Ohio Valley Conference

MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team split a doubleheader with Lindenwood Monday at Bettye Giles Field in Martin. The Skyhawks shut out the Lions in game one, 3-0, but were clipped in game two, 3-2.

In game one, the Skyhawks did all their damage in the fourth inning, beginning with a double to left center from Dylan Scott, which was followed by another double from Alli Robinson. Scott scored in the next at-bat on a bunt single from Kyrsten Brown, while Robinson scored one batter later on a single to the pitcher from Carly Ward. Brown crossed the plate later in the inning to round out UT Martin's scoring in the game on a sacrifice fly by Jordyn Hustey.

Ashtyn Green pitched a complete game four-hit shutout in the opener to move to 6-3 on the season. The game marked her third solo shutout of the season and fourth overall.

In game two, Lindenwood got on the board first in the third inning on an RBI single from Irelynn West. However, in the bottom of the frame, Kennedy Brown singled up the middle and eventually scored on the same play, thanks to a Lindenwood error, to knot the game at one.

The Lions broke the tie in the top of the seventh when Jolie McMinn and Danielle Franz drove in one run each to make it 3-1. In the bottom half of the inning, the Skyhawks cut their deficit in half when Robinson, who began the inning with a triple, scored on a sacrifice fly from Carly Ward. However, the Lions struck out the next batter as they held on for the 3-2 win.

Despite the loss, the Skyhawks remained strong defensively as they negated 10 Lindenwood hits by stranding 11 runners on base in the contest and committed zero errors.

EASTERN ILLINOIS 9, MOREHEAD STATE 0 (5)
EASTERN ILLINOIS 6, MOREHEAD STATE 5
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball moved to .500 on the season as the Panthers swept a Monday doubleheader from Morehead State at Williams Field.
 
EIU won 9-0 (5 innings) and 6-5 to improve to 13-13 on the year, 5-1 in the OVC.  Morehead State fell to 1-25 overall, 0-6 in the OVC.
 
Eastern Illinois had nine hits and took advantage of seven walks issued by Morehead State pitching to pick up a 9-0 win in five innings to open the St. Patick's Day doubleheader.
 
The offense started in the opening inning with Kendall Grover driving home Abbey Crain with a double as the first three EIU batters reached on hits.  Grover finished the day 3-for- with three runs scored for the Panthers.   Alisha Frederick followed Grover with an RBI single to right center.
 
EIU tacked on four runs in the third and three runs in the fourth inning to get to the run-rule number.  Maddux Marshall had an RBI in each scoring inning as she led the team with two RBI. 
 
Karson Davey drew a based loaded walk in the fourth for an RBI as she joined Grover as EIU players with multiple hits going 2-for-2.
 
Karlie McKenzie was sharp throwing four scoreless innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-3.  Bryanna French tossed a perfect fifth inning to finish the win in the circle.
 
Sela Pickford and Jordan Donato had the two hits for Morehead State in the loss.  Rylie Burney (0-12) was the losing pitcher for the Eagles.
 
Eastern Illinois had to rally late and then hold off a final Morehead State challenge to secure the series sweep with a 6-5 final game win.
 
Trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, EIU scored four runs in the inning and then hung on as the Eagles pushed one across in the seventh and left the tying run at third base.
 
In the sixth, EIU opened the inning with four straight singles with Karson Davey driving in the first run.  Abbi Hatton had the big hit of the inning driving in two with a single up the middle.  Abbey Crain closed the scoring with an RBI single to left
 
Morehead State rallied one more time in the seventh scoring its run with two outs on an infield error by EIU which left Maddy Christopher at third.  Bryanna French struck out the final batter to pick up the win improving to 2-3 on the season as she pitched two innings in relief.
 
Both teams scored twice in the third with Morehead State scoring on an RBI single by Darlene Montoya and a sacrifice by Nyla Doiron.  Doiron had three RBI in the game and was one of five Eagles with two hits in the game.  Christopher led MSU going 3-for-3 at the plate.
 
EIU tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third on a two-run homerun by Kendall Grover. 
 
The Eagles took the lead in the fifth on a two-run single to left center by Doiron.
 
Hatton and Maddux Marshall led EIU with two hits each.  Grover and Hatton had two RBI each.
 
Sela Pickford, who pitched four innings of relief, suffered the loss for MSU falling to 0-1.