Ohio Valley Conference

MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team took both games of a doubleheader to open a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with Western Illinois Saturday at Bettye Giles Field. The Skyhawks shut out the Leathernecks in game one, 2-0, and then scored seven unanswered for the 7-1 win in game two.

The Skyhawks needed just one run to take down the Leathernecks in the opener, but they came up with two, both in the third inning. Kennedy Brown began the inning with a single, stole second, moved to third on wild pitch and then stole home on a double steal with Dylan Scott. Later in the inning, Avary Makarewicz scored Karena Recrosio, who reached on a single, on a sacrifice fly to cap UT Martin's scoring at two.

Ashtyn Green and Natalie Kreuziger combined for the shutout with Green getting the win and Kreuziger earning a save. Green allowed no runs on four hits with three strikeouts in the first five innings, while Kreuziger tossed two hitless, scoreless innings to close out the game.

Kennedy Brown led UT Martin in game one by going 2-for-3 with one run scored, while Karena Recrosio and Kyrsten Brown had the other two hits for the Skyhawks.

In game two, Maria Luna put Western Illinois on top in the second when she hit her third home run of the season over the right centerfield wall.

It took two innings for the Skyhawks to answer, but they answered in a big way in the fourth by scoring five runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Ava Scott hit an infield single that scored two runs, followed by a walk from Jordyn Hustey, which allowed Makarewicz to score on a wild pitch. In the next at-bat, Kyrsten Brown drove in two runs on a bunt single.

In the sixth, the Skyhawks tacked on two more runs on another sacrifice fly from Makarewicz and an RBI-double from Kyrsten Brown. The two runs capped seven unanswered by UT Martin, giving them the win.

Kyrsten Brown was 2-for-3 in the game with three RBIs and a double, while Ava Scott was also 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Kyla Harley scored twice and had a triple, while Kennedy Brown was also 2-for-3.

Payton Harris picked up the win in a 4.2-inning relief effort in which she allowed no runs on just two hits with one strikeout and no walks.

MOREHEAD STATE 4, TENNESSEE STATE 1
TENNESSEE STATE 7, MOREHEAD STATE 3
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Tennessee State softball team opened Ohio Valley Conference road play Saturday with a split against Morehead State, dropping game one, 4-1, before earning a 7-3 victory in game two to secure its first win of the season and even the three-game series.

Miriam Gordon got the start in the circle, pitching 3.2 innings while allowing four runs on five hits. Chelsi Ervin provided relief, closing out the contest with 2.1 scoreless innings.

Kailyn Jean-Baptiste and Jace Jackson anchored the defensive effort, combining for 11 putouts. Hailey Hunt led the Tigers offensively with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while Alexis Woods drove in TSU's lone run.

Morehead State struck first, plating two runs in both the third and fourth innings. Tennessee State answered in the top of the sixth after Jackson worked a leadoff walk and later came around to score on timely execution from Hunt and Woods. The Eagles, however, secured the final six outs to claim the opener.

Tianna Salcido got the start in the circle, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits. Courtney Richardson entered with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, securing the Tigers' first win of the season with 11 swift outs.

JaKeyla McDaniel and Kyra Taylor powered the offense in game two. McDaniel had her best outing of the season, going 3-for-4, including an RBI triple and a run scored. Taylor used a well-timed double to right-center and a single to the pitcher to keep the Tigers rolling.

Jace Jackson broke up three scoreless innings with a four-pitch walk. A stolen base and sacrifice fly allowed Jackson to reach third base before a passed ball allowed her to score, giving TSU a 1-0 lead with one out. Kailyn Jean-Baptiste followed with a single to right field. A well-timed bunt by Alexis Woods, paired with a Morehead State wild pitch and error, added another run for the Tigers. Kyra Taylor kept the rally going with a double to right-center field, scoring Woods. A single by Mariyah Brown and a tricky triple by McDaniel made it 6-0 before Morehead State collected the final two outs.

The Eagles responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and one in the bottom of the sixth.

Jackson continued in dominant fashion with a seventh-inning leadoff double down the left-field line, followed by a Hailey Hunt off-the-wall double to add some insurance. Courtney Richardson pitched an incredible bottom of the seventh, ending the Tigers' losing streak and earning her first collegiate win.

TENNESSEE TECH 4, SOUTHERN INDIANA 3
SOUTHERN INDIANA 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech took a split against Southern Indiana on Saturday as the Golden Eagles had timely hitting in game one to take a 4-3 victory over the Screaming Eagles, but USI was able to take a 3-0 victory in the nightcap.

The series finale is set for Sunday at Noon. Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field is free to the public.

Faith Rush improved to 3-1 on the season as she earned the victory in relief, throwing the final three innings with two hits and a walk, while she struck out four. Addison Abell allowed three runs on six hits over four innings, walking two.

Elly Robbins was charged with the loss in her two-thirds of an inning, allowing Tech's go ahead run on a walk and a hit. Starter Kylie Witthaus threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three.

Tech (14-23, 11-6 OVC) scored its first run in the bottom of the first as Ashley Capelouto hit a single to left field as the outfielder collided with the wall. The play allowed Olivia Evans to score, while the resulting error allowed Sofia Carroll to go from first to third.

Southern Indiana (12-22, 9-8 OVC) tied the game on Alyssa Mumaw's sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Lilly Brown in the third, then scored two more in the fourth as Brown singled home Grace Huffman and Caroline Stapleton doubled in Jordan Mackey. Brown attempted to score, but was gunned down on a 9-6-5-2 relay to the plate.

The Golden Eagles retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Jayla Miller scored on a wild pitch, Makayli Harris drove in Capelouto with a single down the right field line, then a fielder's choice on Bishop's grounder to second allowed Abbee Klinefelter to put Tech on top.

In game two, it was a pitcher's duel between USI's Anna Kemp and Tech's Emily York as the two hurlers went the distance. Kemp earned the victory, shutting out the Golden Eagles with five hits, a walk and three strikeouts. York yielded three runs – two earned – on eight hits with five strikeouts.

All the runs were scored early as Mumaw drove in Katelyn Marx with a single and an error in left field. Mumaw drove in the second run in the third with a single to left center, then Kate Satkoski hit a liner up the middle to drive in Mumaw for the final run.

SIUE 8, LINDENWOOD 4
SIUE 5, LINDENWOOD 4   (9)
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - SIUE softball captured a pair of road victories Saturday over Lindenwood.

The Cougars, 17-23 overall and 10-7 in the OVC, defeated the Lions 8-4 in game one and 5-4 in nine innings during the nightcap. The two teams play one more game in the series Sunday at the Lou Brock Sports Complex. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

SIUE used the big inning in game one, rallying for six runs in the fifth inning. After Ashley Duran recorded a sacrifice fly and Jesslyn Stairs and Betsy Woodward each singled home a run, Gretchen Trello blasted a three-run homer.

It was Trello's first home run as a Cougar and gave the Cougars a six-run lead.

Avery Arwood, 5-5, collected the win for the Cougars in 4 1/3 innings of work.

In game two, the sixth inning was a big inning for both teams.

SIUE scored four times in the sixth. This time it was Trello recorded three RBIs on a bases-loaded triple.

Lindenwood, now 19-20 overall and 8-9 in the OVC, would tie the game up with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on RBI singles by Danielle Franz and Teryn Brown.

Both teams were scoreless in the eighth inning, but the Cougars broke through in the ninth. With the bases loaded, Juztyne Torres put the ball in play to the right side. Lindenwood's Tori Hatton committed an error that allowed Elle van Breusegen to score from third.

Haley Strain threw the final three innings for the Cougars to collect her first collegiate victory. She did not allow a run and yielded just one hit in the circle.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 8
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (14-22, 10-6) swept Ohio Valley Conference leader Eastern Illinois (21-20, 13-3) in a doubleheader with a pair of one-run victories, 9-8, 4-3, Saturday at the Southeast Softball Complex.
 
SEMO claimed the series win and handed EIU its first series loss of the season.
 
The Redhawks scored two unearned runs on a two-out error by shortstop Chloe Wamboldt to walk off with a 9-8 come-from-behind win in game one.
 
Aubrie Shore singled to start the bottom of the seventh inning and Kaylin Yamnitz stole second after entering the game as a pinch runner for Shore. Gracie Luna delivered a one-out single and Sydney Miles knocked in Yamnitz on a base hit. 
 
After Sophie Schupp advanced pinch-runner Abby Robbins to third and Miles to second, Lily Delmain was safe at first after Wamboldt's throw got away from her. Manau and Robbins scored on the play giving the Redhawks the victory.
 
SEMO trailed, 7-1, when it scored eight runs in the final three innings to edge the Panthers.
 
Brittany Affolter drove in Delmain on a sacrifice fly and Kamden Hutton scored on a groundout sparking SEMO's late-inning comeback.
 
The Redhawks then added three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.
 
In the sixth, Hutton singled through the right side to score both Madison Winkler and Miles. Delmain also touched home on an error.
 
EIU committed four of its five errors in the game during the last two innings of play.
 
SEMO outhit EIU, 11-10, with Hutton going 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI to lead the way. Luna, Miles and Delmain followed with two hits apiece. Additionally, Delmain finished with three runs scored.
 
Abbi Hatton went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and five RBI to pace the Panthers.
 
Maddie Carney (4-9) picked up the win. Carney gave up three runs on five hits, walked one and struck out four in four innings.
 
Bryanna French (7-6) took the loss in relief. French allowed four hits, six runs, walked two and struck out two in two innings. Three of French's runs were unearned.
 
In the nightcap, SEMO took a two-run lead on a home run by Raigan Brannon in the bottom of the second inning. For Brannon, it marked her second homer of the season.
 
EIU countered with three runs of its own in the top of the third.
 
Lizzie Stiverson doubled down the left field line and Marybeth Dyson scored. Alisha Frederick followed with a two-RBI hit to put the Panthers ahead, 3-2.
 
The Redhawks quickly regained the lead during their at-bat in the bottom of the third. Shore ripped a two-out single up the middle bringing home Hutton and Winkler to make it a 4-3 ballgame.
 
Shore's big two-out hit was the difference as neither team scored the rest of the way.
 
Freshman Summer Branch (3-2) earned the win in relief and Willow Van Haren nailed down her first save.
 
Van Haren threw four scoreless one-hit innings. She also walked three and got a huge strikeout against Panthers' cleanup hitter Hatton to end the game.
 
Rylan Gick (8-4) suffered the loss. Gick worked 3.2 innings giving up four runs on six hits.
 
SEMO outhit EIU, 7-3, with Shore going 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI and Brannon going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI.