ole Miss 2-0 in Saturday's first game and will need just one win to claim a super regional berth. Ole Miss would need to win twice against the Ragin' Cajuns to advance.
UTC, which lost 12-0 to Ole Miss on Friday, ended its season at 37-17.
"Obviously things didn't turn out exactly the way we wanted it to, but today was a little bit more indicative of the way we play in the close ballgame," Mocs coach Frank Reed said. "We've bought into what we're doing over the last few years and really made some kind of statement this year. We're proud of them."
The Mocs got on the board first Saturday on senior Devan Brown's leadoff home run in the third inning. The Redhawks tied it in the fourth on Ashley Ellis' one-out homer, her 17th of the season, then took the lead with a run in the fifth.
Brooke Rheinecker singled with one out, stole second and went to third on an error on the throw to start the rally. She scored on Mykeala Arellanes' single to center. The Redhawks loaded the bases, but Ramirez worked out of it without further trouble.
UTC got a pinch-hit leadoff single from Morgan Kazarooni in the sixth, but Emily Coltharp's sacrifice attempt was popped up, and Haleigh Weissenbach hit into a double play to end the threat. The top four in the Mocs' lineup were an uncharacteristic 0-for-12.
Ramirez earned the start with two strong innings Friday and followed that with a six good innings Saturday, walking none.
Southeast Missouri starter Haley Thogmartin got her 23rd win this year, thanks to five innings of three-hit pitching. Rachel Rook worked the final two innings, allowing only Kazarooni's hit, for the save.
"This is the closest team that I have been on since I've been here," UTC senior first baseman Emma Sturdivant said. "Our senior class has been through a lot. We've all had our own ups and downs in our careers, and I just think it meant everything to end up on top. We have nothing to hang our heads about at all."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.