SATURDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 6, @Austin Peay 5
UT Martin 9, @Austin Peay 0
Murray State 5, @Southeast Missouri 4
Murray State 1, @Southeast Missouri 0
@Tennessee Tech 5, Morehead State 3
@Tennessee Tech 4, Morheead State 0
Jacksonville State 2, @Eastern Kentucky 0
Jacksonville State 6, @Eastern Kentucky 3
@SIUE 2, Eastern Illinois 0
@SIUE 2, Eastern Illinois 0
Tennessee State 4, @Belmont 1
UT MARTIN 6, AUSITN PEAY 5; UT MARTIN 9, AUSTIN PEAY 0
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team continued its hot play by stretching its winning streak to four games after scoring 15 runs on the day against Austin Peay on the final weekend of Ohio Valley Conference play and the regular season. The Skyhawks picked up a victory in Game 1, 6-5, before exploding in the late innings to post a 9-0 win in Game 2 at Cheryl Holt Field.
The Skyhawks (27-24-1, 14-9) have found their stroke as of late, outscoring their last two opponents 33-12 in the last four games. Stepping up for the Skyhawks was senior Stephanie Nidiffer who tallied one of the team’s three home runs on the day while notching four RBIs in the twinbill. Carly Gonzales, Deven Wilson and Casey Vincent each tallied three hits on the day, including a home run by Wilson and three doubles by Vincent to both notch multi-RBI performances.
Sticking with her strong performance at the plate, Vincent was just as efficient in the pitching circle. Vincent improved to 7-8 on the season after tossing a complete game shutout, striking out nine while allowing just four hits in the Game 2 victory. Elizabeth Wiegand earned the start in Game 1, pitching 4.2 innings while allowing five earned runs. Brooke Kennedy (6-3) appeared in relief of Wiegand, picking up the victory after 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
UT Martin got on the board first in Game 1 thanks to a powerful home run off the bat of Wilson, easily clearing the left field wall. The home run was Wilson’s fourth of the year, passing a previous career high of three set last season as a freshman.
Neither team would add another run until the bottom of the fourth inning. Austin Peay would get on the board after reaching base on a lead-off single to center field. With a runner on first and second, following an error, the Lady Govs moved both runners into scoring position following a sacrifice. With runners on second and third and two outs, Mel Pavel singled to left field, tying the game at 1-1 after four innings.
The Skyhawks would look to respond in the top of the fifth inning, busting the game open with four runs. Lauren Smith would lead off the inning with a walk before being pulled for pinch runner Bella Zizzi. Zizzi would eventually move to third base following a sacrifice and a single by Kelsey Dixon, who then stole second base, leaving runners at second and third with one out. Zizzi would come around to score on an RBI single to left field by Gabby Glenn, giving the Skyhawks the lead. The Skyhawks would not be done in the inning as Nidiffer stroked a three-run home run down the left field line, giving the Skyhawks the 5-1 lead.
Austin Peay would waste little time getting back into the game, ultimately tying the game once again in the bottom half of the inning. The Lady Govs would load the bases with one out before Laurel Burroughs brought all three runs around to score on a bases clearing triple to right field. The Skyhawks would respond by making a pitching change, exchanging Wiegand for Kennedy. Kennedy would blow the save opportunity as Kristin Whitmire welcomed the new pitcher into the game with a game-tying double to center.
With the game tied once again, the Skyhawks would seek get on top once again in the sixth. Kayla Wade would battle before drawing a walk on the 10th pitch of the at bat. Wade would waste little time at first, quickly swiping second before advancing to third on a throwing error on the play. With Wade at third with two outs, Taylor Manning would put the Skyhawks on top for good with a single up the middle, ultimately giving the Skyhawks the 6-5 victory.
Both teams struggled in the opening innings of Game 2, holding their opponent hitless through the first four innings of play.
UT Martin broke into both the hit and the score column in the top of the fifth inning. Vincent led off the inning with a double to right center before being pulled for the speedster Zizzi. Wade would then reach base following a bunt single, moving Zizzi to third, before swiping her second stolen base of the afternoon to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Smith would put the Skyhawks on top with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Zizzi on the play. The second run of the inning would cross the plate as Wade scored on a throwing error.
The Skyhawks would look for more in the sixth inning as Gonzales led off the inning with a single up the middle. Wilson would later reach base following a sacrifice by Nidiffer. Both runners would come around to score on the next play as Vincent doubled to left center, bring Gonzales and Wilson in on the play.
With the game already in hand, the Skyhawks chipped on an addition five runs in the top of the seventh to seal the victory. Despite retiring the first two batters of the inning, Samantha McClure homered to left center for her second of the year. Glenn would follow the solo shot by drawing a walk before coming around to score on a triple to center field off the bat of Gonzales. Gonzales’ time on the bags would be minimal as she scored on a single through the left side by Nidiffer.
Back-to-back doubles by Wilson and Vincent would prove to be the exclamation point of the afternoon, bringing across the final two runs of the day as the Skyhawks cruised to the 9-0 victory.
MURRAY STATE 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4; MURRAY STATE 1, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Murray State softball team swept a doubleheader at Southeast Missouri Saturday, 5-4 and 1-0. The win gives the Racers their second 30-win season in the brief five-year history of the program and locks them into the fourth seed at next week’s OVC Tournament at Jacksonville State.
In game one, Southeast Missouri put the Racers behind the 8-ball early by tallying two hits and an hit by pitch with just one out. Renee Terry and Savannah Carpenter both got singles, followed by Haylee Krack loading the bases after being hit MSU’s Mason Robinson. Two batters later, Chelsea Smith busted the game wide open by clearing the bases with a double to give her team the early 3-0 lead.
Murray State got its offense going in the fourth and it all began with a lead-off walk by Cayla Levins. Following Levins, Jocelynn Rodgers reached on a Redhawk error, while Erica Howard laid down a bunt single to load the bases with no outs.
Turnabout was fair play in the next at bat for MSU, as Shelbey Miller tied the game with her own base-clearing double. After Miller advanced to third on a ground out, Alexa Becker brought her home with a brilliant bunt that rolled to almost first base and stayed fair the entire time.
The Racers added an insurance run in the sixth with a triple from Becker that scored Mo Ramsey, who reached in the previous at bat with MSU’s fourth bunt single of the contest. The run proved to be needed, as SEMO pulled within one in the bottom of the seventh after Meaghan Touchette walked to get on base and eventually scored on a RBI fielder’s choice by Jamie Woodworth. The Redhawks, however would get no closer, as Robinson struck out her fourth batter of the outing to end the game.
Becker led Murray State in the game by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Miller accounted for the other three RBIs and went 2-for-4 with a run. Mo Ramsey also ended the day with multiple hits at 2-for-4 with a run, as did Erica Howard who was 2-for-3.
Robinson moved to 11-8 on the season with the win, after allowing three earned runs on six hits with only one walk. Hannah Durham took the loss for SEMO and fell to 2-11 by giving up four earned runs on five hits with four walks and no strikeouts.
Game two was a pitcher’s duel between Murray State’s CheyAnne Gaksey and Southeast Missouri’s Keaira Schilling for most of the contest. Neither team scored in the first four innings, despite MSU stranding five runners, including three in the first, and SEMO leaving four.
However, Murray State finally broke through in the fifth and it started with a lead-off double from Erica Howard. She then moved to second on a Redhawk error, before being sacrificed to third by Mo Ramsey.
With two outs, SEMO catcher Chelsea Smith let a pitch get by her, allowing Howard to score and break the deadlock. Howard’s run went on to be the only one of the game, as MSU held on for the 1-0 win
Gaskey posted her third shutout of the season in the contest by throwing seven scoreless innings. She allowed just three hits in the contest with five strikeouts and just two walks. Miller and Ramsey also had successful outings in game two, as each went 2-for-4.
TENNESSEE TECH 5, MOREHEAD STATE 3; TENNESSEE TECH 4, MORHEEAD STATE 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - It seemed only fitting that on a day in which she and fellow seniors Kayla Floyd and Chelsea Burgess were honored for their careers, Kendall Hooper would blast a walk-off home run in extra innings to help send the Tennessee Tech softball team to a doubleheader sweep over Morehead State (15-33-1, 9-15) on Senior Day.
Sophomore Hannah Weaver (7-18) pitched a gem in the second game, coming within two outs of a no-hitter in leading TTU (22-33, 14-12) to a 4-0 victory to complete the sweep after Hooper's two-run eighth inning walk-off shot pushed the Golden Eagles to a 5-3 win in the opener.
Squared away at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth in the day's opening affair, freshman Alyssa Richards worked a walk to begin the frame. Up stepped Hooper, who had already played a pivotal role in Tech's sixth inning comeback, leading off the inning with a double before coming around to score on a Cortney Fry sacrifice fly that knotted the tilt at 3-3.
This time Hooper sent a towering fly ball over the left-center field fence, capping off the extra inning thriller in grand fashion. The long ball was the sixth of the season for the Hermitage, Tenn. native, breaking a tie with junior Angi Sakamoto for the team high.
Hooper would go on to collect two more hits in the second game, including a two-run triple to end the double dip going 4-for-7 with three extra base hits.
The walk-off home run also secured the eighth consecutive OVC win for freshman Danielle Liberatore (13-10), who tied a career high with 13 strikeouts, also matched on Feb. 22 in a nine-inning win over Campbell, the fourth most in Tennessee Tech history.
In addition, Liberatore bumped her record to 10-2 in conference play, hurling all eight innings, surrendering only four hits and three unearned runs.
TTU led 2-0 heading into the top of the fifth before Morehead State mounted a comeback to take a 3-2 edge. A leadoff infield single by senior Samantha Howard was followed by a Jamie Massaro sacrifice bunt and an error that put runners on the corners with none down. A sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman Karly Thompson brought the Eagles within a run at 2-1, before a two-run home run from sophomore Lizzy Margagliotti put Morehead ahead 3-2, two batters later.
The Golden Eagles deadlocked the score in the bottom of the sixth on a Cortney Fry sacrifice fly, the sophomores third baseman's second RBI of the contest, before Tech nearly won the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Senior Kayla Floyd picked up an infield single with one down in the seventh, swiping second one pitch later to move into scoring position. Junior Angi Sakamoto followed the Floyd thievery with a hard smash that appeared to be headed into right field, but behind a brilliant diving play by Morehead senior second baseman Stephanie Etter, Sakamoto was robbed of a hit and the Golden Eagles were kept off the scoreboard.
Eagle starter Tanna Seuferer (9-14) saw her five-game win streak snapped, despite pitching into the eighth inning, surrendering five runs on 10 hits.
The second game was all about the brilliance of Hannah Weaver, who came within two outs of the first Golden Eagle no-hitter since Holly Thomas accomplished the feat on Feb. 25, 2011 against IUPUI.
After retiring junior Katie Raile on a line out to short to begin the final frame, Weaver allowed a single up the middle by Morehead cleanup hitter Tressa Watson, the third and final batter to reach in the contest after Weaver walked two earlier in the game.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, breaking a 0-0 tie on an RBI single up the middle by senior Kayla Floyd that plated junior Hannah Eldridge with the first TTU run.
Tech broke the game open with three in the home half of the fifth inning, using a two-run Kendall Hooper triple and a Cortney Fry run-scoring sacrifice bunt to push the Golden Eagle advantage to 4-0.
TTU did the bulk of their scoring off of senior Kelcey McMurray (1-5), who was saddled with the loss after pitching into the fifth inning, giving up three earned on four hits, with six walks and two strikeouts.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 2, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0; JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Jacksonville State softball team clinched the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Championship with a doubleheader sweep at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, earning the right to host next week's OVC Tournament at University Field.
Senior Tiffany Harbin tossed a three-hit shutout and senior Hayden Crawford delivered a seventh-inning two-run single to lift the Gamecocks (39-12, 22-4 OVC) to a 2-0 win in the first game before some two-out magic led to a 6-3 win in eight innings in the finale with the Colonels (27-21, 14-10 OVC). JSU secures its fourth regular season OVc title and its first since 2009. The eight-team conference championship will begin Wednesay at University Field, with JSU's first gamescheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Harbin pitched her seventh-straight complete-game shutout and then came on to slam the door on the second game to record her second save of the season. The Hazel Green, Ala., native totaled eight scoreless frames over the sweep to extend her scoreless innings pitched streak to 48.2 innings. She has now been in the circle in 102 innings in conference play, 96 of which have been shutout frames.
After Crawford delivered her game winner in the top of the seventh of game one to lift Harbin over EKU ace Leanna Pittsenbarger in game one, JSU turned to its bats in several two-out situations to win the second game. The Gamecocks plated five runs with twoi outs in the finale, with the only other run coming in the form of a leadoff homer from junior Savannah Sloan in the eighth that gave JSU its first lead of the game.
Harbin's win over Pittsenbarger was the 13th shutout of the year for the senior ace, the most by any pitcher in the nation. Pittsenbarger entered the day one behind her in that national race.
In the first game, Harbin and Pittsenbarger dueled for six innings before the Gamecocks finally got on the board in the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk did the EKU ace in, as Sara Borders walked on five pitches to start the frame. Savannah Sloan then dropped a bunt to push the runner over, but second baseman Lauren Mitchell couldn't ahandle the throw to put two on with no outs.
Pittsenbarger got Amanda Maldonado on strikes for the first out, but Crawford drove her first pitch of the ensuing at bat back up the middle to score both Borders and Sloan to put the first runs of the game on the board.
Harbin had to work out of trouble for the first time in the bottom of the seventh, when a one-out double from Sarah Fobbs and a two-out walk to Katie Tackett brought the go-ahead run to the plate in Mitchell. She grounded out to Harbin to end the threat and give the Gamecocks the win in game one.
Harbin (17-6) closed the door on her seventh-straight shutout and her eighth-straight scoreless appearance. She fanned 10 Colonels and walked one, throwing 122 pitches, 77 for strikes.
Pittsenbarger suffered a tough-luck loss in the pitchers duel, surrendering two runs, one earned, on two hits, in the complete game. She struck out 13 and walked one, the leadoff batter in the seventh that turned into the winning run, in the losing effort.
Crawford and Taylor Sloan each singled to account for JSU's two hits, while Fobbs' double was the only extra-base hit by either team.
The Colonels struck first in the second game, grabbing a run in the bottom of the second after a leadoff single by Tackett led to an RBI double from Mitchell to give EKU its first run of the day and a 1-0 lead in the second.
Mitchell struck again in the third, this time delivering a two-strike single into right with two outs and the bases loaded to score one more and put EKU up 2-0.
JSU finally got one across against Shaylon Robb in the top of the fifth, when freshman Stephanie Lewis drove her 0-1 pitch over the wall in straightaway center to cut EKU's lead in half. The two-out homer was the first career round tripper for the Fort Meade, Fla., native and was just the second hit of the game off of the EKU starter.
The two-out rally continued with a single by Ella Denes and then an RBI double to left by Taylor Sloan that tied the game at 2-2.
A leadoff walk proved costly in the Colonels' ensuing at bat, when Christina Ciolek reached on five pitches and scored on a Fobbs double to put EKU right back on top, 3-2 after five innings.
The lead didn't last long, thanks to another two-out hit by the Gamecocks. Savannah Sloan led off the JSU sixth with a single to left and scored when Cadi Oliver found the left field corner with a two-out double that tied it at 3-3.
The Gamecocks almost got a little more two-out magic in the seventh, when a two-out double to left by Taylor Sloan brought up Sara Borders with a chance to give JSU the lead. Borders ripped one towards left field, but it was snagged by Ciolek at first to send the game into the bottom of the seventh still tied.
Savannah Sloan's fourth homer of the year led off the eighth inning and gave JSU its first lead of the game. She drove Robb's 3-2 pitch over the wall down the left field line and put the Gamecocks up 4-3 and started the big eighth inning. The rest of the damage came with two outs, when Lewis and Ella Denes delivered back-to-back two-out RBI singles to take a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
Harbin came on to close the door on the Colonels, striking out the side in a scoreless eighth.
SIUE 2, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0; SIUE 2, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Playing in the final series of its regular season, the SIUE softball team won both games of a doubleheader against in-state rival Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field.
SIUE (26-21, 18-5 OVC) won both games of the doubleheader in nearly identical fashion, prevailing by a score of 2-0 in both contests. In both games, the Cougars scored a pair of runs in the first inning before a dominant pitching performance carried them to victory.
Eastern Illinois (37-15, 17-6 OVC) had a 13-game OVC winning streak snapped by the Cougars' sweep.
In game one, SIUE grabbed a quick 2-0 lead with RBI singles from Rachel Coonrod and Whitney Lanphier in the bottom of the first inning.
Sophomore pitcher Haley Chambers took it from there, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out 12 EIU batters in a complete-game performance. She improved to 11-2 in OVC play with the victory.
Chambers was one strike away from her third no-hitter of the season, but the Panthers' Hannah Cole reached on an infield single with two outs in the seventh inning.
In game two, SIUE again jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, with Alex McDavid and Lanphier providing the RBIs for the hosts.
This time it was senior pitcher Erin Greenwalt who turned in a complete-game shutout, limiting the Panthers to no runs on one hit while posting four strikeouts. The Glen Carbon native took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
Heading into the weekend, the Cougars were in the running for a chance to earn the top seed in the OVC Tournament and host the event next week. But Jacksonville State's two wins at Eastern Kentucky Saturday locked up the top seed and right to host for the Gamecocks.
TENNESSEE STATE 4, BELMONT 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont Softball dropped the opening game of its weekend series against Tennessee State Saturday as the Tigers prevailed, 4-1, over the Bruins at Rose Park.
Tennesse State (17-37, 5-19 OVC) scored four runs off 11 hits as the Bruins' bats were stifiled throughout most of the contest.
Belmont (12-35, 6-18 OVC) could only must three hits, two of those came from junior Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) as the outfielder finished a perfect 2-for-2 on the afternoon.
The lone scoring opportunity for the Bruins came in the fifth inning as Amanda Criscione, who came into the game to pinch run, crossed home plate an error by Tennessee State.