Ohio Valley Conference

MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team fell to Middle Tennessee, 7-4, Wednesday afternoon at Bettye Giles Field in Martin in mid-week, non-conference action, despite home runs from Kyrsten Brown and Avary Makarewicz.

Kyrsten Brown got things started for the Skyhawks in the third when she hit her first home run of the year, a solo shot to left field, to give the Skyhawks an early 1-0 lead. However, in the top of the fourth, the Blue Raiders used a single, a double, a home run and a wild pitch to score six runs in the frame and take a commanding lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Jordyn Hustey singled up the middle to score Makarewicz, while Makarewicz had a two-run home run in the sixth, her sixth of the season, to cut the lead to 6-4. Middle Tennessee tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a home run from Lexi Medlock and in the bottom half of the inning, the Skyhawks went down in order, sealing the 7-4 win for the Blue Raiders.

Makarewicz led UT Martin in the game by going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs, a double and a home run.

BRADLEY 10, LINDENWOOD 0  (5)
LINDENWOOD 9, BRADLEY 1  (5)
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Softball team (12-15, 2-4 OVC) split their doubleheader with Bradley on Wednesday as the Lions won the second game of the doubleheader by a score of 9-1. Four different Lions collected two or more RBI in the win over the Braves, with Anna Sanders leading the way with three RBI. Sanders was followed by Tori Hatton, Jolie McMinn, and Sadie Sexauer who each had a pair of RBI's in game two. 

The Braves exploded for seven runs on seven hits within the first two innings of the game to take an early 7-0 lead. Bradley added two more runs in the third inning and put up the final run of the game in the top of the fifth inning to take the first game of the doubleheader by a score of 10-0. Jolie McMinn, Sadie Sexauer, Stella True, and Justine Davidson all collected a hit for the Lions in the first game, while Ryleigh Owens and Samantha Roulanaitis combined to pitch two innings in relief out of the bullpen. The duo allowed three hits and one earned run to limit the Braves in the later stages of the game. Each pitcher also recorded a strikeout and combined to face 10 batters. 

Tori Hatton got the Lions offense rolling early on as she hit a solo home run to left center field in the bottom of the first inning to put Lindenwood in front early by a score of 1-0. Sexauer and McMinn added on to the lead in the bottom of the third inning as both would drive in a pair of runs on singles and extended the Lions lead to 5-0. After the Braves got one run back in the top of the fourth inning, Hatton collected her second RBI of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning that brought home Izzy Wilcox to make it a 6-1 game. Later in the inning, Emily Geary grounded out to the right side of the infield with one out and collected an RBI as Madisen Noll scored on the play to make it 7-1 game. Anna Sanders would then end the game early as she hit a two-run double to left center field that scored Wilcox and Justine Davidson to pick up the 9-1 victory in five innings.

Lucy Pratt got the win in the circle for the Lions as she threw 2.2 innings out of the bullpen and allowed just one run to limit the Braves offense. Avery Wapp replaced Pratt in the top of the fourth inning with the bases loaded and needed just three pitches to end the Braves threat as Wapp struck out Bradley's Kierston McCoy to keep the Braves at one run for the inning. Lindenwood finished game two with 10 hits and were led by Hatton, who went 3-3 with a home run and two singles and pushed her batting average up to .322 on the season.

AUSTIN PEAY 9, TENNESSEE TECH 6
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay surged out to a big lead early, but the Tennessee Tech softball team made a run in the late innings to get back within reach. The Golden Eagles made it close, but the Governors escaped with a 9-6 victory on Wednesday.

Tech (6-18) returns to action on Saturday as it hosts Lindenwood in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series this weekend.

Ashley Capelouto continued her offensive production as she went 1-for-3 at the plate with a three-run home run to give her five home runs over the last week.

Emily York took the tough luck loss as she allowed four runs on three hits in the first two innings, striking out two. Lainey Fitzgerald faced two batters and gave up two runs before an injury ended her day. Addison Abell pitched the next three innings, allowing three runs – one earned – on four hits as she walked one and struck out two. Faith Rush threw the final two innings as she walked three and struck out two.

Mimi Blackledge earned the win in relief as she was the most effective after starter Emma Thompson did not go the required number of innings to qualify for the win. Blackledge claimed her first win of the season as she allowed an unearned run over the final 2 1/3 innings, yielding one hit and two walks.

Austin Peay scored first in the opening frame as Brie Howard hit a solo home run to left field. The Govs added on in the second as Ashlyn Graklanoff hit a two-run double to left center and Emilee Baker hit a single to almost the same spot to add a three-spot to the scoreboard.

In the third, Katie Raper extended the Austin Peay lead with a two-run home run to left field.

Tech put its first two runs on the board in the bottom of the third as Julie Martin and Skylar Gooden executed a double steal to perfection as Gooden swiped home on the plate. Olivia Evans walked, then a double play erased Martin at third, but Jailynn Paderez singled Evans home for the second run.

In the fourth, Baker laid down a bunt, but the throw to first sailed into the outfield, allowing both Baker and base runner Graklanoff to score on the play. The Govs then scored a run in the fifth inning as Nadia Glass picked up an RBI single.

Tech put three runs on the board in the fifth as Martin led off with a single, Paderez walked, then Capelouto hit a three-run blast to left center to make it a 9-5 game. The Golden Eagles kept the Govs scoreless in the sixth, then Tech added a run in the bottom half as Ella Wampler drove in Bella Ochoa with a single to center field.

Capelouto drew a four-pitch walk with one down in the bottom of the seventh, putting the game-tying run on deck, but a fielder's choice followed by a grounder to third ended the contest.

Baker and Graklanoff both led APSU (18-11) with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with Graklanoff and Raper each driving in two runs.

SAINT LOUIS 3, SIUE 0
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis defended his home field advantage Wednesday, defeating SIUE softball 3-0 at the Billiken Sports Center.

Saint Louis improved to 11-15 overall while the Cougars dropped to 13-14.

SIUE returns to Cougar Field this weekend for the resumption of Ohio Valley Conference play. The Cougars entertain Eastern Illinois for a three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader starts at noon and Sunday's single game also is set for noon.

The Cougars picked up hits from Ashley Duran, Betsy Woodward and Juztyne Torres. Woodward now has a seven-game hitting streak and has reached base in each of the last 11 games for SIUE.

Saint Louis scored the eventual game winner in the fourth inning on a Kate Proffitt sacrifice fly. The Billikens added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Isabel Royle, 5-5, went the distance for SLU and was the winning pitcher. Mia Volpert, also 5-5, tossed four innings and was credited with the loss.

KANSAS CITY 8, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0  (6)
KANSAS CITY - Western Illinois fell 8-0 against Kansas City on the road Wednesday afternoon, falling to 6-16 on the season.

The Leathernecks were limited to five hits in the contest, with Angie Ortiz, Kam Utendorf, Payton Brown, Maria Luna, and Alijah Williams each recording one. Ortiz, Brown, and Williams all tallied doubles, but Western Illinois was unable to push a run across.

Audrey Clark took the loss, allowing two unearned runs over three innings of work. The Leathernecks used three other pitchers in the contest with Kathryn McChristy, Lillie Wools, and Libby Spaulding all seeing time on the mound. 

Kansas City pulled away with multiple-run innings in the 4th and 5th.

EASTERN ILLINOIS 10, LIPSCOMB 5
NASHVILLE - Abbi Hatton broke a 4-4 tie with a bases clearing triple in the third as Eastern Illinois won its seventh straight game with a 10-5 win at Lipscomb on Wednesday night.

Hatton was 3-for-5 at the plate to finish as one of three Panthers with multiple hits in the game.  Chloe Wamboldt had three hits and Lizzie Stiverson added two hits.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning with Mo Hance driving in one run with a sacrifice fly followed by a Sophia Olman RBI.

In the bottom of the inning Lipscomb scored four unearned runs against EIU starter Karlie McKenzie.  After the first inning,  McKenzie tossed four scoreless innings to improve to 2-7 on the season finishing the game with five strikeouts.

Grace Lemke closed out the final two innings with the Bison scoring on a solo home run by Presley Rader in the bottom of the sixth after EIU extended its lead to 10-4 on a three-run homer by Viola Smith in the top of the inning.

Brooke Beam (3-7) took the loss for Lipscomb as the Bison fell to 7-20 on the season.  Radar had two of the three Lipscomb hits in the game.

EIU moved to 12-16 on the year.

CHATTANOOGA 9, TENNESSEE STATE 3
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State softball team returned home Wednesday evening for a midweek matchup against Chattanooga at Tiger Field. The Tigers fell 9-3 despite a late push in the middle innings.

Chelsi Ervin made her first start of the season, pitching 0.2 innings. Tianna Salcido entered in relief and worked 4.1 innings, recording two strikeouts while facing 20 batters. Miriam Gordon closed the game for the Tigers, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings in the circle.

Chattanooga jumped out early, scoring three runs in the opening inning and adding another in the second to take a 4-0 lead.

The Mocs continued to apply pressure, capitalizing on timely hitting and Tiger miscues to extend their advantage to 5-0 heading into the fifth inning.

Tennessee State found its spark in the bottom of the fifth. Courtney Richardson reached base and advanced into scoring position before Noelani Wilkerson dropped down a bunt single to put runners on. Jasmine Blackburn reached on a fielder's choice as two runs came across on Chattanooga errors, cutting the deficit to 5-2.

Moments later, Jace Jackson singled and both runners moved into scoring position. Kailyn Jean-Baptiste followed with an RBI groundout to bring the Tigers within two at 5-3.

Chattanooga responded in the top of the sixth with a decisive swing, using a grand slam to plate four runs and extend the lead to 9-3.

The Tigers were unable to generate another rally over the final two innings.

Tennessee State finished with three hits on the night. Blackburn, Jackson, and Wilkerson each recorded a hit, while the Tigers drew four walks and applied pressure on the basepaths with three stolen bases.