TUESDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 4,
@UT Martin 3 (10)
@Missouri State 8,
SIUE 2
@Illinois 8,
Western Illinois 0 (5)
MURRAY STATE 4, UT MARTIN 3 (10)
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team's early 3-0 lead was not enough Tuesday, as Murray State rallied past the Skyhawks, 4-3, in 10 innings at Bettye Giles Field in Martin.
The Skyhawks were first on the board in the game in the second when Teagan Hayes blasted her first collegiate home run over the wall in left-center. Later in the inning, Carly Ward doubled through the left side to bring home Kyla Harley, who reached on an error in the previous at-bat and then stole second. In the third, Avary Makarewicz led off the inning with a single and was eventually moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, before scoring on a wild pitch.
However, in the fourth, the Racers tied it up with a two-run homer from Bailey Broemmer and an RBI-single from Riley Jestadt. Neither team would score for the next five innings until Kenley Minor homered in the 10th to give Murray State the 4-3 advantage. Hayes and Ward both singled in the bottom of the 10th, but were unable to score, as the Racers held on for the extra-inning win.
Ward led UT Martin on the day with a career-high four hits, while Makarewicz, Hayes and Ava Scott each had two. Payton Hurst made her first collegiate hit count as she tallied a double, while Jordyn Hustey drew two walks. Ashtyn Green took the loss in the circle for the Skyhawks, despite only allowing one run on two hits with no walks and a strikeout over four complete innings.
MISSOURI STATE 8, SIUE 2
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Missouri State came back from a first-inning deficit to top SIUE softball 8-2 Tuesday at Killian Stadium.
SIUE, 15-23, jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning of the nonconference contest. After Juztyne Torres was hit by a pitch and Raegan Duncan drew a walk, Ashley Duran singled home Torres. Betsey Woodward jumped on an 0-2 pitch one out later to single home Duncan.
Missouri State, 17-20, would settle down on defense but the offense geared up in the third inning with a three-run rally behind a Halle Studer home run.
The Bears would plate four more runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth.
SIUE finished with four hits overall, including a season-high two from Elle van Breusegen.
ILLINOIS 8, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0 (5)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Western Illinois Softball (10-22, 5-9 OVC) fell in its stand alone matchup against Illinois Tuesday evening at Eichelberger Field.
The Leathernecks came out aggressive early with leadoff hitter Addie McLaughlin tripling to left field. Kam Utendorf and Payton Brown would both single in the following at bats but unfortunately were not able to come away with a run in the top of the 1st.
Illinois would go on to score in the 2nd inning on an RBI single with two outs from Alaina Miller. Illinois would add 2 more in the 2nd on an RBI single from Adisyn Caryl to lead 4-0.
Western held Illinois scoreless in 3 innings behind the pitching from Lillie Wools and Libby Spaudling. Illinois pulled away in the bottom of the 5th to ultimately come away with the win.