(Malorie Paine)
UTM Softball fell to Murray State University in the fourth game of theOVC Softball Championship tournament on May 8.
The Skyhawks were off to a slow start in the first inning with the first three batters getting out. Kelsey Dickson led the Skyhawks with a hit to third base where she was then grounded out at first base.
MSU came out strong in the first inning scoring their first run of the game. With the bases loaded, Racers teammate Leslie Bridges stepped up to home plate. Bridges hit a single, which allowed Mo Ramsey to score.
The Skyhawks did not let this run go unanswered, however. KenziTate was the first up to bat for the Skyhawks in the second inning; she drove the ball into center-left field and gained a single.
With Tate at third base, Lauren Smith for the Skyhawks took the plate. Smith sent the ball deep into center-left field sending Tate across home plate. Smith gained a double and then stole third base.
Throughout the next few innings, the game became a battle of the outs. For both teams, several innings consisted of three batters to the plate where each would return to the bench.
Skyhawk teammate Kayla Wade made two big plays during the bottom of the ninth. These plays prevented the Racers from gaining any runs. Wade stopped two drives into left field against Ellyn Troup and Sarah Anderson.
The Skyhawks were unable to score any runs during the seventh. The teams were forced to play the extra inning where Murray would make the final play of the game. Racers teammate Casey Castile was walked to first base. Following Castile, Troup would take the plate. She sent the ball deep into center field, which gave Castile enough time to make it around the bases to home plate. With this run in the bottom of the eighth, the Racers defeated the Skyhawks.
“We would have preferred a different outcome, but we still have games to play; we have to learn from this experience and turn this setback into a positive with Morehead State tomorrow,” said UTM Softball head coach Donley Canary.
“We would have preferred for a different outcome, but we still have games to play so we have to learn from this experience and turn this setback into a positive with Morehead State tomorrow.”
The Skyhawks will take on Morehead State at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9 for game eight of the OVC Softball Championship tournament. For all OVC Championship coverage of UTM, follow The Pacer on Facebook and Twitter.
