GAME 2 | Morehead State 1, UT Martin 0
MARTIN, TN --Â After dropping Saturday afternoon's first game to host UT Martin, coach Megan Griffith had little to say to her club except to refocus and prepare for game two.
It worked as the Eagles, behind a stellar pitching performance, rebounded to claim the win.
"Honestly, we didn't say much. We kept it focused on game two," Griffith said. "We talked about needing to eliminate the big inning and score some runs and that's what they did. (I'm) very proud of them."
Sophomore Jessie Begley was dealing, throwing a two-hit shutout to lead the Morehead State Eagles over the UT Martin Skyhawks 1-0. It was MSU's first shutout in 55 games, dating back to the team's 8-0, six-inning home victory over Lindenwood on April 2. The Eagles also won a 1-0 game last spring, when they defeated Central Connecticut in their first contest at the Battle at the Bay in Hampton, Va., on Feb. 24.
Begley (6-7) went the distance for Morehead State (11-22, 5-15), giving up two hits, walking none and striking out one. She retired 16 straight batters to end the game. The Skyhawks picked up an infield single in the first and a single up the middle in the second and the defense and pitching did the rest. No UTM player reached second base in the contest.
"We had a really good pitch sequence going which we were able to utilize all pitches so we were able to keep them on their toes," Begley said. "But even then defense played great and had my back the whole time which made it easier for me to throw and ultimately we were able to close out the game!"
After relying on offense to win most games this year, this time it was the work inside the circle that got the job done.
"I was very proud of the way we shook off game one and stayed calm and collected for game two," Griffith added. "I believe that's the first 1-0 ball game we've won this year. Jessie really pitched a gem and defense had her back the whole game. It was a great team win!"
The victory snapped an eight-game slide that included five road contests. It also equaled the club's total wins and road victories from last year.
The Blue and Gold managed just four hits, but it was enough. Junior Ilencia Lightbody went 2-for-3, while freshman Slea Pickford and junior Samantha Cervantes collected the other hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
MSU got all of the offense it needed in the third inning. Cervantes led off with a single to right field and then moved to second on a ground out. After a strikeout, the Eagles took the lead for good, scoring for the first and only time in the inning. Morehead State got on the board thanks to Pickford's RBI double with two outs, scoring Cervantes.
GAME NOTES
» Begley tossed a two-hit shutout for the Eagles.
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed one run across.
» The Eagles out-hit the Skyhawks at a 4-2 clip.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 23 UT Martin hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out one.
» Pickford led the Eagles at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» UT Martin was led offensively by Alli Robinson, who went 1-for-2.
» Brooklynn Linneman (7-6) led the Skyhawks pitching staff, throwing seven innings of one-run ball. She went seven innings allowing four hits with one earned run, striking out four and walking none to finish as the hard-luck loser.
