MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team used a 2-1 Saturday morning win over Tennessee Tech to reach the OVC Tournament Championship game for the second consecutive year. The pair of second inning runs was all the Skyhawks needed to get past the Golden Eagles and force a rematch with No. 2 Jacksonville State in the championship series that will begin at 1:30 p.m.

UT Martin's record improved to 47-10, while Tennessee Tech was eliminated from the OVC Tournament and finishes the year at 28-39.

UT Martin looked to jump on the Golden Eagles in the first inning, putting a pair of runners on base with no outs, but a Chelsea Cary liner right back to the Tennessee Tech pitcher Holly Thomas allowed them to turn a double play and eventually escape the inning. However the Skyhawks were able to again put runners in scoring position in the second inning, and this time took advantage of it.

Kalah Mathis earned her way on base to lead off the second when she was hit by a Thomas offering then after a Kate Vanderham sacrifice bunt moved her to second, Laurie Lindow lined a single back up the middle to score Mathis and put the first UT Martin run on the board. OVC Player of the Year Megan Williams later lined a double off the wall to plate pinch-running Erin Driskell and give the Skyhawks the 2-0 edge.

Tennessee Tech rallied in the top of the fifth to plate one run, but was unable to push anything more across, setting the score at its eventual final margin of 2-1.

At the plate both Williams and Lindow went 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI, while Vanderham went the distance in the circle to improve her record to 16-3 on the year. She picked up seven strikeouts in the win, while giving up only two hits.

UT Martin now moves into the championship round of the OVC Tournament where it will have a chance to avenge last night's loss to No. 2 Jacksonville State. In order to claim the tournament crown for a second time, UT Martin will have to knock off the Gamecocks two times.



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