By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – After both teams tossed a combined shutout through the opening five innings, junior Kaci Fuller laced a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to give the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team all the breathing room it needed behind a dominating shutout in the circle by Brooklynn Linneman.
The Skyhawks (7-11) leaned on Linneman as she recorded her second shutout of the season after holding the Lady Bucs at bay over seven innings. Linneman earned her third win of her debut campaign for the Skyhawks while striking out seven and allowing just two hits in the impressive performance.
Offensively, UT Martin tallied six hits in the game and drew three walks but struggled to push across a go-ahead run after stranding nine batters on base. Fuller ultimately got the big hit as she capped off a 2-for-4 afternoon with a double off the center field wall which proved to be the game winner.
Joining Fuller in the hit column was the quartet of Kiersten Nixon, Katie Dreiling, Kyrsten Brown and Anna Blanton with base knocks.
Christian Brothers (6-16) posted a solid pitching performance as Mackenzie Kliebert got the start and pitched three scoreless innings followed by three innings by Emily Schooler. The Lady Bucs tallied two hits off the bats of Memory Willingham and Kate Candies while drawing two walks as a team.
The Skyhawks thought they had a big scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second as a single and two fielding errors loaded the bases with one out. The Lady Bucs held tough however, closing out the inning with back-to-back outs to eliminate the scoring opportunity.
UT Martin then loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fourth inning as a walk and two singles highlighted the frame. The scoring chance felt short once again with a fly out to the outfield to end the rally and strand all three runners.
Following a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth by Linneman, the Skyhawks found the game’s first run in the bottom half of the inning. Following two quick outs, Brown worked a four-pitch walk before moving into scoring position on a single through the left side by Blanton to put runners on first and second. After taking a first-pitch strike, Fuller then lined a missile off the top of the center field wall which was scored a double and resulted in two runs coming home to score.
After getting enough run support to back her strong afternoon, Linneman closed out the contest by striking out the side in the top of the seventh and secure a 2-0 victory.
UT Martin returns to Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend when traveling to SIUE for a three-game series beginning on Saturday, March. 18
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information