MARTIN, TN -- There were few bright spots for Morehead State in its final road game of the UT Martin series as the host Skyhawks captured a 8-0, 6-inning victory on Sunday at the Bettye Giles Softball Field. The Eagles were not able to parlay yesterday's success into any good fortune in Sunday's game as UT Martin pitcher Kiersten Nixon (6-4) held MSU to just one hit on the home team's Senior Day, when it recognized its 10 seniors. The Skyhawks improved to 26-19 overall, 11-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 13-5 at home.
Sophomore Jessie Begley (6-8) started and took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (11-23, 5-16). She lasted one inning before yielding to freshman Addie Stem. Begley finished with three runs, all earned, on four hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Stem pitched the final 4.2 innings, giving up six hits, five runs (although just two earned), with one strikeout and three walks.
At the plate, the Eagles were led by senior Peyton Jordan, who went 1-for-3 on the day. In the fourth, Jordan led off with an infield single and then stole second, before advancing to third on junior Ilencia Lightbody's fly out to left field. The only other offense came from junior Samantha Cervantes' fifth-inning one-out walk and Lightbody reaching base on a thrid-strike wild pitch to start the second.
The Eagles committed three errors, which led to three runs.
NIxon was masterful in the circle, doing nearly all the work herself. She faced 21 batters and struck out 12 in the complete-game shutout. She allowed one hit and one walk.
The one bright spot from the weekend was the Eagles' 1-0 game-two victory, keeping the Blue and Gold in the hunt for a berth to the OVC Championships in three weeks.
MSU coach Megan Grifrfith had little to say after Sunday's game, but kept the future in mind.
"Just back to work for this weekend," she said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Morehead State managed zero chances with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. The Eagles last got a runner on third in the fourth, when Jordan made it 60 feet away from scoring with one out.
The hosts scored one in the first, three in the second, two in the fourth and two in the six, before the game ended due to the 8-run rule.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State pitchers faced 31 UT Martin hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and four fly balls while striking out three.
» Jordan led the Eagles at the plate, going 1-for-3.
» UT Martin was led offensively by Katie Dreiling, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Kennedy Brown and Anna Hazlewood also finished with two hits apiece. Brown and Kaci Fuller each scored twice.
» Nixon led the Skyhawks pitching staff, throwing six shutout innings.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
