The UTM softball team posted a season-high nine runs to cap off the final day of the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic with a 9-1 victory over Grambling State on Sunday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (3-2) tallied 10 hits on Sunday afternoon while the team’s pitching was impressive once again. For the weekend, UTM posted a .258 batting average as a team behind six hits by Shyanne Sheffield while the pitching staff notched a team ERA of 1.18.
Three players tallied multiple base hits as Sheffield, Kaitlyn Kelly and Kallie Pickens each posted a pair of base knocks. Pickens paced the team with three RBIs while Paige Clark drove in a pair out of the leadoff spot. The trio of Kenna Garst, Madelyn Dycus and Chayse Skinner also tallied RBIs.
Erin Gallagher (2-1) picked up her second win of the weekend after striking out five and allowing just one earned run in five innings of work. Hannah Ridolfi appeared in relief, allowing one hit in the sixth.
UTM struck first in the top of the second with three runs to take an early advantage. The Skyhawks capitalized on some sloppy play, plating three runs on a pair of errors while the trio of Dycus, Skinner and Clark were credited with RBIs.
A double into left center by Clark scored Garst in the top of the fourth inning to make it a 4-0 lead for the Skyhawks. Grambling State responded by getting the run back in the bottom half of the inning as Rike Miller launched a solo home run to left.
The fifth inning saw the Skyhawks score another run on a fielder’s choice RBI by Garst. The Skyhawks then put the game away with four runs in the top of the sixth inning as Pickens cleared the bases with a three-run double to left before coming around to score herself on a single by Maddi Long.
UTM will make its home debut on Thursday, Feb. 13 with a doubleheader against Green Bay – weather permitting. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.
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