UTM won it’s fourth consecutive OVC series this weekend against Morehead State, taking two out of the three games.

In the opener on Saturday, won by the Eagles, 1-0, Nicole Davis and MSU’s starter combined to retire 18 of the game’s first 19 batters. The only hit in the first three and a half innings was a single by the game’s first batter, MSU’s Michelle McCrady.

The two pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts in the game, with Davis picking up 10.

Skyhawk hitters struggled to get the ball out of the infield against McCrady and seemed prone to hitting it to second base, as seven outs were recorded there on grounders and pop-ups.

Neither offense even threatened to score until the bottom of the fourth inning until UTM’s Kristin Runyan was stranded on second after a single and a stolen base.

The top of the seventh got off to an ominous start for the Skyhawks as Davis surrendered a leadoff walk to Liz McGonnigal. She retired the next two hitters on consecutive ground balls to the mound.

Unfortunately, MSU hit a tough ball that didn’t leave the infield but allowed McGonnical to score from third for the go-ahead run.

In the bottom half of the inning, Brandy Whalen led off with an infield single to put the Skyhawks in a good position to get the tying run. She advanced to second on Runyan’s sacrifice bunt but was stranded there as the next two batters failed to reach base, ending the game.

The second game featured more offense as the Skyhawks pounded out 11 hits and rallied for a 6-3 victory.

UTM starter Megan Mizell retired the first eight batters, picking up the win.

In the fifth inning, MSU got to Mizell after she retired the first two hitters. She allowed a single and hit a batter before giving up a two-run double that put the Eagles on top, 2-0.

The lead was short-lived as the Skyhawks put together an impressive four-run fifth inning.

They had four hits in the inning and also took advantage of a walk and two hit batters.

Emily Webb and Ashley Hodge picked up consecutive RBI singles to tie the score at 2.

Immediately following Hodge’s hit, Holly Templeton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in the go-ahead run.

Then, with two outs, Jennifer Young added an insurance run with a bloop single that just cleared the third baseman’s glove into left field.

MSU answered with a home run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead in half, 4-3, but the Skyhawks scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory.

Davis pitched the top of the seventh inning and retired the Eagles in order for her first save of the season.

Davis started Sunday’s rubber match for the Skyhawks and held MSU to two hits in a 3-1 victory.

MSU got a leadoff single in the third inning and a two-out single in the sixth.

Their only run came in the third inning and gave them a 1-0 lead. The pitchers controlled the offenses through the next two innings before UTM exploded in the fifth.

Templeton led off with a double that missed clearing the left field wall by a foot. Kristin Hogan followed with an infield single to set up a three-run home run by Jennifer Young.

Young’s blast over the 200-foot marker in right center gave the Skyhawks a 3-1 lead.

Davis allowed only one baserunner in each of the last two innings as she held on for the complete game win.

With the two wins on the weekend, UTM’s record improves to 24-9 overall and 9-3 in OVC play.

UTM returned to action yesterday with a non-OVC twinbill vs. Lipscomb University and the team will face Mississippi Valley State tomorrow in a double-header starting at 2 p.m. at Bettey Giles Field.