EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 2025 Aces Tournament was marked by thrilling matches and outstanding performances from several teams, particularly the University of Tennessee at Martin and Western Michigan University. The event took place at Cooper Stadium and presented significant opportunities for teams to showcase their prowess.
The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team split their final day of the tournament on Monday, recording contrasting results against Western Michigan and the host, Evansville. They began the day decisively, defeating Western Michigan 10-0 in just five innings. The Skyhawks displayed their batting power with Kyrsten Brown leading the charge, hitting a three-run home run among her two hits, contributing to her four RBIs for the game.
Carly Ward also had a stellar performance, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs and recording a triple. On the base paths, Kennedy Brown was particularly active, crossing home plate three times, getting a hit, swiping two bases, and walking twice. Avary Makarewicz helped the cause with two walks and stolen base efforts, demonstrating the Skyhawks’ depth offensively.
On the mound, pitcher Ashtyn Green improved her record to 3-0, showcasing her dominance by delivering a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits, one unearned run, and collecting one strikeout. This decisive victory showcased the Skyhawks' potential as they head to future competitions.
Unfortunately for UT Martin, the momentum from their high-scoring victory didn't carry over to their matchup later against Evansville. The Skyhawks fell 9-0, with Kate Ridgway of the Aces spinning a gem on the mound, throwing another five-inning shutout. The Skyhawks managed only two hits throughout the entire game, signaling the efficiency of Evansville’s pitching strategy. Kyla Harley had the first hit of the game for UT Martin, but they could not find any rhythm against Ridgway's outstanding performance, who fanned seven batters, making it difficult for the Skyhawks to mount any offense.
Rylee Tittle took the loss for UT Martin, though she managed to strike out four batters, depicting her skill under pressure. With this split performance, the Skyhawks look to regroup and are preparing for the upcoming 2025 Tennessee Invitational, where they will face Delaware State and Indiana State, along with the fifth-ranked Lady Vols.
Meanwhile, Western Michigan's performance at the 2025 Aces Tournament saw them attain two wins but also face challenges against both the host and UT Martin. They started strong, securing victory against Evansville with remarkable contributions from Riley Chumbley, who tallied six RBIs and scored one run, anchoring her team through her four-hit performance, which included three runs and showcased her power with both doubles and home runs.
Casey Fazzini earned her first win as the Bronco pitcher, tossing 6 1/3 innings and demonstrating her ability to bounce back from early struggles. Despite facing quick runs from Evansville, Western Michigan rallied, with significant contributions from players like Tristin Head, who fueled the offense and notched her first home run, supporting the team’s comeback.
Western Michigan's second win came against UT-Martin as they scratched out a 3-2 victory, with Kailey O'Connor securing the complete game. Center fielder Taylor Wolfe proved instrumental with two RBIs and scoring the go-ahead run, showcasing her leadership and batting prowess under pressure.
Despite the ups and downs, the Broncos faced defeat against UT Martin later on, losing 10-0, which dictated the necessity to refocus heading onward to their next tournament at the University of Florida. Here, they plan to take on formidable teams like Florida and Troy, seeking to regain momentum and improve their record, currently standing at 5-8 as they prepare for the challenges and opportunities the season presents.
Overall, the 2025 Aces Tournament provided exciting softball action, with standout individual performances paving the way for team dynamics heading forward. The next phases for each team will involve strategic adjustments as they aim to assert their strength as the season progresses.