MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team scored four runs in the sixth inning to break a tie and ultimately pull away from visiting Middle Tennessee on Tuesday evening en route to a 7-3 home victory.
The Skyhawks improved to 8-7 on the season and 3-0 at the friendly confines of Bettye Giles Field after receiving a well-rounded effort from the team on offense and in the pitching circle. The home squad pounded out 10 hits in the win – including six in the sixth inning – while limiting the Blue Raiders to three runs to escape some sticky situations.
Three players tallied multiple base knocks in the victory with Avry Blume (2-for-3), Katie Dreiling (2-for-4) and Kiersten Nixon (2-for-3) having big afternoons at the dish. While Dreiling drove in a run in both the first and sixth inning, it was a big two-run single by Kaci Fuller which proved to be the eventual game-winner.
After helping her own cause in the batter’s box, Nixon served as the game’s starting pitcher for the home squad and was in line for the victory after allowing just two earned runs in four innings of work. Outside of a solo home run, freshman Lindsay Kline was also strong as she picked up her first collegiate victory after allowing one run and striking out three in three innings of work.
UT Martin wasted very little time jumping out on top of its opponent with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. A pair of walks to the first two batters in Fuller and Blume proved costly for the Blue Raiders as the pair moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Alli Robinson before coming home to score on an RBI-groundout by Dreiling and a defensive miscue.
Middle Tennessee (4-12) quickly rebounded in the following half inning to tie the contest. Similar to the Skyhawks scoring chance, MTSU had its first two batters reach safely before back-to-back singles by Ansley Blevins and Ava Brooks tied the game up at two runs apiece.
The game remained tied until the third inning when Nixon put herself back in position for the win by driving in Blume with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
The Blue Raiders wasted a good scoring opportunity in the fifth inning but the Skyhawks hung tough as Kline strand the bases loaded with a strikeout. The freshman was not as fortunate in the sixth inning as Blevins came through again, this time stroking a solo home run to right field to tie the game up a 3-3.
With the contest tied up once again, the Skyhawks quickly responded in the bottom of the sixth inning. UT Martin tallied six hits in the frame with Kennedy Brown singling through the left side before pinch-hitter MacKenzie Bowling stroked a double off the wall in the right corner. With Fuller at the plate with the go-ahead runs at second and third, the three-time all-conference honoree came through like so many times before with a missile up the middle to give the home squad a two-run advantage.
The big scoring frame would not be finished after the Fuller hit as the squad looked for some insurance. With the lead in hand, Blume singled through the left side to move Fuller to third before another sacrifice bunt by Robinson led to the sixth run of the game coming home to score. A pull-side single by Dreiling added an the final nail to the rally – giving the Skyhawks a 7-3 lead.
Things got interesting in the top of the seventh with Middle Tennessee ultimately loading the bases after a pair of defensive miscues, but Kline held tough and the defense bowed their backs to hold the Blue Raiders off the scoreboard and secure the four-run victory.
UT Martin heads to Memphis this weekend to conclude the tournament portion of its non-conference slate. The Skyhawks will play five games in the 901 Classic Tournament, beginning with a matchup against host Memphis on Friday, March 1 at 3 p.m.
