Skyhawks switch on HR power

Posted: Friday, April 5, 2013 12:00 pm

The UT Martin softball team scored 21 runs, ripping five home runs, to pound Evansville 12-4 annd 9-7 in Wednesday’s doubleheader at Bettye Giles Field.
The Skyhawks will now turn their focus on a pivotal Ohio Valley Conference road trip, with doubleheaders against Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State on the weekend. UTM will play the Golden Eagles noon Saturday and Jacksonville State 1 p.m. Sunday.
UTM 12-9, Evansville 4-7
UT Martin (25-9, 7-2 OVC) scored two runs in the first inning and four in the fifth to overcome a pair of early deficits and then blew the game open with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lauren Smith, riding a .619 average over the past eight games, smashed a towering home run over the center field fence, scoring Mikala Torrence from second and tying the game in the first.
Trailing by two again, the Skyhawks took control in the fifth inning.
Reaching base on a walk, Leah Taylor quickly stole her 27th base of the season before scoring on an RBI single by Torrence.
Kenzi Tate notched her seventh home run of the season for a 5-4 advantage. Smith continued her hot stroke with a bunt single. Kayla Wade, pinch running for Smith, swiped her 23rd base of the season before scoring on an RBI single by Jessie Britt.
The Skyhawks issued the final blow in the bottom of the six as Deven Wilson began by driving a single into center. Sam McClure kept the rally going by registering her third hit of the campaign and scored on an error.
Britt capped the six run inning and the game with a walk-off three run home run, the freshman’s second of the season.
Casey Vincent (10-4, 2.18 ERA) registered her 10th win on the season, allowing three runs in five innings of work. Autumn Glenn (1-0, 2.10 ERA) notched her first career save.
Like game one, the Purple Aces got on the board first in game two with a run in the first inning.
It was mostly UTM doing the scoring over the next six frames, though, in building a 9-2 lead before Evansville used a grand slam to put up five runs in the top of the seventh.
Tate scorched a line drive single into right field before scampering to third as the ball slid between the defender’s legs, scoring Dixon and Taylor on the play. Smith then extended her 10-game hitting streak with a screamer up the middle. Williams jolted the fans to their feet, nailing a two run home run over the left field fence to cap the inning.
Taylor joined the fireworks in the bottom of the third with a solo home run. 

Published in The WCP 4.4.13