By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team returned to action on the opening day of the Saluki Invitational and split the team’s two contests, knocking off Butler (6-4) before falling in extra inning to host Southern Illinois (8-7).
The Skyhawks (4-8) jumped out to a big lead in both contests but had to score a pair of runs in the final inning of Game 1 to knock off Butler before ultimately falling on the road to Southern Illinois on the Salukis final at bat.
Junior Avry Blume paced the Skyhawks with three hits on the day – including a game-winning double against Butler for her two RBIs. The Skyhawks also saw the group of Anna Hazlewood, Kaci Fuller, Kaitlyn Kelley, Kiersten Nixon and Kallie Pickens pick up multiple base hits. One of the team’s biggest hits came off the bat of Pickens as she launched a grand slam against Southern Illinois.
In the pitcher circle, junior Katie Dreiling (1-1) picked up both decisions. Dreiling earned the victory after pitching in relief in Game 1 before being hit with the extra-innings loss in the second half of the twinbill after pitching six innings. Nixon also tossed 5.2 innings and six strikeouts as the starter in Game 1 while Brooklynn Linneman lasted 3.0 innings against Southern Illinois.
Game 11: UT Martin 6, Butler 4
UT Martin opened the game’s scoring in the top of the third inning. Kelley led off the inning with a single through the left side before moving into scoring position on a successful sacrifice bunt by Hazlewood. Two batters later, reigning OVC Player of the Week, Fuller put the Skyhawks on the board with a RBI-single up the middle to score Kelley from second.
The Skyhawks struck for another run in the top of the fourth as Nixon cranked her first home run in a UT Martin uniform with a solo shot to give the squad a two-run advantage.
Nixon added to her strong game in the top of the sixth inning with another RBI. After Blume led off the frame with a five-pitch walk, the outfielder stayed in motion and ultimately came into score on a double into the left center gap to pad the team’s margin. The Skyhawks then added another run on a sacrifice fly by Maddi Long to score pinch runner Anna Blanton and take a four-run lead.
Butler finally broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the sixth inning after a leadoff walk led to a big inning. Monique Hoosen drew a five-pitch walk to open the scoring inning before advancing to second on a passed ball and coming home on a single by Ella White to get the Bulldogs on the board. The squad kept their foot on the gas pedal with a two-run double by Sydney Carter to trim the deficit to one run before Mackenzie Griman tied up the contest with a single to left field to knot the game at 4-4.
UT Martin responded in the top of the seventh as Hazlewood started the rally with a double to left center before later being joined on the basepaths by Fuller following an intentional walk. With two outs on the board and a pair of runners on base, Blume stroked a double into the left center gap to clear the bases and give the Skyhawks a 6-4 lead and ultimately the victory.
Game 12: Southern Illinois 7, UT Martin 6 (Eight innings)
UT Martin got off to a hot start in Game 2 by scoring five runs in the opening inning. The Skyhawks got their inning started with a one-out double by Blume before Nixon walked to put a pair of runners on. The squad then got on the board with a RBI by Annie Gutierrez before the Skyhawks drew another walk to load the bases. With the bags juiced, Pickens blasted a grand slam to give the Skyhawks a five-run advantage after the opening half inning.
Southern Illinois came right back in the bottom half of the inning and took a big bite out of the deficit courtesy of a three-run home run by Rylie Hamilton following a walk and a single to set up the scoring opportunity.
After the big first inning, the score would remain the same until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Salukis chipped away a little more at the deficit. Bailey Caylor led off the inning with a pinch-hit single before later coming around to score on a RBI by Warwick.
The Salukis completed their comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning after a leadoff double by Hamilton was followed up by an RBI-single from Addi Baker later in the frame to tie the game at 5-5.
With the game moving to extra innings and a runner place on second base, the Skyhawks looked to take advantage and did just that as a single by Dreiling scored Hazlewood from third and gave the visitors a one-run lead heading to the bottom of the eight.
Down to their final three outs for the second time on the night, SIU would not go quietly. The Skyhawks would get two outs on the board while the Salukis had a pair of runners in scoring position, but SIU came away with the big hit as Jackie Lis ended the game with a walk-off double to right center to steal away the 7-6 victory.
The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team wrapped up its stay at the Saluki Invitational with a late inning 5-4 victory over Loyola on Sunday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (5-8) won two of three contests in the Saluki Invitational after scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come away with a one-run win over Loyola in the tournament finale. The squad hammered out 10 hits on the afternoon while receiving a solid pitching performance.
Junior Kiersten Nixon paced the team with a 3-for-4 afternoon while Kaci Fuller, Kallie Pickens and Katie Dreiling also had multi-hit performances. Dreiling paced the team with a two-run double while Pickens and Avry Blume also had RBIs.
In the pitching circle, Nixon scattered three hits over 2.0 innings of work as the starter. Coming in relief, freshman Ashtyn Green (1-0) picked up her first collegiate victory after tossing five innings.
Loyola (4-14) got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second inning. After the first two batters of the inning reach, Tori Boysen put the Ramblers on the board with a single to right field. Then later in the frame, a double steal by Boysen and Madison Ebeling gave Loyola a 2-0 advantage.
The Skyhawks joined in on the scoring action in the bottom half of the inning. Dreiling led it off with a single up the middle before Anna Hazlewood joined her on basepaths by drawing a walk while the pair moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. With a strong opportunity at hand, Kyrsten Brown made the most of the chance with an RBI to cut the margin in half.
UT Martin later took its first lead of the game in the third inning as Dreiling doubled to left field and scored Kaitlyn Kelley and Nixon on the play to take a 3-2 advantage.
Loyola struck back in the sixth inning and ultimately took the led of back-to-back plays. Much like in the second inning, the Ramblers used a double steal of second and home to put a run on the board as Sophia Remsik and Jocelyn Currie completed the trickery. Then on the following play, Hannah Nalley doubled to left center to retake the lead by one run.
After falling behind once again, UT Martin wasted no time getting back on top in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs on the board, Fuller slapped a double into left field and came home to score on the next play via an RBI by Blume to tie the game. Still needing to find the go-ahead run, Pickens tallied her second hit of the game for an RBI which scored the contest’s deciding run.
UT Martin’s contest against Alabama A&M scheduled for Tuesday, March 7 has been canceled. The Skyhawks are still looking for a mid-week opponent but will open Ohio Valley Conference play beginning Saturday, March 11.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information