Skyhawks soared over the Eagles in the eighth game of the OVC softball Championship May 10, with a final score of 5-2.
The game, which was originally scheduled for May 9 at 5:30 p.m., was delayed because of rain.
Morehead was able to put an early run on the board. The Skyhawksrefused to allow the Eagles to maintain their early lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, Kayla Wade sent the ball sailing over the field for her career-first grand slam and career-second homerun. Wade sent Leah Taylor, Kenzi Tate and Deven Wilson back across home plate putting the first four runs on the board for the Skyhawks.
“I was shocked; I thought I was going to get a triple. I was not expecting a home-run and when I did I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Wade said. “I can’t even tell you how I felt; I’ve never felt like that before.”
The score remained 4-1 for two innings as both teams refused to allow the other to add runs to the board.
Late in the fourth inning, Katie Raile gained a double on a shot to center field. Raile sent home Anna Sommer adding another run for Morehead State. The Skyhawks refused to give up any other runs to Moorehead throughout the remainder of the game.
UTM head coach Donley Canary credits Tate with “outstanding pitching” against the Eagles.
“We were very concerned about their left-handed hitters, especially the two at the top of the line-up, because they are so quick; [Tate] did a great job at shutting them down and keeping them off base,” Canary said.
Leah Taylor, also adding a homerun to her career total in today’s game, increased the lead 5-2 early in the bottom of the sixth.
“I’ve said it all along; we’ve got to have Kayla Wade and Leah Taylor setting the table for us. … When they do well, the team responds to that,” Canary said.
Canary says the Eagles’ two scored runs should have been unearned but says the team made a few mistakes because of a “lack of focus.”
The Skyhawks will take the field at 12:30 p.m. Saturday May 11, against Southern Illinois University. For live-action updates of the game, follow The Pacer on Facebook and on Twitter at @thepacer.
