SUNDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 5, Western Kentucky 3
Jacksonville State 4, UNC Greensboro 2
Murray State 5, Murray State 4
Wagner 5, Austin Peay 4
Pitt 3, Morehead State 2
UNC Greensboro 4, Tennessee Tech 1
Drake 3, Eastern Illinois 0
Evansville 6, Eastern Kentucky 1
SIU Edwardsville 5, Kansas 2
Southern Illinois 6, SIU Edwardsville 4
Louisiana Tech 11, Tennessee State 3
UT MARITN 5, WESTERN KENTUCKY 3
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The University of Tennessee at Martin's Jordan Garrett connected on her third home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning to guide the Skyhawk softball team to a 5-3 walk-off win over Western Kentucky in its final game at the Buzz Classic. The hit was Garrett's only one of the day, but couldn't have come at a more important time.
The win improves UT Martin's record to 12-3 on the year and matches the program's best 15-game start, set just last year. Skyhawk pitcher Chelsea Jones got the win, improving to 4-1 on the year, after coming on for only 0.2 innings of relief work in the seventh.
UT Martin jumped on the Hilltoppers with a pair of runs in the first inning, taking a quick 2-0 lead. Megan Williams led the bottom half of the inning off earning a walk then Chelsea Cary and Jenny Bain connected on back-to-back doubles. Cary lined a double to right field, moving runners to second and third, while Bain's shot to left plated both runs.
The Skyhawk pushed their lead to 3-0 after Laura Roberts earned a two-out walk and stole second to get into scoring position. That set up a RBI single by Megan Van Arsdale to push the third run of the game across. Western Kentucky then walked the bases loaded, still with two outs, before finally forcing a grounder to the shortstop to prevent UT Martin from blowing the game open.
Western Kentucky found its offensive rhythm in the top of the fifth and capitalized on one of the three Skyhawk errors for the day to cut the lead to 3-2. Mallorie Sulaski started the inning with a double then a throwing error to first on a grounder to Skyhawk starting pitcher Kate Vanderham allowed Sulaski to score the Hilltoppers first run. Western Kentucky then pushed its second run of the inning across with a sacrifice fly to right field.
After a scoreless sixth inning for both teams, the Hilltoppers managed to tie the game at 3-3. Garrett muffed a grounder to second allowing Lindsay Antone to reach base leading off the inning. She then worked her way to third with only one out, prompting Skyhawk head coach Donley Canary to lift Vanderham for Jones.
Jones struggled to find her groove with the first batter as Antone was able to score the tying run on a wild pitch. The Hilltoppers looked to add a go-ahead run but Garrett was able to throw out Western Kentucky's Katrina Metoyer at home.
In the bottom of the second Roberts put the tying run on base with a one-out single, setting up Garrett to redeem her top of the seventh inning error. Garrett then lined her walk-off shot over the outfield wall and giving the Skyhawks the 5-3 win.
Vanderham tossed 6.1 innings with three strikeouts on the day, while giving up only four hits and three unearned runs. Jones faced only two batters in her relief effort and was able to pick up the win.
At the plate Cary was the only Skyhawk to record multiple hits, going 2-4 with a run scored, while as a team UT Martin needed only six hits to score its five runs.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 4, UNC GREENSBORO 2
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - A pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth propelled the Jacksonville State softball team to a 4-2 win over UNC-Greensboro on Sunday at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic.
Freshman Sam Rich broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth with her second career homer, a solo shot to left center that proved to be the game winner and snapped a two-game skid for the Gamecocks (6-7). JSU managed just two hits off of the Spartans (6-11) but drew seven walks and made them pay for a pair of fielding miscues.
Junior Ashley Eliasson (3-6) earned her second win of the weekend after fighting through seven strong innings. The Vallejo, Calif., native gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits in her sixth complete game of the season. She threw 123 pitches, walking three batters and striking out seven.
Heather Robb got the Spartans on the board in the top of the second, when she took a 3-2 pitch just over the wall in left field for a solo home run, her first of the year.
JSU finally got to UNCG starter Amber Harrell with two outs in the third, thanks to four walks and a single from Chrissy O'Neal. Nikki Prier and Kaycee Crow drew bases loaded passes to drive in runs and give JSU a 2-1 lead, its first advantage since Friday.
UNCG tied it at 2-2 in the top of the fourth after Robb reached and took second on an error by second baseman Kelci Johnston and eventually scored on a squeeze bunt from Whitney Sirois.
Rich put the Gamecocks back on top in the home half of the sixth, turning on a 2-2 Harrell pitch and depositing it in the trees beyond the wall in the left-centerfield gap. Sallie Beth Burch reached on an error and eventually scored on a Tess Echols sacrifice fly to put JSU up 4-2.
Harrell (2-6) labored through six innings to suffer the defeat in the circle. She allowed four runs, three earned, on just two hits, but seven walks and two errors by her defense proved costly.
MURRAY STATE 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 4
NASHVILLE - The Murray State softball team rallied in the top of the eighth inning to earn a 5-4 extra-inning decision over Eastern Kentucky in its final game of the Lady Bison Classic hosted by Lipscomb.
Junior Lauren Buch was placed on second to start the inning due to international tie-breaker rules. Freshman Stephanie Edwards then grounded out to the short stop, but Buch was able to advance to third. Freshman Kaitlyn England then reached on an error by the first baseman and Buch was able to cross the plate for the winning run.
The Colonels (1-11) then had their first batter fly out to right field before they advanced their added base runner on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter then flew out to left field to end the game in favor of the Racers (2-9).
Junior Kristen Broadway, who had started the game in the circle for MSU, reentered and earned the save, while freshman Chelsey Sullivan picked up the win. Freshman Starr Gilley pitched the bulk of the game (4.2 innings) and recorded six strike outs for MSU.
The Racers got on the scoreboard right away in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Megan Glosser drew a walk as the lead-off hitter and then stole second. Two batters later junior Jenna Bradley singled to the right side and Glosser scored from second.
The lead was short lived as the Colonels tallied two runs in the bottom of the first to go up 2-1.
MSU tied the game at two in the top of the fourth inning. England reached on an error on the first baseman and was then advanced to second on a single by freshman Madi Ratliff to left field. England then scored one batter later when junior Taylor Wilson singled to left center.
EKU added a run in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 3-2 on an error.
Junior Jenna Bradley gave the Racers a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run to left center field. The homer was Bradley's third of the season and also scored freshman Megan Belio who had singled just inside the left field grass.
The Colonels then tied the game in the bottom of the seventh after the lead-off batter walked and stole both second and third. The second batter then hit a single up the middle to bring in the tying run.
WAGNER 5, AUSTIN PEAY 4
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Austin Peay's softball team dropped its final game at the University of South Florida Under Armor Invitational Sunday morning, as a last-inning rally came up one run short Sunday in a 5-4 loss to Wagner.
Austin Peay (4-13) trailed 5-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, but got its first two hitters on base to open the inning.
Junior Randal Davenport reached on an infield single, with junior Tiffany Smith reaching on an error by Wagner first baseman Amanda Garcia.
Davenport and Smith would move into scoring position on a sacrifice by senior Detra Farley, with Davenport scoring to make it 5-3 on an infield out by sophomore Catie Cozart.
Austin Peay would cut it to 5-4 on a single by senior Brittany Williams, scoring Smith, but Williams was thrown out trying to advance to second base ending the game.
Wagner (1-9) took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Seahawks scored four runs on six consecutive hits - five of those hits coming off Lady Govs starter, senior Meagan Williams, who had up to that point limited Wagner to one unearned run on one hit through her first five and one-third innings of work.
Austin Peay took its only lead in the top of the sixth, 2-1, as it broke a 1-1 tie on a sacrifice fly by freshman Jordan Cole scoring freshman pinch runner Tia Johnson -- who had came in to run for sophomore Amy Mills - who had singled to open the inning.
Wagner opened the game's scoring with an unearned run in the top of the second inning for a 1-0 advantage.
PITT 3, MOREHEAD STATE 2
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Two unearned runs off a couple of Morehead State errors proved to be the difference maker as the Eagles fell to the University of Pittsburgh, 3-2, Sunday in the final game of the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational. MSU's game with Georgetown College was cancelled due to time constraints.
The Eagles drop to 3-8 on the season.
Morehead State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning as sophomore leftfielder Sam Woodall pushed a single up the middle - past a shifting middle infield - to score pinch runner Taylor Sherritt. Sherrit was running for freshman Amber Riddle, who had reached on an infield fielding error.
In the third inning, Krista Rodgers singled for the Panthers to lead off against MSU starter Sarah Funston. Jess Rhodunda attempted a sacrifice bunt which the Eagles appeared to defend. But, the throw at first base was muffed as the runner went by. The, a throw to third base trying to gun down Rodgers sailed high and wound up scooting into left field. Rodgers came home to score while Rhodunda moved to second.
A ground out allowed Rhodunda to go to third base, and then Ashley Amistade's bunt in front of the pitcher's circle was fielded by Funston but the throw to the plate was late and allowed the third run to score.
The Eagles cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth. Bethany Ellis led off with a double to right field and moved to third on Kayla Ashbrook's sacrifice bunt. Woodall collected her second RBI of the day with a single that ricocheted off a diving Niki Cognini's glove and into center field.
Senior pitcher Alex Gjevre came in for Funston in the third inning and pitched the final four. She recorded six strikeouts while only giving up two hits. Funston was saddled with the loss to fall to 2-3. Cory Berliner picked up the win for Pitt.
Rodgers was 2-for-3 for the Panthers, while Woodall had two of MSU's four hits.
UNC GREENSBORO 4, TENNESSEE TECH 1
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Tennessee Tech softball team could not carry its momentum over from two wins on Saturday as the Golden Eagles fell to UNC Greensboro, 4-1, in their final game of the Buzz Classic.
Tech finished the weekend 3-2 for the second consecutive tournament, good for a seventh place finish in the 22-team Buzz Classic. The Golden Eagles had the highest finish of the three OVC teams in the field. UT Martin finished ninth while Jacksonville State was 17th in the final standings.
The Golden Eagles drop to 8-7 overall this season, while the Spartans improve to 7-11.
TTU starter Claudia Harke started the game in a jam as she hit the leadoff batter before walking the next Spartan to put two on with no outs. The freshman was able to record two outs on a pair of ground balls before another walk loaded the bases the UNC Greensboro. Harke was up to the task as she induced a third ground ball out to escape the inning.
Neither team got on the board until the 3rd inning when the Spartans seized a 2-0 lead on a two-out, two-RBI double. Hark struck out the first batter of the inning before back-to-back singles put two runners on with one out. It looked like Harke would again get out of the jam as she forced another ground ball out, but a double by Kristen Gabel put the Spartans ahead by two.
In the top of the 5th inning, Tech put its lone run of the game on the board. Anna Zdroik started the inning with a walk and two batters later, Callie Schmidt did the same to put two runners on with one out. Two batters later, Stacey Butts poked a single to left field that scored Zdroik from second. The Golden Eagles threatened for more but left the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Spartans would tack on two more in the bottom of the 5th on a two-run homer to round out the scoring.
Butts finished 2-for-3 with an RBI for Tech, while Whitney Cummings and Lacie Coquerille also had hits for TTU.
Harke (0-3) pitched 4.0 innings, striking out five while allow two earned runs before Cummings came in relief to pitch the final two innings.
DRAKE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - For the second consecutive game, the Eastern Illinois softball squad was held scoreless, dropping their fourth straight game in a 3-0 loss to Midwest rival Drake. That ends the Panthers' action at the Arkansas Razorback Invitational, where they fell to 6-7 overall and 1-4 over the weekend.
The lone EIU hits came via a bunt single by freshman outfielder Melise Brown and another single by senior outfielder Angie Danca.
Drake won the game in the pitchers circle as the starting Bulldog thrower struck out 12 Panthers, while their hitters nailed four hits, including a home run, scoring three runs.
Junior Amber May picked up her fifth loss of the season, striking out two and walking three.
MURRAY STATE 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 4; EVANSVILLE 6, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
NASHVILLE - Eastern Kentucky sophomore Diane Gallagher tied the school's stolen base record with four steals against Murray State on the final day of the Lady Bisons Classic hosted by Lipscomb in Nashville. The Colonels (1-12) lost to the Racers in extra innings 5-4 and then fell to Evansville 6-1.
After earning a walk to lead off the bottom of the first against Murray State, Gallagher stole second and then swiped third, giving her two stolen bases before the second Colonel finished her at bat. Gallagher scored to tie the game on a bunt single by Cassi Gibson. Jena Handley's RBI single later in the inning left EKU in front 2-1 after one.
After the Racers (2-9) tied the game in the fourth, Eastern Kentucky went back on top with a run in the fifth, and the Colonels continued to lead by one heading into the final inning. Jenna Bradley's two-run homer in the top of the seventh gave MSU a 4-3 advantage. Gallagher began the seventh inning just like the first. She reached on a walk and then moved to third with two more stolen bases, tying the EKU record. Gibson followed with a single to center to tie the game and force an extra inning.
An Eastern error in the eighth allowed Lauren Buch to score what proved to be the game winner. With two outs and the tying run at third in the bottom of the inning, Gallagher flied out to end the game.
Gibson went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Gallagher tied Chanze Patterson's record of four stolen bases in one game, set against Tennessee State in 2006. Patterson also holds the school record for steals in a season (31) and career steals (70). After picking up another theft in Sunday's second game, Gallagher has 17 stolen bases through 13 games this season. The sophomore has 41 career steals in less than two seasons.
Bradley finished 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs for Murray State.
In the second game against Evansville (4-5), the Colonels fell behind 4-0 after two innings and never threatened. An RBI sacrifice in the fourth by Noelani Esperas cut the deficit to three, but that would be the only run Eastern would score.
Five different players recorded one hit for Eastern Kentucky. Jen Stahlhut and Jamie Lindauer each had three hits for Evansville and Amy Gaertner drove in three runs.
LOUISIANA TECH 11, TENNESSEE STATE 3
AURBURN, Ala. - Louisiana Tech used two grand slam home runs to help hand Tennessee State an 11-3 loss Sunday morning in its final game of the War Eagle Classic.
TSU falls to 3-10 overall and finished the tournament, hosted by Auburn University, 1-3.
Louisiana Tech pounced on TSU pitcher Hannah Schnebly in the first inning, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after a two-out grand slam.
The Tigers got on the board in the second. Tamara Perkins christened the inning with a walk before advancing to second on a single by Christy Hill. Perkins crossed the plate when Brooke Blackford grounded out to second.
The Lady Techsters upped the lead to 5-1 before the Tigers narrowed the gap with two runs in the fourth. An error, single and walk loaded the bases for Bridget Metzger who doubled home Jalisa Bradley and Christy Hill.
However, the Lady Techsters answered in their next at bat scoring five runs on only two hits. In the bottom of the sixth, La Tech scored its 11th run, which ended the game due to the eight-run rule.
Bridget Metzger was 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in two RBI for TSU. Hannah Schnebly was tagged with the loss (2-3) while Caitlin Eaton, Susie Burke and Natalie Papini also pitched in the game.