Ohio Valley Conference

MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team gave up a five-run first inning, and that was all it took for Southern Illinois to top the Skyhawks, 5-0, Wednesday at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale in the non-conference finale for both teams.

The Salukis scored five runs in the first inning Wednesday, which was ultimately enough for the win. The Skyhawks mustered just two hits in the contest, singles from Carly Ward and Avary Makarewicz in the second and fourth innings, respectively.

Despite a rough first inning, the pitching from the Skyhawks for the rest of the game was top-notch. Joleanna Fox went 4.0 innings and allowed no runs on two hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Elly Eckrich tossed the final frame for UT Martin, allowing no runs on no hits with one strikeout and no walks.

AUSTIN PEAY 7, TENNESSEE TECH 6 (8)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech kept battling with Austin Peay, forcing extra innings against their former Ohio Valley Conference foes on Wednesday, but the visiting Governors scored two runs in the top of the eighth and the Golden Eagles were only able to get one more on the board as Tech fell 7-6 in eight innings.
 
The Golden Eagles (16-29) return to conference action on Saturday as they head to Lindenwood for their last OVC road series of the regular season.
 
Olivia Evans went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Abbee Klinefelter and Sydney Kirby each drove in two runs.
 
Austin Peay took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third as Kylie Campbell hit a two-run triple to drive in Raylon Roach and Kayleigh Roper. Campbell then came home on a sacrifice fly to left off Macee Roberts' bat.
 
Tech scored its first run in the bottom of the fourth as Makayli Harris singled to short to bring Evans home.
 
The Govs scored twice in the fifth as Skylar Sheridan and Sammie Shelander both hit bases-loaded singles.
 
The Golden Eagles scored four in the bottom of the fifth as Klinefelter doubled to left to drive in Abby Shoulders and Ashley Capelouto. Kirby followed up with a single to center field and advanced on the throw as Bailee Stack and Evans scored.
 
The score held in the sixth and seventh frames, but the international tiebreaker went into effect in the eighth inning. A bunt moved Sheridan to third, then Shelander was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance with Sheridan scoring the go-ahead run. Kiley Hinton singled to center field, driving in pinch runner Maggie Daughrity.
 
With Alina Schlageter placed on second for the tiebreaker, she advanced to third on a sacrifice fly for the second out, then scored on Ella Bishop's RBI single past a diving first baseman. A groundout ended the game with no further damage.
 
Both starting pitchers exited the game early – Samantha Miener in the fifth for Ashley Martin only to return later in the inning, Lainey Fitzgerald left in the third to be put back in the sixth. Miener collected the win, going eight innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on six hits, walking one and striking out none. Martin allowed two runs on two hits with a walk.
 
Fitzgerald threw five innings, allowing two runs – one earned – on one hit, walking two and striking out one. Kyleigh Pitzer allowed three runs on one hit and two walks, Hannah Lange worked two innings, allowing one run on one hit and two walks, while Addison Abell allowed one run on four hits in one inning of work.

SAINT LOUIS 4, LINDENWOOD 3
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood softball (20-21, 11-10 OVC) dropped their final non-conference game of the season against cross-town rival Saint Louis (26-19, 14-5 A-10) by a final score of 4-3. The Lions now have just three remaining games at home this season and have a collective record of 10-12 at home.

Saint Louis' offense did not take off til late in the game being held to just one hit though the first five innings of play. Lucy Pratt got the start on the mound throwing the first 2.0 innings allowing a single run during the top of the first after a single up the middle.

Lindenwood was just shy of tying the game in the third inning after Hatton drilled a double off the top of the fence in left field. She was stranded at second after the Billikens' pitching staff struck out McMinn. The Lions' out hit Saint Louis during the game 8-4.

Molly Heidrick pitched 2.1 innings of hitless softball, but had five walks to her credit. In the top of the fifth inning, Heidrick walked the bases loaded. Wapp came in relief and limited the damage to one run after a walk.

The Lions' used a big fifth inning to take the lead after scoring all three of their runs in the inning. Madisen Noll and Niicole Henson both singled to start the inning with Noll scoring the first run after a RBI single to right field from West. Hatton then tied the ame with a soft grounder to shortstop which scored Henson. McMinn put the Lions ahead 3-2 after a shot to center field brought home West from second. Lindenwood would leave two runners stranded, but maintained a one run lead.

Wapp remained on the mound for the Lions in the top of the sixth where the Billikens delivered a double and triple to start the inning to tie the game. Saint Louis scored the game winning run after a single to third base scored the fourth run. LU had a runner at third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but could not tie the game as Saint Louis escaped with a 4-3 win.