SATURDAY'S SCORES
*UT Martin 3, @Tennessee Tech 2
*@Tennessee Tech 3, UT Martin 2
*@Tennessee State 11, SIUE 8
*@Tennessee State 2, SIUE 1
*Lindenwood @Western Illinois - Suspended 6th Inning
UT MARTIN 3, TENNESSEE TECH 2; TENNESSEE TECH 3, UT MARTIN 2
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech and UT Martin traded a pair of one-run losses on Saturday as the two teams split the scheduled doubleheader with identical 3-2 results.
The Golden Eagles (17-17, 8-9 Ohio Valley Conference) will play the Skyhawks again on Sunday starting at noon to decide the winner of the series.
UT Martin took game one as Anna Blanton went 3-for-3 and Kaci Fuller 2-for-4, each with an RBI, while Maddie Long picked up the other RBI in the game.
Lennon Spicer allowed two runs on seven hits across four innings, striking out one. Emily York took the tough-luck loss allowing the go-ahead run on three hits in her three frames of work.
The tandem of Katie Dreiling and Kiersten Nixon held Tech to just four hits in the contest, with Mack Fitzgerald, Abby Shoulders, Sofia Carroll and Ella Bishop collecting the safeties. Dreiling threw four innings, allowing two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out four. Nixon picked up the victory for her fifth win of the year with two scoreless frames and was the pitcher of record as the Skyhawks took the lead in the seventh.
UTM took the lead with two runs in the fourth inning as Long drove in Dylan Scott with a single through the left side of the infield, then Blanton hit a single down the left field line to plate Nixon.
All four of Tech's hits came in the bottom of the fifth as the Golden Eagles tied the game. Jordan Key picked up the first RBI as her grounder to short gave Carroll room to score, then Fitzgerald's base hit to left sent Bishop home.
The Skyhawks scored the go-ahead run in the seventh as Fuller's single to second base plated Blanton. After Bishop led off with a four-pitch walk, UTM retired the next three Golden Eagle batters to avoid a rally and end the opener.
In game two, Tech scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the third inning. Shoulders struck out swinging, but the ball got away on a wild pitch. The following throwing error allowed Shoulders to stand safely on second. Carmen Betts singled to left field to put runners at the corners.
Abby Buettner reached on a fielder's choice – enough to get the RBI as Shoulders scored – then Betts' pinch-runner Bailee Stack took off for third on a throwing error at second. Brooklin Richardson came on as a pinch-runner and immediately stole second. Carroll's ground out to first allowed Stack to score, then Richardson crossed on a wild pitch.
UTM scored its pair in the top of the fifth as Avry Blume scored on a fielder's choice off Fuller's bat, then Fuller came home to score on an errant ball hit back to the circle.
Payton Wagner went five complete frames, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and four strikeouts to collect her sixth victory of the season. York earned her sixth save of the season, throwing the final two scoreless frames without allowing a hit or a walk.
TENNESSEE STATE 11, SIUE 8; TENNESSEE STATE 2, SIUE 1
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State softball team cruised to a two-game sweep of the SIUE Cougars on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field. The Tigers downed SIUE 11-8 in game one, followed by a 2-1 victory in game two. The two OVC wins move TSU to 19-19, 10-7.
Jasmine Blackburn racked up four hits to help power the Tennessee State Tigers over the SIUE Cougars 11-8 in game one on Saturday.
Holly Ayala (5-5) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (18-18, 9-7). The right-hander went 4.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out two.
In addition to her four hits, Blackburn had a triple and two RBI to lead the Tigers. Ryla Traylor put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Peyton Fointno also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.
The Tigers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run triple from Blackburn.
The Tigers lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fourth trailing 7-3. Tennessee State managed to push across two runs in the inning, which tightened the Cougars lead to 7-5.
SIUE expanded their lead to 8-5 before the Tennessee State offense got back in action, overtaking the Cougars to grab a 9-8 advantage in the fifth. The Tigers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run single off the bat of Laila Armstrong.
Tennessee State held the Cougars without a run before their offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The Tigers pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Fointno that brought home Blackburn and Alexis Woods, bringing the score to 11-8 in favor of Tennessee State. The score remained 11-8 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.
The Tennessee State Tigers snuck by the SIUE Cougars to earn a close, 2-1 victory in the second game of the DH on Saturday.
Reina Castillo (5-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State. The right-hander went the distance (7.0), giving up one run on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.
At the plate, the Tigers were paced by Nahtali Simpson, who went 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI. Traylor put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a double.
The Tigers were trailing 1-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board. Armstrong came across to score the lone run of the inning for Tennessee State and get them on the board.
The score stayed at 1-1 until the fourth inning, when the Tigers put runs on the scoreboard once again. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Simpson, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Tigers. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the game, as Tennessee State held on for the win.
LINDENWOOD at WESTERN ILLINOIS
MACOMB, Ill. - Will resume game one from the top of the 6th inning on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. The scheduled doubleheader will follow the completion of game one.