By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team put the potential game-winning run in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning but could not complete its comeback attempt, falling 2-1 to in-state foe Memphis at Bettye Giles Field.
The Skyhawks (15-18) were outhit by an 8-6 margin while allowing both of the Tigers runs in the first three innings of the game. Facing a deficit from the first inning, the Skyhawks fought back to later cut the lead in half and threaten in the bottom of the seventh inning but couldn’t push the game-tying run across to score.
Kaci Fuller led the team with a 2-for-4 afternoon in the batter’s box while Kallie Pickens drove in the team’s lone run with a solo home run in the fourth inning. The pair was joined in the hit column by Avry Blume, Annie Gutierrez and Kiersten Nixon who also tallied base knocks.
Nixon (0-7) was hit with the loss after allowing two runs in three innings of work. Katie Dreiling was strong in relief once again, allowing just three hits and no runs in four innings of action.
Memphis (7-32) found a pair of multi-hit efforts as Madison Berner went 3-for-4 out of the three-hole in the lineup while Linsey Hargis was 2-for-4. Aliana Zavala picked up the team’s lone RBI of the outing while Rylee Dugar (2-12) earned her second win of the season after scattering six hits and one run in a complete game victory.
The Tigers jumped on the board in the first inning as back-to-back singles by Hargis and Berner paid off. With runners on the corners with two outs, Memphis attempted a delayed double steal which worked to perfection, allowing Hargis to steal home and take an early advantage.
The visitors added another run in the top of the third inning after another pair of hits by the pair of Hargis and Berner came around to hurt the Skyhawks. Following the two hits and a walk to load the bases, Zavala lofted a sacrifice fly ball to right field while allowed Hargis to score her second run of the game and push Memphis’ lead out to 2-0.
UT Martin’s big hit came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Pickens turned on the second pitch of the at bat and launched it well over the left field deck for her fifth home run of the season to cut the deficit in half.
The Skyhawks had a chance to either tie or take the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mounting a two-out rally, Nixon worked a walk before Fuller legged out a single which was compounded by an error to put two runners in scoring position. The big hit did not come through unfortunately, as both runners were stranded in scoring position to end the game by a final score of 2-1.
UT Martin returns to action this weekend when traveling to Morehead State for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference road series. Action is scheduled to begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 15 beginning at 11 a.m. CT with the series concluding on Sunday afternoon.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information