The mission for the UTM softball team is far from accomplished, but after winning six games in the recent Rebel Spring Games in Florida head coach Donley Canary knows his team can climb to new heights this season.

"We wanted to learn as much as possible about our team and get ready for our conference schedule," Canary said. "We had a good trip. We played a lot of people and we were able to see what our younger players could do."

The Skyhawks closed out the week with a 2-0 loss to Maine; an 11-1 win over Indiana University-Purdue at Fort Wayne; a 4-3 victory over Bucknell; and a stellar 5-2 triumph over Youngstown State.

Senior Kendra Kosco pitched a complete game against Youngstown State. She gave up five hits and an earned run, while striking out five.

The offense was sparked by Kristin Runyan, Angela Baize and Christa Webb. All three players had two hits each and led the Skyhawks' 11-hit attack. The Skyhawks scored a run in the first inning and four in the second inning. Youngstown State was forced to play catch-up the rest of the game.

"This was a good ball team that we beat," Canary said. "This was the best ball club that we beat all week long."

The Skyhawks beat Bucknell 4-3, but had to rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. Catcher Sarah Daws had a two-run double in the frame that tied the game at 3-all. Nicole Davis doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Davis had three hits, two doubles and a triple in the contest, while Runyan and freshman Brandy Whalen had two hits each.

"We didn't play extremely well in this game," Canary said. "We found a way to win and that's a sign of a good team."

Andrea Rushing pitched the final four innings of the game and earned the mound victory.

Freshman Kelly Swafford, from Dunlap, Tenn., earned her first collegiate victory as the Skyhawks pounded Indiana University-Purdue at Fort Wayne 11-1.

Runyan and senior Andrea Mrozinski had two hits each to lead the Skyhawk attack.

The Skyhawk offense was silenced with only three hits against Maine Thursday in a 2-0 loss.

The Skyhawks finished their 10-game road trip with a 6-2 record. Their first two games of the trip were canceled because of rain. The Skyhawks return to action Wednesday when they travel to Carbondale, Ill., for a non-conference game against Southern Illinois. The Skyhawks (8-7) will open Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend against host Tennessee-State in Nashville.

Freshman Brandy Whalen had three hits and junior college transfer Kristin Runyan hit a home run to lead the UTM softball team to a 4-2 victory over George Mason University,

Wednesday, in the Rebel Spring Games in Florida.

The Skyhawks suffered a 2-0 loss to Colorado State in their second game Wednesday. With the split, the Skyhawks are now 3-1 in the 10-game, week-long tournament. The Skyhawks first two games of the tournament, against Niagara and Fairfield were canceled because of rain.

Angela Baize and Meredith Ramsey also had doubles in the George Mason game to help spark the Skyhawks' 4-2 win.

Allison Buckley started the game for the Skyhawks on the mound, while Kendra Kosco closed out the contest, pitching the last four innings. Kosco earned the win.

Senior Linsey Moffit left the game with a concussion and a broken nose. She will miss the rest of the tournament.

In the 2-0 loss to Colorado State, the Skyhawks had six hits and left seven runners on base, but were unable to score. "We didn't get the clutch hit when we needed it," said Donley Canary, UT Martin head softball coach. "Colorado State is a top 35 program and it would have been nice to beat them."

Andrea Rushing turned in an outstanding pitching performance for the Skyhawks. She gave up three hits in the seven-inning game.

The UTM softball team opened the Rebel Spring Games in Florida, Fla., battling an old nemesis - the weather - and once again Mother Nature prevailed.

The Skyhawks first two games of the 10-game, week-long tournament, against Niagara and Fairfield University were rained out.

The Skyhawks recovered from the two rainouts Sunday, and posted back-to-back, extra inning shutouts over Saint Joseph's of Philadelphia and Rhode Island.

Using the International tie-breaker rule, where the team batting starts the inning off with a runner on second base, the Skyhawks executed with perfection against Saint Joseph's.

Kristin Runyan started the top of the ninth inning at second base. Senior Meredith Ramsey drew a walk and both runners advanced one base on Nicole Davis' bunt. Junior Angela Baize, from Drummonds, Tenn., drove in the Runyan with a line drive single up the middle of the field.

"Linsey Moffit, Brandy Whalen and Runyan made some outstanding defensive plays to save this game for us," said Donley Canary, Tennessee-Martin head softball coach.

Senior Kendra Kosco pitched all nine innings for the Skyhawks.

Kosco walked four, struck out three and allowed four hits.

The Skyhawk magic continued Monday afternoon against the University of Rhode Island. While the offense was quiet, the defense and pitching prevailed again in extra innings for Canary.

This time the Skyhawks, the home team in this game, rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning. Andrea Mrozinski raced home on a hit by Davis. The right fielder's throw was off the mark at the plate, but Rhode Island was backing up the throw and raced Mrozinski to the plate. Mrozinski stretched out and tagged the plate ahead of the tag. Davis pitched all eight innings for the Skyhawks. She allowed three hits and a couple of walks.

The softball team split a doubleheader with Western Kentucky Wednesday afternoon. The Skyhawks lost the first game 2-1 but came back to win the second game 5-3.

Game one had to go to an extra inning to determine its winner.

The Skyhawks had four consecutive hits in the third inning beginning with Sarah Daws. Freshman Megan Dempsey entered the game as a pinch runner for Daws and scored on a single by Kristin Runyan. The Hilltoppers came back in the second inning to tie up the game 1-1. The tie forced the game to go to an eighth inning and Kentucky the win Kendra Kosco pitched the entire game for the Skyhawks. She gave up nine hits and struck out seven batters.