WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
Marshall 4,
UT Martin 1
@Bellarmine 1,
UT Martin 0
@Youngstown State 6,
Morehead State 2
@Youngstown State 3,
Morehead State 1
Saint Louis 15,
@Lindenwood 3
MARSHALL 4, UT MARTIN 1; BELLARMINE 1, UT MARTIN 0
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team loaded the bus and traveled to Louisville for a pair of non-conference matchups against Marshall and host Bellarmine but unfortunately suffered setbacks in both contests, falling to the Thundering Herd 4-1 before a narrow 1-0 loss to the Knights.
The Skyhawk offense had a tough day as they boasted just a .143 batting average in the twinbill while graduate Kaitlyn Kelley ranked as the lone player to record multiple base knocks – tallying a pair of doubles. Meanwhile, Kennedy Brown, Annie Gutierrez, Anna Hazlewood, Kallie Pickens and Kaci Fuller also recorded base hits.
Three pitchers saw action on the day with junior Katie Dreiling spinning three shutout innings in relief with three strikeouts. Brooklynn Linneman (4-4) was hit with the loss in Game 1 while Kiersten Nixon (0-5) was held responsible for the Game 2 decision.
Game 21: Marshall 4, UT Martin 1
The Thundering Herd saved up their entire offensive output for the bottom of the third inning in the neutral site matchup. Three consecutive base hits to open the inning was capped off by a three-run blast by Autumn Owen to give the squad a three-run advantage. The hit parade continued later in the inning as two more singles – including an RBI-single by Camryn Michallas gave the team a 4-0 lead.
The Skyhawks scratched out a run for themselves in the top of the fourth inning. After a pair of outs were recorded, Kelley doubled to left center to continue the frame. With a runner in scoring position, Pickens singled to left field while Kelley came around to score on the play to give the visitors on the scoreboard their first run.
UT Martin had another big scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth as a pair of singles in the inning by Fuller and Brown ultimately loaded the bases. With the potential game-winning hitter at the plate, the Skyhawks could not find the needed hit as the squad dropped the contest by a final tally of 4-1.
Game 22: Bellarmine 1, UT Martin 0
Bellarmine jumped out to an early lead by scoring in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. A leadoff hit by pitch proved costly for the Skyhawks as Olivia Bricker later motored around the bases to score all the way from first on a single in the left center gap by Chloe Collins to take a 1-0 advantage.
After being held hitless for the first six innings, the Skyhawks did mount a rally in the top of the seventh. Kelley broke up the no-hitter bid with her second double of the day down the right field line. The Skyhawks got a big hit from Gutierrez into right field which saw Kelley come around third and head to home, but the runner was called out at the plate to thwart the late scoring chance.
UT Martin returns to action this weekend when playing host to Tennessee State. The Skyhawks and Tigers will play a single contest on Saturday, March 25 before squaring off in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 26.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE 6, MOREHEAD STATE 2; YOUNGSTOWN STATE 3, MOREHEAD STATE 1
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Eagles competed in a pair of tightly contested matchups against Youngstown State on Wednesday, but couldn't overcome sixth inning rallies in both ends of their doubleheader, falling in the first game 6-2 and the second 3-1.
Erin Boyle starred at the plate in the opener, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, including smacking her OVC leading fourth triple of the season. Madeline Gailor chipped in with three hits over the two games, and Trinity Spear added two hits of her own, both coming in the first game.
Jessie Begley continued to be the workhorse of the pitching staff, collecting another 10.2 innings in the circle, including tossing a complete game in the second matchup, and allowed only two walks and four earned runs on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)
The teams traded two scoreless innings to open the game before a leadoff walk from Ilencia Lightbody gave the Eagles their first scoring chance, but she was stranded on third. Youngstown State then opened the scoring in the bottom half of the third inning to make it 1-0.
After Emily Williams led off the fourth inning with a single, Erin Boyle tied the game with a two out RBI triple off the wall.
The Penguins answered right back in the bottom of the inning to retake a 2-1 lead, and loaded the bases in the fifth with a chance to expand their lead, but Madi Ogden came on in relief to escape the jam without any runs scored.
The Eagles rallied again with two outs in the sixth, starting with a double from Kaytlyn Cripps and continuing with another two out RBI from Erin Boyle to tie the game once again.
Youngstown State put together their own two out rally in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs in the frame, and then set the Eagles down in order in the seventh to secure the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)
The Eagles were held without a hit through the first three innings, while Youngstown State broke through in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Morehead State got their first hit from a leadoff single by Madeline Gailor to open the fourth, but she was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice from the bat of Peyton Jordan. A Taylor Rhea single moved Jordan into scoring position and Kirya Kingery brought her home with an RBI single to tie the game.
The pitcher's duel continued into the sixth, when leadoff singles from Gailor and Jordan got the Eagles started, but a double play derailed the rally and kept the game tied headed into the bottom half of the inning.
Jessie Begley nearly escaped a bases loaded, no out jam in the bottom of the sixth, but Youngstown State broke the tie with a two-run single and shut down the Eagles in the seventh for the win.