BLUME’S SIX-RBI DAY LIFTS SKYHAWKS TO 9-1 VICTORY OVER AUSTIN PEAY IN SERIES OPENER

Saturday, April 30

Martin, Tenn.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

28-16, 13-7

Austin Peay

26-21, 13-10

Austin Peay

UT Martin

BLUME’S SIX-RBI DAY LIFTS SKYHAWKS TO 9-1 VICTORY OVER AUSTIN PEAY IN SERIES OPENER

4/30/2022 5:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Stats PDF

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 11^th 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 13^th 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.

UT Martin will conclude the home portion of the schedule with Senior Day on Sunday, May 1 against Austin Peay. Pregame festivities are scheduled for 12:45 p.m. with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.