By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a first-time matchup against new Ohio Valley Conference member Southern Indiana, the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team dropped Game 1 of the team’s three-game road series by a final score of 6-4.
The Skyhawks (11-15, 4-5 OVC) used the longball to try and comeback from an early lead to tie the contest in the sixth inning, but the Screaming Eagles would not be stopped on the way to the OVC victory.
UT Martin was limited to three hits on the afternoon but scored four runs courtesy of a big home runs. Avry Blume returned to the Skyhawk lineup and made an immediate impact with a two-run home run while Katie Dreiling also added a solo blast to tally the team’s third RBI of the contest.
While Kiersten Nixon started the contest and allowed three runs in the opening two innings, Dreiling (6-4) was hit with the loss after giving up two runs in the four innings of relief.
Southern Indiana (11-14, 5-4 OVC) was anchored by Josie Newman who tossed a complete game and allowed just one earned run in the circle while striking out 10. Meanwhile in the batter’s box, Allie Goodin had a big day with three hits and four RBIs to pace the home squad.
The Screaming Eagles struck first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Goodin got the scoring started with a two-run double on the third at-bat for the home squad. USI then added to its margin later in the inning as a throwing error scored the game’s third run.
USI later added another run to take a four-run advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice RBI off the bat of Jordan Rager.
UT Martin got on the board in the top of the fourth inning as Maddi Long reached base courtesy of an error which allowed Kaitlyn Kelley to come into score from second base. With the inning continued following the error, Blume turned on a 2-1 pitch and sailed it over the left field wall to trim the margin to 4-3.
The Skyhawks fought back to tie the contest in the top of the sixth inning when Dreiling hit an opposite field home run to bring the score to 4-4.
The tie would be short-lived however as another big two-run base knock by Goodin proved to be the game-winning runs for USI in the bottom of the sixth.
The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team went on the road and split a doubleheader at Ohio Valley Conference foe Southern Indiana on Sunday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (12-16, 5-6 OVC) dropped the OVC series despite winning the middle game of the series by a 5-0 margin. Southern Indiana came out on top in the rubber match to win the series with an 8-2 decision in the finale.
UT Martin strung together 13 hits in the doubleheader while notching four extra base hits and seven RBIs. Kaitlyn Kelley led the team by going 3-for-6 at the dish, including a solo home run which marked the 30th of her career, moving her into sole possession of third place in program history. Four other Skyhawks tallied multiple base hits with Brooklynn Linneman, Kallie Pickens, Katie Dreiling and Maddi Long joining the list. Meanwhile, freshman Jordyn Hustey smacked a three-run home run.
Four players pitched in the circle for the Skyhawks while Linneman stole the show with her third shutout of the season. Linneman ended the day by pitching 9.0 innings while allowing just one run in two appearances.
Game 27: UT Martin 5, Southern Indiana 0
UT Martin jumped onto the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning after a leadoff single by Dreiling was followed up by an RBI double into right field to take the lead. Then later in the frame, Annie Gutierrez scored Long on a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 advantage.
Looking for a little breathing room, the Skyhawks added to their margin in the top of the sixth inning as Hustey hit her second home run in the last two weeks with a three-run blast to left field to take a five-run advantage.
While the Screaming Eagles scattered six hits throughout the contest, Linneman kept USI off the board to secure her third shutout of the campaign.
Game 28: Southern Indiana 8, UT Martin 2
After being held scoreless in the first contest of the doubleheader, Southern Indiana jumped out to a quick advantage with two runs in the bottom of the first off a fielder’s choice off the bat of Lexi Fair and a RBI-single from Rachel Martinez.
Yesterday’s hero Allie Goodin continued her strong weekend with a RBI single to right field to stretch the home team’s margin out to three runs.
The Skyhawks got on the board in the top of the fourth inning on a solo shot by Kelley to trim the deficit down to two runs.
USI added two more runs to its total in the fourth inning on another sacrifice fly by Fair and a throwing error to take a 5-1 advantage. The squad then added three more runs on RBIs by Mackenzie Bedrick and Goodin to push the Screaming Eagles advantage out to seven runs.
The Skyhawks scored the game’s final run in the top of the sixth inning when Pickens singled through the left side to score Avry Blume on the play.
UT Martin will return to action with a mid-week non-conference matchup at Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss on Tuesday, March 4. First pitch from Oxford, Miss. is slated for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information