UT MARTIN SOFTBALL WRAPS UP STRONG SHOWING BLACK AND GOLD TOURNAMENT WITH A PAIR OF WINS

Friday, February 15

Montgomery, Ala.

4 p.m.

UT Martin

Western Carolina

UT Martin

UT MARTIN SOFTBALL WRAPS UP STRONG SHOWING BLACK AND GOLD TOURNAMENT WITH A PAIR OF WINS

2/17/2019 9:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 7: PDF Game 10: PDF

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team put a strong cap on its appearance in the Black and Gold Tournament with a dominant win over tournament host Alabama State by a score of 10-1 in six innings while resuming Friday's suspended contest against Western Carolina and ultimately winning 7-3.

The Skyhawks (7-3) finished the tournament by winning four of five contests behind yet another day of strong performances. The offense would score 14 runs on the day while 18 total hits would be compiled between the games.

Sophomore Paige Clark posted a big day, notching five hits, scoring four runs and tallying four stolen bases. Senior Alli Fulcher was right behind with three base hits – including a double and a home run – while Chelsey Gore, Aalia Bivens and Gracyn McBride also recorded multi-hit days.

In the pitcher's circle, Hannah Ridolfi notched her second win of the season while Lexi Ray made yet another impressive start. Ridolfi concluded the halted game from Friday after rain caused scheduling problems. With three innings in the bag, she returned to finish with an overall line of seven innings pitched, three earned runs and six hits allowed in the victory. Meanwhile, Ray earned her third win of the season by striking out three and allowing one earned run in six innings of work.

Game 7: UT Martin 7, Western Carolina 3

UT Martin would jump out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when a leadoff single by Clark later resulted in two runs as Fulcher tallied her first home run of the season and the 16^th of her career to take a 2-0 lead. Then just three batters and three singles later, the Skyhawks brought their third run of the game home on a RBI by Gore.

Western Carolina would mount its comeback in the top of the third inning. Four consecutive singles to start the inning began their rally to score a couple of runs. Then with runners on base and no outs in the inning, the Catamounts tied the game at 3-3 just before the game was halted due to heavy rain in the area, resulting in the game being suspended until it could be completed this afternoon.

With the resumption of the game and new life for the Skyhawks, Fulcher drew a walk before back-to-back batters would be hit by a pitch to load the bases. With the bases juiced, Gore singled into left field to score the go-ahead run and give the Skyhawks a 4-3 lead.

UT Martin looked for insurance in the later innings and would find it. A fielder's choice and a walk placed a pair of runners on, setting up Georgia Land who dumped a double into center field to clear the bases and take a 6-3 advantage. The Skyhawks would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth on an error to seal the team's 7-3 victory.

Game 10: UT Martin 10, Alabama State 1 (Six innings)
UT Martin wasted very little time getting on the scoreboard in today's matchup with all nine players coming to the plate in the first innings. Clark would get the action started with a single before swiping second base to move into scoring position. With the prime position, Clark came home to score on a double down the left field line by Fulcher to take an early lead. From there Gore would drive in
Fulcher while a two-run single by McBride scored a pair. The inning would conclude with Kenna Garst singling to right to score Madelyn Dycus to make it 5-0.

Hayley Short would drive in a run in the top of the second inning to make it a six-run margin before the offense struck again on a Fulcher single in the fourth inning to push the lead out to seven.
Alabama State scored its lone run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth on a single by Charlene Castro. The Skyhawks then answer that run in the top of the fifth on a RBI-single by McBride to make it 8-1.

The Skyhawks would ultimately force the mercy rule in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs. The first run came home on a fielding error to score Gabbi Campbell while the second and ultimately game-ending run came on a sacrifice fly by Shelby Woodward – notching a 10-1 victory.

UT Martin will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 23 when playing host to Western Illinois in a three-game series. Doubleheader action from Bettye Giles Field will get underway at noon.