MONDAY'S SCORES
*@UT Martin 10, Western Illinois 2 (6)
*Southern Indiana 6, @Tennessee Tech 3
*Tennessee State 15, @Morehead State 3
*Tennessee State 4, @Morehead State 3
UT MARTIN 10, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2 (6)
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball program claimed its first Ohio Valley Conference series of the season after winning the rubber match against new league foe Western Illinois on Monday morning by a 10-2 margin in six innings.
The Skyhawks (14-9, 2-1 OVC) posted their second mercy-rule victory of the three-game series behind an offensive onslaught against the Leathernecks. UT Martin tallied 11 hits in the win – including multi-hit efforts from Kaci Fuller and the OVC Player of the Week tandem of Katie Dreiling (Pitcher of the Week) and Anna Hazlewood (Player of the Week).
Two of the biggest hits of the game came off the bat of Hazlewood who continued her hot week of performances by launching a pair of two-run home runs. She wasn't the only player to lean on the longball as Dreiling ended the game with a solo shot in the sixth inning.
Three pitchers toed the rubber for the Skyhawks with Dreiling getting the start and last 3.1 innings before exiting with a no-decision. Kiersten Nixon (1-2) picked up her first win of the season as she tossed two no-hit and shutout innings against the Leathernecks. Closing out the game was Hazlewood who pitched the final two outs of the sixth inning before the game ended in the bottom half of the frame.
Western Illinois (10-12, 1-2 OVC) scored the game's first run as Maria Luna stroked a solo home run to left center field in the top of the second inning before the Skyhawks responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run by Hazlewood down the left field line to give the home squad a 2-1 advantage.
The Skyhawks added to their margin in the third inning when a leadoff error put Fuller on base and later into scoring position on a single by Avry Blume. Alli Robinson then put down a sacrifice bunt to move the pair into scoring position, but Fuller took it a step further and scored from second on the sacrifice attempt. Then the following play saw Dreiling drive in a run with a sacrifice fly to put the lead out to three runs.
While a wild pitch allowed the Leathernecks to score another run in the fourth inning, it would be the final run of the day for the visitors. With the score at 4-2, the Skyhawks added a run in the fourth inning off an RBI-groundout from Kyla Harley before a big fifth inning saw the squad add four more runs courtesy of a two-run opposite field home run by Hazlewood and a two-run single by Fuller to break the game wide open.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Skyhawks needed just one run to end the contest early and they found just that as Dreiling turned on the third pitch of the inning and sailed it over the right field wall to bring the score to 10-2.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 6, TENNESSEE TECH 3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - University of Southern Indiana Softball displayed its extra-base power on Monday when the Screaming Eagles notched five extra-base hits toward a 6-3 series finale road win at Tennessee Tech University.
Southern Indiana (7-11, 1-2) came out swinging right in the first inning Monday. Following a double by sophomore outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana), senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) brought Stapleton home on a double to centerfield. Three batters later, junior infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) drove in two more runs with a double down the left field line, giving USI a 3-0 advantage through the first inning.
Tennessee Tech (9-7) chipped away with a run in the third and another in the fourth inning to draw within one run of the Screaming Eagles, 3-2. Southern Indiana responded in the top of the fifth inning, grabbing a 5-2 lead with a pair of runs. Senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) led off the fifth with a solo home run, her second of the season.
USI added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when Gotshall recorded her second double and third RBI of the contest. With the Screaming Eagles ahead 6-2, Tennessee Tech threatened with the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, but USI junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched out of the jam. The Golden Eagles scored their last run in the bottom of the seventh.
Southern Indiana scored its six runs off 10 hits, five of which went for extra bases. Gotshall finished with three RBIs on a pair of doubles. Kihega went 2-2 with a home run, and Stapleton also registered a two-hit game. Newman earned the pitching win, going to 6-5 this season. Newman struck out three and allowed three runs – two earned – in the complete game.
Tennessee Tech's three runs came off six hits. Freshman pitcher Faith Rush dropped 1-3 after surrendering three runs in two innings of work.
TENNESSEE STATE 15, MOREHEAD STATE 3; TENNESSEE STATE 4, MOREHEAD STATE 3
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Tennessee State softball team picked up a two-game sweep of Morehead on Monday afternoon to win its first Ohio Valley Conference series of the season. The two wins move TSU to 11-10, 2-1.
The Tigers responded from 3-3 tie in the sixth inning to win in dramatic fashion, earning a 15-3 victory over the Morehead State Eagles Monday. TSU posted 12 runs in the top of the seventh.
Junior Caitlyn Manus (4-5) got the win for Tennessee State (10-10, 1-1). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits, allowing three walks and striking out 10.
In the batter's box, the Tigers were led by sophomore Onnika Spencer, who went 3-for-5 on the day with a double, a home run and five RBI. Freshman Kyra Taylor put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI. Junior Ryla Traylor also chipped in for Tennessee State, putting together three hits in five trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.
The Tigers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Tennessee State got an RBI single from Traylor, scoring senior Laila Armstrong from second base.
The Tigers then held the Eagles scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore Jasmine Blackburn, which brought the Tigers lead to 2-0.
Morehead State narrowed Tennessee State's lead to 2-1 before the Tigers stretched the advantage to 3-1 in the fourth inning.
The Eagles then tied the game at three before Tennessee State fought back to reclaim their advantage in the seventh inning. The Tigers left the yard two times in the inning on the way to scoring 12 runs, bringing the Tennessee State advantage to 15-3. The score remained 15-3 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers coasted to the win.