MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team made its 2024 debut at Bettye Giles Field and did not leave its fans disappointed as the squad scored 22 runs over two games while limiting visiting NAIA foe Brescia to just one hit in a doubleheader sweep.
The Skyhawks (4-5) began the day with a speedy five-inning win against the Bearcats by a 10-0 decision before coming back in Game 2 to produce a 12-0 win in limited action.
Along with the team’s stellar hitting approach in which they boasted a .519 batting average with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and 20 RBIs over two games, the pitching staff was equally as dominant. The Skyhawks had six pitchers limit the Bearcats to one hit in two games – including a combined no-hitter in Game 1 with Brooklynn Linneman, Ashtyn Green and Lindsay Kline holding Brescia in check.
The senior pair of Katie Dreiling and Kaci Fuller both recorded four hits on the day while tallying a pair of extra base hits. Dreiling went 4-for-5 at the dish with a double, a home run and six RBIs while Fuller was 4-for-7 with a double and a triple. Newcomer Alli Robinson also had a big day, tallying a three-hit afternoon with a double, a home run and five RBIs.
With predetermined innings limits, Linneman (2-1) and Dreiling (1-1) both picked up wins with three innings of scoreless work while combining to strike out seven. While Green and Kline contributed in the combined no-hitter in relief, Kiersten Nixon and Jordyn Hustey also posted shutout appearances in the second half of the twinbill.
Game 8: UT Martin 10, Brescia 0 (Five innings)
UT Martin cranked out 14 hits in the first game of the day – including five in the opening inning – before jumping onto the scoreboard with five runs in the first. A leadoff triple by Fuller got the game started before coming home to score on a single from Avry Blume. A few pitches later, Dreiling cleared the bases with a two-run home run to right field to take a three-run advantage. The Skyhawks then added their four run of the frame as a double-steal by Kennedy Brown and Robinson capped off the scoring inning.
The Skyhawks then exploded with six more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Robinson tallied her first home run of the season as she cranked a two-run bomb off the left field scoreboard. Then a parade of four consecutive hits by Anna Blanton (single), Fuller (double), Blume (triple) and Dreiling (single) put the game on ice to take a 10-0 lead.
The home squad took a perfect game into the fifth inning but settled for a no-hitter after the Bearcats scratched out a full-count walk to end perfection.
Game 9: UT Martin 12, Brescia 0 (Five innings)
Much like in the opener of the day, the Skyhawks jumped out to an early lead with multiple runs in the first inning. A double by Annie Gutierrez put the Skyhawks on the board before a groundout by Robinson pushed across the team’s second run. A few moments later, Hustey tallied her first of three hits in Game 2 to drive in the team’s third run.
Three more runs crossed the plate in the second inning as Dreiling continued her damage at the plate with a double off the right field wall. The Skyhawks followed that up with two more base runners via a single and a walk before Hustey cleared the bases with a double into the right center gap to take a 6-0 lead.
Mirroring Game 1 of the day, the Skyhawks had another six-run third inning to put the game completely out of reach once again. A two-run single by Dreiling drove in her fifth and sixth RBI of the day, respectively. The squad received another pair of two-run hits as Robinson punctuated her big debut at Bettye Giles Field with a single down the left field line before freshman MacKenzie Bowling recorded her first collegiate hit as a laser into the right field gap cleared the bases and brought the eventual final score to 12-0.
UT Martin returns to action this weekend with a trek across the Volunteer State to compete in the Frost Classic hosted by Chattanooga.
