By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team wrapped up its rigorous tournament schedule this evening with two games in the MTSU Invitational, narrowly dropping both contests to host Middle Tennessee (4-3) and Illinois State (1-0) to snap the team’s seven-game winning streak.
The Skyhawks conclude the tournament slate with a 12-7 record as they head into mid-week non-conference action and Ohio Valley Conference play next week.
UT Martin faced two formidable opponents on the day and went toe-to-toe in both contests with each game being decided by a single run. In the first matchup of the day against host Middle Tennessee, the Skyhawks fought back to take a momentary lead in the fourth inning before the Blue Raiders scored two runs in the fifth which proved to be the difference in the game. Then in the night cap against Illinois State, both teams held each other scoreless through six frames before the Redbirds finally broke through with a walk-off winner in the bottom of the seventh.
The trio of Shyanne Sheffield, Katie Dreiling and Kaitlyn Kelley each tallied hits on the day for the Skyhawks. Dreiling posted the big bomb by stroking her third home run of the season in Game 1. Meanwhile, the sophomore pair of Avry Blume and Kaci Fuller also tallied RBIs for UT Martin.
The veteran pitching duo of Erin Gallagher (4-1, 2.18 ERA) and Alexis Groet (5-3, 1.44) earned the starting nods in their respective contests with each hurler tossing a complete game. Gallagher struck out three and walked one while allowing three earned runs on the day. Groet was strong with seven strikeouts and two hits allowed while surrendering one run.
Game 18: Middle Tennessee 4, UT Martin 3
Middle Tennessee was the first team to jump on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. After the first two batters reached base and moved into scoring position following a sacrifice bunt, Ava Tepe singled to right center to bring the first run across the plate. The Blue Raiders then added another run on their second successful sacrifice bunt of the inning to make it a 2-0 contest.
UT Martin quickly responded by chopping the deficit in half in the top of the third. After a leadoff triple to center by Sheffield to kick-start the inning, Blume lofted a ball to center which was deep enough for a sacrifice and bring the runner home the final 60 feet.
The Skyhawks then completed the comeback attempt and took the lead in the fourth inning. The frame started with a bang as Dreiling nailed the first pitch she saw and launched a solo home run to left center to tie the contest. Then later in the inning a single by Kelley and an error off the bat of Anna Hazlewood proved costly as Fuller gave UT Martin the lead with a sacrifice fly to left to take a 3-2 advantage.
The game then took another turn in the bottom of the fifth when Middle Tennessee’s Laura Mealer hit a two-run home run to give the hosts a 4-3 lead and proved to be the final difference in the contest.
Game 19: Illinois State 1, UT Martin
The second game of the day for UT Martin proved to be a pitcher’s duel from the first pitch until the last. For the Skyhawks, it was Groet who kept the Redbirds in check through much of the contest and held her opponent hitless until the bottom of the fifth inning.
Meanwhile for Illinois State, the evening was controlled by Hannah Ross who tossed a perfect game. Ross faced the minimum in the contest and struck out five batters along the way. She was reward for her impressive pitching performance in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Redbirds tallied their second but biggest hit of the game as Jayden Standish hit a walk-off solo home run on the first pitch she saw to lift the team to a 1-0 victory.
The Skyhawks return to action on Wednesday, March 16 with a road matchup against Saint Louis with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information