By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team rode a big three-hit, six-RBI afternoon from Avry Blume to take the series opener against Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon on the way to an early 9-1 sixth inning victory.
The Skyhawks (28-16, 13-7 OVC) opened their final homestand of the season on the right foot by scattering 12 hits across the six innings while using strong pitching to strand seven Governor base runners.
Four different players for UT Martin tallied multi-hit efforts led by Blume’s 3-for-4 performance, including a trio of two-RBI knocks to lead the team with six for the day. Kaitlyn Kelley also posted a three-hit afternoon while Kaci Fuller and Shyanne Sheffield continued their hot-hitting during league play with a pair of knocks each.
Starter Alexis Groet (11-7) earned her 11th victory of the season after pitching five shutout inning before exiting following a solo home run in the sixth. For the afternoon, Groet only allowed five balls to leave the infield while striking out one in five-plus inning of work. Katie Dreiling entered the game in a key situation in the sixth inning with two runners on and the tying run on deck before retiring the following three batters in order to earn her fourth save of the season – setting a new program single-season save record.
Austin Peay (26-21, 13-10 OVC) tallied six hits in the contest but received its lone run of the day on a solo home run by Lexi Osowski down the left field line. Morgan Zuege paced the team with two hits out of the nine-hole while Harley Mullins (9-6) was hit with the loss after allowing five earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.
The Skyhawks jumped on the board first with a run in the second inning. With two runners on base following a fielder’s choice and the first of three hit Skyhawks of the day, Maddi Long singled up the middle to score Kallie Pickens from second to take an early 1-0 lead.
The home squad added to lead in the third inning after back-to-back singles by Fuller and Sheffield led off the inning before a walk to Dreiling loaded the bases with two out. With a prime scoring opportunity at hand, Blume ripped the clutch single through the left side to score a pair and push their advantage out to three runs.
Another pair of singles led off a scoring inning in the fifth frame from the bats of Kelley and Pickens before the tandem both moved into scoring position on a deep fly. With runners on second and third, Blume went opposite field by ripping a single just inside the right field line to score the pair and give the Skyhawks a 5-0 lead.
The Governors finally got on the board in the sixth inning when Osowski – one of the league’s most potent bats – hammered a solo home run into the wind down the left field line for her 13th of the season. Following the home run, the Govs worked back-to-back walks to chase Groet from the game and bring in Dreiling in a tough situation. Much like she has all season, Dreiling rose to the challenge and used her defense to retire the next three batters in order and strand the pair in scoring position.
With the four-run lead intact, the Skyhawks looked for the final blow in the bottom of the sixth. The half inning began with Paige Clark being hit by a pitch before later scoring on an RBI single through the right side by Sheffield. The Skyhawks would ultimately load the bases to set up Dreiling who drove in a run with an RBI groundout for the team’s seventh run before Blume ended the game with a two-run double to left center which gave the home squad the necessary eight-run advantage.
The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team concluded the 2022 home slate and sent its seniors out with a victory in their final game at Bettye Giles Field on Sunday afternoon to secure the series victory over visiting Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay. After picking up a win in the series opener on Saturday, the Governors outlasted the Skyhawks in a grueling 10-innning heavy-weight bout in the first game of today’s doubleheader before the home team came back and picked up a 5-0 shutout victory in the series finale.
The Skyhawks (29-17, 14-8 OVC) honored the team’s five seniors Paige Clark, Erin Gallagher, Kenna Garst, Emily Gilstrap and Seeley Layne before the contest for their respective careers. With a nice crowd and great weather to celebrate the final game at Bettye Giles Field this season, UT Martin capped off the season with a commanding victory to close the home slate with a 14-2 record on its home turf in 2022.
UT Martin rattled off 15 hits in the doubleheader while tallying three doubles and a pair of home runs on the afternoon. Kaci Fuller led the Skyhawks with four singles on the day while Maddi Long and Shyanne Sheffield tallied three hits each – while also adding in a double. Paige Clark’s big hit on Senior Day came on a key game-tying two-run home run in Game 1 while also recording her 93rd career stolen base. Katie Dreiling also added to her team-leading home run total with a solo homer in the finale.
Gallagher earned the starting nod in Game 1 and pitched 7.2 innings while earning a no decision. Dreiling (1-4) suffered the loss after allowing two runs in the 10th running to score, ending her afternoon with 1.1 innings pitched. Layne also saw action in the opener, allowing one hit in an inning of work. Game 2 saw Alexis Groet (12-7) toss a gem, posting her sixth career shutout victory after striking out two and scattering five hits over seven scoreless innings of work.
Austin Peay (27-22, 14-11 OVC) tallied 20 hits in the two contests but struggled to capitalize with their baserunners as the Govs stranded 17 baserunners. Brooke Pfefferle broke the program’s all-time games played record on Sunday while leading the team with a three-hit day. Meanwhile, Mea Clark proved to carry the hot stick in the clutch with two RBIs – including the eventual game-winner in the 10th inning of Game 1. After a strong start from Jordan Benefiel in the opener, it was Harley Mullins (10-7) who earned both decisions with a win in the opener and a loss in the finale – allowing five earned runs in 6.1 innings.
Game 45: Austin Peay 5, UT Martin 3 (10 innings)
Austin Peay jumped on the board first with a pair of runs in the second inning. A leadoff walk to Pfefferle and a single by Kendyl Weinzapfel set up the frame before Mea Clark’s single to left scored the game’s first run. The Govs then added another on the following at bat on a sacrifice fly by Emily Harkleroad.
The score would remain the same until the bottom of the fifth when Long laced a double into right center and then came home to score on a two-run home run to left field by Paige Clark to tie the contest. The home run marked the sixth of her career and her 215th career hit to take sole possession of fourth place all-time in program history.
With the game heading into extra inning, the Govs put early pressure on the Skyhawks with a run in the top of the eighth inning. Pfefferle led off the eighth with a double to right center before being moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt. Austin Peay then took the lead on a sacrifice fly from Weinzapfel to take the 3-2 advantage.
The Skyhawks looked to mount a rally in the bottom half of the inning as Paige Clark draw a five-pitch walk and moved into scoring position by swiping her 93rd career steal. An infield hit by Sheffield put runners on the corners before Kaitlyn Kelley tied the game up with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
After escaping a bases loaded situation defensively in the bottom of the ninth, the Govs used that momentum in the top of the 10th to break the tie. Austin Peay scattered four consecutive hits to lead off the frame and take the 4-3 lead on a single by Mae Clark for the eventual game-winner. The visitors added one more run for insurance on a RBI-single by Morgan Zuege to tally the game’s final run at 5-3.
Game 46: UT Martin 5, Austin Peay 0
The Skyhawks looked to jump out early after a heartbreaking loss early in the day and did just that in the second inning. Following two quick outs, Dreiling hit an opposite field solo home run to left field to put the home team up 1-0.
The game remained a one-run margin until the fifth inning when UT Martin found some separation on the scoreboard. Emily Gilstrap led off the inning with an infield single before moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. The following play saw Fuller single to left field to score Gilstrap on the play before advancing into scoring position herself on the throw. The speedster’s time on second would be minimal as Sheffield drove in Fuller with a single to left center for the game’s third run.
UT Martin continued to stay aggressive in the fifth inning as a soft single by Kallie Pickens saw Sheffield catch the Govs off guard as she motored around third and slid into home for another run. Following a pitching change to the Game 1 starter, Dreiling picked up her second hit of the game – this time slashing a double into the left center gap for her second RBI of the day to bring the lead to 5-0.
With five runs behind her, Groet continued to dominate as she held the Govs hitless over the final three innings en route to a shutout victory.
UT Martin will now take off the next few days for finals before wrapping up the regular season with a three-game series at Tennessee State next weekend beginning on Saturday, May 7.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information