MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Eagles rallied from three runs down to take a dramatic 4-3 victory UT Martin in the first game of the series.
Trinity Spear,
Kirya Kingery, and
Madeline Gailor all had two hits each, with Kingery matching a career-high three RBI in the contest.
Erin Boyle and
Kaytlyn Cripps also added hits, and the Eagles excelled in small ball, stealing two bases, and dropping four sacrifice bunts.
Madi Ogden came on in relief to pick up her fourth victory of the season. The sophomore allowed only two hits over 4.1 innings, while striking out three.
Jessie Begley started the contest and matched a career-high in strikeouts for the second consecutive outing.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a solo home run from the Skyhawks in the top of the first,
Trinity Spear led off the bottom half of the inning with a single and a stolen base but was stranded on third to keep the score 1-0.
After a scoreless second, UT Martin added on to their lead with a two-run single, but
Madi Ogden came on to get out of the inning and limit the damage.
The Eagles got onto the board in the bottom of the third after a
Trinity Spear double and a
Kirya Kingery RBI single. Kingery advanced to third, but was again stranded, keeping the score 3-1.
Ogden shut down the Skyhawks in the fourth and the Eagles rallied to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning.
Madeline Gailor and
Erin Boyle had back-to-back singles to open the frame, and after a sacrifice bunt from
Kaytlyn Cripps,
Trinity Spear was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kingery came through again with a two-run single to knot the score at 3-3.
Ogden escaped a jam in the fifth and blanked the Skyhawks in the sixth to keep the score tied up heading into the bottom half of the frame.
Gailor again led off the sixth with a single and advanced to second on a single from Cripps. A sacrifice bunt from
Ilencia Lightbody moved the pair into scoring position, and
Trinity Spear hit a hot shot that bounced off the glove of the UT Martin shortstop to bring home the go-ahead run.
Despite allowing a one out double, Ogden buckled down to retire the Skyhawks in the seventh and secure the win.
UP NEXT
The Eagles continue the three-game series Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12:00 PM.
