UT MARTIN SOFTBALL OPENS FINAL HOMESTAND WITH STRONG 8-3 WIN OVER LINDENWOOD

Saturday, April 22

Martin, Tenn.

3 pm

UT Martin

18-19, 11-7

Lindenwood

13-25, 5-10

Lindenwood

UT Martin

UT MARTIN SOFTBALL OPENS FINAL HOMESTAND WITH STRONG 8-3 WIN OVER LINDENWOOD

4/22/2023 6:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Game 37: PDF

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team scored early and often on the way to an 8-3 victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon to open a three-game series.

The Skyhawks (18-19, 11-7 OVC) scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings and never looked back in the team's final home series of the 2023 season. UT Martin scattered 12 hits throughout the game while three players tallied multi-hit performances. Meanwhile in the pitcher's circle, the squad allowed just one earned run in seven innings.

In a weekend which is posed to have a lot of pomp and circumstance, graduate infielder Kallie Pickens set the tone for the squad by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored out of the two-hole in the lineup. Not to be outdone, junior Maddi Long also went 3-for-4 in the batter's box while picking up two RBIs.

The offense was not restricted to just those two as Avry Blume also posted a multi-hit afternoon after going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Meanwhile, graduate infielder Kaitlyn Kelley also drove in a pair with a two-out single in the fifth inning.

The pitching staff split up the contest with nobody pitching more than three innings. Brooklynn Linneman earned the start and allowed zero earned runs in three innings while striking out three. Katie Dreiling (10-6) picked up her 10^th win of the season after entering in the fourth inning and pitching two scoreless frames while allowing just one hit. Ashtyn Green closed out the contest with one earned run in two innings.

Lindenwood (13-25, 5-10 OVC) fell behind in an early hole but scratched out a few runs down the stretch. Theresa Snaidauf hit leadoff for the Lions and wrapped up the day with a two-hit afternoon. Meanwhile, Morgan Gersch also notched a multi-hit afternoon while adding one of the team's RBIs, joining Tori Hatton and Mya Bethany with the others.

Avery Wapp (4-7) was credited with the loss after allowing nine hits and four earned runs over four innings of work. Molly Heidrick also saw action in the circle, allowing two runs in two innings.

UT Martin jumped out to an early advantage with two runs in the first inning. A walk by Dreiling was sandwiched between a pair of singles by Pickens and Long to load the bases. After the Lions got the second out of the inning they could not halt the Skyhawks opportunity, as Blume ripped a single to right field which allowed to runs to come home.

The home squad added to their advantage in the second inning. Two errors by Lindenwood proved costly as Kelley reached on a throwing error before Long later drove in a pair with a single to left field which was compounded by a fielding mishap in the outfield.

Lindenwood finally got on the board in the third inning. After Snaidauf reached on a single to center field, she swiped second base and advanced to third as the throw-down sailed into centerfield. With a runner at third base and one out, the Lions converted their opportunity as Hatton singled through the left side to cut into the deficit.

The score remained the same until the fifth inning when the Skyhawks blew the game wide open. Entering the half-inning with a three-run advantage, the Skyhawks pushed their margin out to seven with a four-run frame. After the first three batters of the inning reached via a pair of hits and a walk, Jordyn Hustey was hit with a pitch to drive in a run. The Lions nearly escaped the big inning with a pair of infield pop ups but the Skyhawks still made them pay as Kelley laced a two-run single through the left side before Dreiling worked a four-pitch at-bat into a bases loaded walk.

Facing a seven-run deficit, the Lions chipped away at the lead with an RBI-single by Gersch in the sixth inning before Bethany added the team's third run of the game in the top of the seventh. The rally was too little, too late however, as the final score signaled the Skyhawks coming away with an 8-3 win.

UT Martin will wrap up the home portion of the schedule with a doubleheader on Sunday, Apr. 23 against Lindenwood. Senior Day festivities will take place at approximately 11:45 a.m. with first pitch slated for noon on ESPN+.