Skyhawks Host TSU For Pivotal Series, Senior Day This Weekend

Dates (Times): Sat., Apr. 26 (12 p.m. DH); Sun., Apr. 27 (12 p.m.)
Location (Stadium): Martin, Tenn. (Bettye Giles Field)
UTM Record: 14-27, 6-14 OVC
UTM Last 5 Games: 0-5 (LLLLL)
Opponent (Record): Tennessee State Tigers (20-18, 10-10 OVC)
Last 5 Games: 0-5 (LLLLL)
Head Coach (Alma Mater): Genee McRath (Ole Miss., 2006)
Record (Seas.) Overall/TSU: 83-108 (4th)/Same
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (PxP: Chris Brinkley; Analyst: Jodie Duncan)
UTM vs. TSU: UTM leads 75-9

The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team will host Tennessee State in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference home series April 26-27 that will have major postseason implications for both teams. The Skyhawks and Tigers will play a doubleheader at Noon Saturday, followed by Senior Day for Sunday's single game, also at Noon.
Both teams enter the weekend on extended losing streaks, something they must remedy to qualify for next month's OVC Softball Championship in Peoria, Illinois. For the Skyhawks, they are currently on the outside looking in on the eight-team field at 6-14 in OVC play, sitting a half-game behind the current last team in, Western Illinois. The Leathernecks hold the tiebreaker over UT Martin after winning the series between the two teams, 2-1, earlier this season in Macomb.
Less than a month ago, Tennessee State was in the mix for the OVC regular-season title and a top-four seed. However, after dropping their last seven league contests, the Tigers are in free fall in the standings and are currently sixth at 10-10. The series with Skyhawks is equally important for TSU to keep them in the eight-team field and possibly secure a top-four seed to earn a bye directly into the double-elimination portion of the championship.
On Sunday, the Skyhawks will honor their lone senior Alli Robinson, before the game, as part of the annual Senior Day festivities. Also honored on Sunday will be Tennessee State seniors Anayah Baker, Mikayla Duke and Reina Castillo.
The Skyhawks are batting .245 as a unit on the year and are led by Alli Robinson at .322. Robinson also leads her team with 31 RBIs, 38 hits, eight doubles and six home runs. Avary Makarewicz also has six home runs for UT Martin and can tie her team season-high hitting streak of six with a hit in her next game.
In the circle, UT Martin has a team ERA of 4.51, while opponents hit .300 against them. Ashtyn Green has been the go-to for the Skyhawks at pitcher so far this season, as she is 7-9 with a save, a team-low ERA of 3.17, 39 strikeouts compared to just 20 walks, and an opponent's batting average of .317. Natalie Kreuziger is 4-5 in her freshman campaign with an ERA of 4.22 and a team-high 66 strikeouts, which averages out to 6.79 per seven innings.
Tennessee State is batting .268 on the season, while opponents are hitting .310 against them. Onnika Spencer currently leads the Tigers at the plate with a batting average of .330 to go along with team-highs of 30 RBIs, 30 runs, 19 walks and nine home runs.
As a pitching staff, the Tigers have an ERA of 6.08, are striking out 2.36 batters over seven innings, have a WHIP of 1.72, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 0.76:1. Reina Castillo has been the main hurler for Tennessee State this season with a team-low ERA of 4.30, a team-high 61 strikeouts and a record of 14-7, which is currently the second most wins in the OVC.
UT Martin holds a commanding 75-9 lead in the all-time series with Tennessee State, however, the Tigers have won two of the last five meetings. In Martin, the two teams have met 36 times, with the Skyhawks winning 33 of those meetings and 25 of the last 26 at Bettye Giles Field.
One of UT Martin's strong suits this season has been its effectiveness on the base paths. The Skyhawks are averaging 2.02 stolen bases per game, which leads the OVC and is the 19th-best average in Division I. Kyla Harley leads the way for UT Matin in swiped bags at 21-23 and boasts the 22nd-best stolen base percentage in the country at .913 and the 49th-best average in stolen bases per game at 0.51.
Two UT Martin pitchers are currently among the nation's best in strikeouts and allowing walks. Natalie Kreuziger leads the OVC and is 96th in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings at 6.79, while Ashtyn Green leads the league and has the 45^th-best average in Division I for walks per seven innings at 1.51.

Skyhawks Host TSU For Pivotal Series, Senior Day This Weekend

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Players Mentioned

Ashtyn Green

Kyla Harley

Natalie Kreuziger

Avary Makarewicz

Alli Robinson