Saturday, February 25
Madeira Beach, Fla.
10 am
UT Martin
1-7
2
vs
3
Oakland
1-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
UT Martin
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
5
0
Oakland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
4
2
SKYHAWKS EXPLODE FOR 12 RUNS IN SHUTOUT VICTORY TO HIGHLIGHT DAY TWO OF SPRING GAMES
2/25/2023 10:30:00 PM | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball program boasted one of its best games of the season in a 12-0 shutout victory against Valparaiso on Day Two of The Spring Games. Along with the impressive shutout, the Skyhawks suffered an extra-inning loss to Oakland by a final score of 3-2.
The Skyhawks (2-7) snapped a seven-game losing streak with a dominating performance against Valparaiso. The squad's offense had a big day while boasting a .345 batting average with three home runs and 14 RBIs in the twinbill. Meanwhile in the pitcher's circle, three Skyhawks combined to post a 1.11 ERA and hold opponents to a .100 batting average in 12.2 innings of work.
Junior Kaci Fuller was impressive once again for the Skyhawks as she went 7-for-8 at the plate with a double, two home runs and six RBIs on the day. Fellow junior Maddi Long also had a big day by going 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Meanwhile, freshman Kyrsten Brown recorded the first home run of her career while driving in two runs.
In total, six players tallied multiple base hits for the day, while Avry Blume went 3-for-7 at the dish. Joining in the action was Kallie Pickens and Annie Gutierrez with two hits each while Anna Blanton and Kiersten Nixon also had RBIs.
Junior newcomer Brooklynn Linneman picked up the first win and shutout of her Skyhawk career by pitching five scoreless innings. Along with tallying four strikeouts, Linneman allowed just one hit which came in the top of the fifth inning. Nixon also had a nice day in the circle where she pitched 7.1 strong innings while recording a no-hitter through the first six innings before ultimately being hit with the loss in an extra-innings affair.
Game 8: Oakland 3, UT Martin 2 (Eight innings)
The first game of the day proved to be a pitchers duel as UT Martin held Oakland hitless for the first six innings of the contest while the Skyhawks were limited to just four hits as well. With the game still locked in a scoreless tie through seven innings, the contest went to extra innings.
Once the game got into extra innings, the international tie-breaker went into effect with Pickens being placed on second with no outs for the Skyhawks. With a prime scoring opportunity at hand, Fuller laced a double into left center which allowed Pickens to come in to score the game's first run in the eighth. Then two batters later, the Skyhawks added another run as Fuller came home to score on a fielder's choice to take a 2-0 advantage into the bottom half of the inning.
After being held in check all game, Oakland broke through in the bottom of the eighth to steal the game away. Following the placed runner and a hit by pitch, a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position for Grizzlies. Looking to jump on the board themselves, Jen Krizka singled to right center to tie the game up. Following another single to put two runners on, Oakland came through once again, this time on a two-out single up the middle by Maci Brown to walk-off with a 3-2 victory.
Game 9: UT Martin 12, Valparaiso 0 (Five innings)
Having been the recipient of several bad breaks over the last few games, the Skyhawks looked to snap out of their funk against Valparaiso. UT Martin struck first in the contest as Fuller kicked off her 4-for-4 performance against the Beacons with a solo home run in the bottom of the first innings.
The Skyhawks added their second run of the contest in the bottom of the second on yet another solo home run, this time from Kyrsten Brown to left field. The blast marked the first of her collegiate career.
Another run came home for the Skyhawks in the third inning as Long led off the frame with a double to left field before moving over to third on a passed ball. With the run sitting just 60 feet away, Pickens singled up the middle to drive in the team's third of the game.
The fourth inning proved to be the big inning as the Skyhawks took out all of their frustrations on the ball by scoring nine runs on nine hits. Fuller had a big inning as she led off the frame with a single to left center to kick-start the scoring bonanza. Then back-to-back singles – including a rip through the left side by Nixon scored Fuller on the play. A few batters later, Long tallied her second double of the game to clear the bases and bring two teammates in to score. Both Gutierrez and Brown would register RBI-singles of their own before Fuller bookended the inning with a grand slam to give the Skyhawks a 12-0 advantage.
Meanwhile in the pitcher's circle, Linneman was electric by holding the Beacons out of the hit column through the first 4.2 innings of work. Despite giving up a late hit to spoil a no-hitter, Linneman cashed in her shutout with a five-inning victory.
UT Martin will close out its stay at The Spring Games with one final matchup against Siena on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m.
The Skyhawks (2-7) snapped a seven-game losing streak with a dominating performance against Valparaiso. The squad's offense had a big day while boasting a .345 batting average with three home runs and 14 RBIs in the twinbill. Meanwhile in the pitcher's circle, three Skyhawks combined to post a 1.11 ERA and hold opponents to a .100 batting average in 12.2 innings of work.
Junior Kaci Fuller was impressive once again for the Skyhawks as she went 7-for-8 at the plate with a double, two home runs and six RBIs on the day. Fellow junior Maddi Long also had a big day by going 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Meanwhile, freshman Kyrsten Brown recorded the first home run of her career while driving in two runs.
In total, six players tallied multiple base hits for the day, while Avry Blume went 3-for-7 at the dish. Joining in the action was Kallie Pickens and Annie Gutierrez with two hits each while Anna Blanton and Kiersten Nixon also had RBIs.
Junior newcomer Brooklynn Linneman picked up the first win and shutout of her Skyhawk career by pitching five scoreless innings. Along with tallying four strikeouts, Linneman allowed just one hit which came in the top of the fifth inning. Nixon also had a nice day in the circle where she pitched 7.1 strong innings while recording a no-hitter through the first six innings before ultimately being hit with the loss in an extra-innings affair.
Game 8: Oakland 3, UT Martin 2 (Eight innings)
The first game of the day proved to be a pitchers duel as UT Martin held Oakland hitless for the first six innings of the contest while the Skyhawks were limited to just four hits as well. With the game still locked in a scoreless tie through seven innings, the contest went to extra innings.
Once the game got into extra innings, the international tie-breaker went into effect with Pickens being placed on second with no outs for the Skyhawks. With a prime scoring opportunity at hand, Fuller laced a double into left center which allowed Pickens to come in to score the game's first run in the eighth. Then two batters later, the Skyhawks added another run as Fuller came home to score on a fielder's choice to take a 2-0 advantage into the bottom half of the inning.
After being held in check all game, Oakland broke through in the bottom of the eighth to steal the game away. Following the placed runner and a hit by pitch, a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position for Grizzlies. Looking to jump on the board themselves, Jen Krizka singled to right center to tie the game up. Following another single to put two runners on, Oakland came through once again, this time on a two-out single up the middle by Maci Brown to walk-off with a 3-2 victory.
Game 9: UT Martin 12, Valparaiso 0 (Five innings)
Having been the recipient of several bad breaks over the last few games, the Skyhawks looked to snap out of their funk against Valparaiso. UT Martin struck first in the contest as Fuller kicked off her 4-for-4 performance against the Beacons with a solo home run in the bottom of the first innings.
The Skyhawks added their second run of the contest in the bottom of the second on yet another solo home run, this time from Kyrsten Brown to left field. The blast marked the first of her collegiate career.
Another run came home for the Skyhawks in the third inning as Long led off the frame with a double to left field before moving over to third on a passed ball. With the run sitting just 60 feet away, Pickens singled up the middle to drive in the team's third of the game.
The fourth inning proved to be the big inning as the Skyhawks took out all of their frustrations on the ball by scoring nine runs on nine hits. Fuller had a big inning as she led off the frame with a single to left center to kick-start the scoring bonanza. Then back-to-back singles – including a rip through the left side by Nixon scored Fuller on the play. A few batters later, Long tallied her second double of the game to clear the bases and bring two teammates in to score. Both Gutierrez and Brown would register RBI-singles of their own before Fuller bookended the inning with a grand slam to give the Skyhawks a 12-0 advantage.
Meanwhile in the pitcher's circle, Linneman was electric by holding the Beacons out of the hit column through the first 4.2 innings of work. Despite giving up a late hit to spoil a no-hitter, Linneman cashed in her shutout with a five-inning victory.
UT Martin will close out its stay at The Spring Games with one final matchup against Siena on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sydney Campbell (1-0)
L: Nixon, Kiersten (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Fuller, Kaci 1
RBI: Fuller, Kaci 1 ; Nixon, Kiersten 1
SH: Blume, Avry 1 ; Nixon, Kiersten 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fuller, Kaci 1 ; Pickens, Kallie 1
Batting:
RBI: Jen Krizka 2 ; Maci Brown 1
SH: Maci Brown 1 ; Leah Bieniewicz 1 ; Makayla Jauregui 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reese Ruhlman 1 ; Madi Herrington 1 ; Jen Krizka 1
SB: Kamryn Troyer 1 ; Leah Bieniewicz 1
HBP: Madi Herrington 1 ; Leah Bieniewicz 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
lf/rf
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballOF/C
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF/P
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballSkyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 33
Monday, April 21
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 30
Thursday, April 10
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 27
Thursday, April 10
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 24
Thursday, April 10