The UTM softball team will host a 14-team, two-day tournament Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2 at the Martin Recreation Complex, on Highway 45 South.

Action gets under way on four fields at 3 p.m. Friday. The Skyhawks will open the tournament against Dyersburg State. Games are scheduled to start every two hours, with the last game set for 9 p.m.

The Skyhawks begin play at 9 a.m. Saturday morning when they play Mid-Continent College. Games are scheduled to start every two hours with the last games slated for 5 p.m.

Admission is $5 per day for adults and $2 per day for students 18 and under. Tennessee-Martin students with a valid ID will be admitted free. Children 12 and under will also be admitted free. The Skyhawks tuned for their fall tournament with a three-game appearance in the this past Saturday’s Dyersburg State Community College Playday. The Skyhawks defeated Volunteer State 13-0 and battled to a scoreless tie against Freed-Hardeman in the second game. In the third game, the Skyhawks edged Union University 3-2.

“The opportunity to win all three games was there, but we wanted to use this tournament to see how well our young players handled the game situations and how well they meshed with our returning players,” said Donley Canary, the Skyhawks’ head coach.

All five newcomers, Lauren Weber, Ashley Hodge, Ginny Swearengen , Lauren Manna and Lindsey Brown saw action in the three games for the Skyhawks.

Hodge, a second baseman, came through in her first collegiate at bat with a hit. She had four hits in the three games. Weber and Brown, both pitchers, were able to pitch in the three games.

“I put Brown in against Freed-Hardeman and she was immediately introduce to a pressure situation,” Canary said. “She did an outstanding job. She showed me she can handle the pressure.”

Canary said he was pleased overall with all of the pitching. The most noticeable Skyhawk pitcher was senior Nicole Davis. “She pitched extremely well for us,” Canary said.

At the plate, the Skyhawks were equally as impressive. Jennifer Young, a junior outfielder and one of the Ohio Valley Conference’s top hitters last season, had two home runs in the three games.

Sophomore Ashley Ruggles also hit two home runs in the tournament, while senior shortstop Kristin Runyan went yard once in the three-games.