Eagles drop pair to UT Martin

Morehead State struggled to generate offense in its home doubleheader with Tennessee-Martin on Sunday as the Skyhawks came away with victories of 9-0 in five innings and 2-0 at the University Field. Saturday’s first game of the series was canceled due to weather.

The results dropped MSU to 2-6 at home this season. It was UTM’s 12th win over the Blue and Gold in the last 16 meetings.

After going hitless in the opener, the Eagles hung with UT Martin (22-12/7-4) through four innings in game two when a one-out homer from graduate student left fielder Paige Clark homer over the fence in left-center field broke the tie. Junior third baseman Kallie Pickens added the Skyhawks’ only other run when she doubled and drove in sophomore right fielder Kaci Fuller four batters later.

Morehead State (2-27/1-12) reached base in five of the seven innings, but were unable to drive anyone home. The Eagles finished the game having left six runners on, including three getting into scoring position.

“I was impressed at how our team responded after game one,” Morehead State coach Samantha Jones said. “Defensively, they cleaned up a lot of the small errors that took place in the first game. They did a great job of shutting down UT Martin’s offense. That was probably one of the best games Madi Ogden has pitched all year keeping their hitters off balance and spinning her pitches.”

In the bottom of the first, leadoff batter junior left fielder Madeline Gailor notched an infield single, the first of three times MSU got its first hitter on base. Two batters later senior catcher Peyton Slater singled to center field, but the two were left stranded at the end of the inning.

A leadoff walk and an infield single put a pair UTM runners on base in the top of the third, but the Eagles shut down the next three Skyhawk batters, with freshman pitcher Madi Ogden catching Pickens’ looking at a third strike to end the frame.

Junior shortstop Kirya Kingery dropped a bunt single the visitors were unable to field in the bottom of the inning, but again the hosts were unable to push her home.

Sophomore second baseman Peyton Jordan walked to lead off the fourth, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on a passed ball, but she ended the inning there.

The Skyhawks did all of their scoring in the fifth. After Clark’s homer, Fuller reached on an infield single and moved to second on a walk. After a strikeout, Pickens’ two-out double capped off the scoring.

Gailor singled to right field with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but once again the Eagles were unable to get her home.

UTM led off the sixth with a single, but after a strikeout, the inning ended when senior second baseman Emily Gilstrap grounded into a double play from Peyton Rose to Kingery to Mayumi Kinchen-Atkins.

Kinchen-Atkins walked to begin the seventh. Freshman pinch runner Ilencia Lightbody ran in her place and reached second after sophomore right fielder Erin Boyle sacrificed. A wild pitch moved Lightbody to third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the game.

Gailor finished 2-for-3 at the plate, reaching base for the ninth time in the last 10 games and the 12th time in the last 15. Kingery also picked up a single and like Gailor reached base for the ninth time in the last 11 outings. Jordan and Kinchen-Atkins each drew a walk.

The Skyhawks tallied six hits, with sophomore center fielder Avry Blume finishing 2-for-3 and Fuller going 2-for-4.

Ogden (0-8) went the distance, surrendering two earned runs on six hits, with four strikeouts and four walks. Junior Alexi Groet (8-6) pitched seven shutout innings and surrendered four hits and two walks. She also struck out 10.

In the opener, the Skyhawks scored twice in the second, once in the third and six times in the fourth.

The Eagles committed three errors which led to four unearned runs.

Kingery was hit by a pitch with one out in the first and Slater walked with two outs in the fourth. They were the team’s only base runners.

All nine Skyhawks who came to the plate reached base. Junior shortstop Shyanne Sheffield went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Junior first baseman Kaitlyn Kelley, sophomore designated player Katie Dreiling and sophomore catcher Maddi Long each collected two hits. Long also drove in two runs.

Sophomore Lennon Spicer suffered the loss to fall to 2-13. She threw three and two-third innings, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs, with no walks or strikeouts. Freshman Maya Morris pitched the final inning and one-third allowing three hits and one run with one strikeout and no walks.

Reigning Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, junior Erin Gallagher (7-2) got the win with a no-hit shutout. In five innings, she had three strikeouts, one walk, one hit batsman and a wild pitch.

Morehead State continues its home stand by hosting Shawnee State in a Wednesday doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Eagles will host SIU Edwardsville in a three-game weekend series starting with two contests Friday. It will be the final three contests of a seven-game home stand.

By Brad Laux, MSU Athletic Media Relations