Friday, May 7
Cookeville, Tenn.
5 p.m.
UT Martin
26-18, 0
2
at
1
Tennessee Tech
18-29, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UT Martin
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
3
1
Tennessee Tech
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
2
SKYHAWK SOFTBALL SCRATCHES OUT 2-1 WIN IN SERIES OPENER AGAINST TENNESSEE TECH
5/7/2021 7:46:00 PM | Softball
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team went on the road and scratched out a 2-1 win to begin the final series of the season against Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech on Friday evening.
The Skyhawks (26-18, 15-14 OVC) picked up a strong pitching performance in the circle while capitalizing on some defensive miscues to snap the team's losing skid and begin the three-game series on the right foot with a victory.
UT Martin was limited to just three hits on the afternoon but made the most of its scoring opportunities by playing small ball with three sacrifice hits. The Skyhawks also made the Golden Eagles pay for their two errors on the afternoon with both leading to runs.
While runs were at a premium, a big reason for that was the effort of today's starting pitcher Alexis Groet who picked up her 13th win of the season after tossing her fifth complete game while striking out six, allowing three hits and zero earned runs on the day.
Three different players reached the hit column for the Skyhawks. Kaitlyn Kelley, Kaci Fuller and Kalli Pickens each recorded base hits on the day while Aalia Bivens performed unselfishly by laying down a pair of sacrifice bunts.
Tennessee Tech (18-29, 12-19 OVC) was able to get onto the scoreboard first in the contest, tallying a run in the bottom of the third inning. The Skyhawks would nearly escape the inning without any damage after a pop up and a fielder's choice, but a fielding error on the infield began a recurring theme in the game, allowing the Golden Eagles to score an unearned run and take a 1-0 advantage.
UT Martin struck back in the top of the fifth inning to tie up the contest as Fuller led off the frame with an infield single. Bivens then moved the speedster into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Bryleigh Carneal drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Similar to the play that got Tech on the board, a two-out error allowed the lead runner to score from second base off the bat of Macey Neal to knot the game at one run each.
The game's third error proved costly as well but to the benefit of the Skyhawks in the top of the sixth inning. Kelley tallied the team's lone hit of the inning with a single into center before being pulled for pinch runner Emily Alexander who advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. On the following at-bat, Maddi Long put down a sacrifice to third base to move Alexander over before she came home on the same play on a fielding error to score the eventual game-winning run.
The Golden Eagles threatened with a scoring chance in the bottom of the seventh after Sydney Love-Baker started the frame with a single down the right field line. After being pulled for a pinch runner, Tech would push its potential game-tying run over to third before Groet clinched the victory with a strikeout to strand the runner.
UT Martin will close out the series and its season with a doubleheader tomorrow against Tennessee Tech. Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 2 p.m.
The Skyhawks (26-18, 15-14 OVC) picked up a strong pitching performance in the circle while capitalizing on some defensive miscues to snap the team's losing skid and begin the three-game series on the right foot with a victory.
UT Martin was limited to just three hits on the afternoon but made the most of its scoring opportunities by playing small ball with three sacrifice hits. The Skyhawks also made the Golden Eagles pay for their two errors on the afternoon with both leading to runs.
While runs were at a premium, a big reason for that was the effort of today's starting pitcher Alexis Groet who picked up her 13th win of the season after tossing her fifth complete game while striking out six, allowing three hits and zero earned runs on the day.
Three different players reached the hit column for the Skyhawks. Kaitlyn Kelley, Kaci Fuller and Kalli Pickens each recorded base hits on the day while Aalia Bivens performed unselfishly by laying down a pair of sacrifice bunts.
Tennessee Tech (18-29, 12-19 OVC) was able to get onto the scoreboard first in the contest, tallying a run in the bottom of the third inning. The Skyhawks would nearly escape the inning without any damage after a pop up and a fielder's choice, but a fielding error on the infield began a recurring theme in the game, allowing the Golden Eagles to score an unearned run and take a 1-0 advantage.
UT Martin struck back in the top of the fifth inning to tie up the contest as Fuller led off the frame with an infield single. Bivens then moved the speedster into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Bryleigh Carneal drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Similar to the play that got Tech on the board, a two-out error allowed the lead runner to score from second base off the bat of Macey Neal to knot the game at one run each.
The game's third error proved costly as well but to the benefit of the Skyhawks in the top of the sixth inning. Kelley tallied the team's lone hit of the inning with a single into center before being pulled for pinch runner Emily Alexander who advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. On the following at-bat, Maddi Long put down a sacrifice to third base to move Alexander over before she came home on the same play on a fielding error to score the eventual game-winning run.
The Golden Eagles threatened with a scoring chance in the bottom of the seventh after Sydney Love-Baker started the frame with a single down the right field line. After being pulled for a pinch runner, Tech would push its potential game-tying run over to third before Groet clinched the victory with a strikeout to strand the runner.
UT Martin will close out the series and its season with a doubleheader tomorrow against Tennessee Tech. Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Groet, Alexis (13-6)
L: ARDEN,Alyssa (9-15)
Batting:
SH: Long, Maddi 1 ; Bivens, Aalia 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Alexander, Emily 1 ; Fuller, Kaci 1
Batting:
SH: LEWIS,Raleigh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FITZGERALD,Mackenzi 1
SB: FITZGERALD,Mackenzi 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
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