MARTIN, Tenn. – Sophomore hurler Ashtyn Green earned her second start of the season and remained unscored upon as she tossed 4.1 innings of work as the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team ended visiting Southern Illinois’s 16-game winning streak with a statement 5-2 victory.
The Skyhawks (17-13) outslugged the Salukis in a matchup of regional rivals to pick up their first win in the head-to-head series since a marathon 11-inning game back in 2013 in which the home squad squeaked out a 5-4 win.
While her opportunities have been limited, Green (2-0, 0.00 ERA) once again stepped up when her number was called. Earning her first career home start, Green pushed her scoreless inning streak to 17 innings after allowing just one hit while striking out five in four innings of work before being relieved. The ensuing three innings saw Kiersten Nixon and Emily Brown split the workload before Green was called upon once again in the top of the seventh to escape a bases loaded jam with no out. While statistically, both a win and a save can’t be credited in a single game to an individual, Green unofficially earned both as she slammed the door on a Saluki comeback attempt for her second win of the season.
UT Martin found big hits throughout the lineup – including a three-run second inning – which put the home team on top for good. After a pair of singles to lead off the inning, last weekend star Anna Blanton put the Skyhawks on top with a single through the left side to take an early advantage. Then two batters later, Kennedy Brown came through following a four-pitch walk to Kaci Fuller and ripped a double through the left side to push the home lead out to three runs.
Then the Skyhawks added to their margin in the fourth inning on a single ripped off the bat of Nixon to take a 4-0 lead.
Southern Illinois (23-5) finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth via some Skyhawk miscues. A throwing error allowed Emma Austin to reach base and advance to second before a pair of wild pitches in the ensuing at-bat allowed her to scamper all the way home to make it a 4-1 contest.
Brown put another ball in play in the bottom of the sixth to score the speedy Blanton for the Skyhawks five run of the contest. With the Salukis facing a four-run deficit in the top of the seventh, SIU mounted a rally as a pair of singles, a walk and an error allowed a run to score. With two outs on the board and the bases loaded, the Skyhawks turned to Green once again to close out the win and three pitches later found the out she needed to cement the 5-2 victory.
UT Martin will hit the road for its next four contests – beginning with a three-game road series at OVC foe Tennessee State this weekend. The Skyhawks and Tigers are slated to play two games on Friday, March 29 before wrapping up the series on Sunday, March 30.
