MARTIN, Tenn. – The Tennessee State Tigers broke a long losing streak to an OVC foe for the second week in a row. This time they went to UT Martin and won there for the first time in the program's history, in a 2-0 win in Sunday's first game of a doubleheader. In the second game, they fell 5-0.
Ayala Dominant, Tigers Break 18 Game Losing Streak in Game One Win
GAME 1 | Tennessee State 2, UT Martin 0
Freshman Holly Ayala was dealing on Sunday, tossing a four-hit shutout to lead the Tennessee State Tigers past the UT Martin Skyhawks 2-0. Ayala (4-4, 2-0 OVC) went the distance for Tennessee State (14-13-1, 5-2 OVC), giving up four hits, walking one, and striking out three.
Three of TSU's four hits came in the fifth inning. Sophomore Ryla Traylor went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Sophomore Alyssia Drayton went 1-for-3 with a double. Sophomore Mikayla Duke also helped out for TSU, putting together one hit in two trips to the dish while adding an RBI. TSU was coming off a tough loss from the day before when they lost a two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh. The disappointment didn't seem to roll over to the next game.
"We are a different team," said head coach Genee McRath. "I think the biggest thing for us is getting over who people think we are. They are prepared for these moments. We have to play our ball. We play loose, we play focused, and the rest will take care of itself."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers took the lead in the fifth when Traylor led off the inning with her third home run of the season. With one out. Drayton doubled and advanced to third on a Jasmine Blackburn sacrifice bunt. Duke's single knocked her in to make it 2-0.
GAME NOTES
» Ayala tossed a four-hit shutout for the Tigers. She faced 25 UT Martin hitters in the game, allowing eight ground ball outs and nine flyouts while striking out three.
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed two runs across.
» Traylor led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» UT Martin was led offensively by junior Anna Hazlewood, who went 1-for-2.
» Junior Kiersten Nixon led the Skyhawks pitching staff, throwing five innings of two-run ball.
GAME 2 | UT Martin 5, Tennessee State 0
Tigers Get Shut Out By UT Martin
Junior Katie Dreiling and junior Brooklynn Linneman combined to throw a shutout Sunday's game two as the UT Martin Skyhawks blanked the Tennessee State Tigers 5-0. Freshman Holly Ayala (4-5, 2-2 OVC) started and took the loss in the circle for Tennessee State (14-14-1, 5-3). At the plate, the Tigers were paced by sophomore Mikayla Duke, who went 1-for-2 on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tennessee State did not advance a runner past second base in the game. The Tigers went 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position, last placing a runner as far as second in the third when Duke made it into scoring position with one out.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 26 UT Martin hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out three.
» Duke led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-2.
» UT Martin was led offensively by Dreiling, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
The Tigers will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on UAB on Wednesday.
