UT MARTIN SOFTBALL SPLITS OPENING DAY OF 2019 SEASON

Friday, February 8

Statesboro, Ga.

10:30 a.m.

UT Martin

1-0

Winthrop

1-1

Winthrop

UT Martin

UT MARTIN SOFTBALL SPLITS OPENING DAY OF 2019 SEASON

2/8/2019 7:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1: PDF Game 2: PDF Photo Gallery

STATESBORO, Ga. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team officially kicked off its 2019 season on Friday afternoon, opening the season with a victory over Winthrop (6-4) before falling to tournament host Georgia Southern (6-4) on the first day of the Bash in the Boro.

The Skyhawks (1-1) used the opening day as a bit of casting practice with several players seeing action. With 11 newcomers on the squad, UT Martin head coach Donley Canary wasted little time getting everyone playing time as all 11 newcomers made their Skyhawk debuts on the opening day of the season.

UT Martin saw strong performances from its returning cast to lead the way. Sophomore Paige Clark led all hitters with three base knocks on the day while driving in a pair of RBIs. Meanwhile, the senior duo of Gracyn McBride and Alli Fulcher showed their veteran presence with a pair of base knocks each while combining to drive in six runs – including a grand slam by McBride while Fulcher narrowly missed a grand slam of her own as a double struck off the top of the left field wall to score a pair.

Junior pitcher Hannah Ridolfi (1-0, 2.00 ERA) picked up where she left off last season to cruise to a win in the season opener. Ridolfi notched her 18^th complete game for the Skyhawks while allowing two earned runs on the afternoon. In the second game of the day, freshman Lexi Ray (0-1, 10.50 ERA) made her debut, tossing four innings before being relieved by classmate Erin Gallagher who struck out two in a pair of shutout innings.

Game 1: UT Martin 6, Winthrop 4

UT Martin would jump out to an early lead in the season opener as senior Shelby Woodard made her Skyhawk debut by doubling to left center to score junior Haley Short on the play and take an early advantage.

The Skyhawks would strike again in the bottom of the second inning. After UT Martin would load the bases through a series of differing events, McBride launched a grand slam over the center field wall for her 17^th career home run and 70^th career RBIs.

UT Martin would add another run in the bottom of the third inning off a wild pitch and throwing error. With a 6-1 advantage, the Skyhawks would allow a couple runs down the stretch but hold on to seal the team's opener 6-4.

Game 2: Georgia Southern 6, UT Martin 4

UT Martin found themselves in an early hole in the second game of the day against tournament host Georgia Southern. The Eagles would jump out to an early lead by scoring four runs in the second inning. Facing the four-run deficit, the Skyhawks finally got on the scoreboard as Clark punched a single into right field to score freshman Kenna Garst.

The Eagles would add another pair of runs in the third and fifth innings to push the team's margin out to five points. Facing a deficit, the Skyhawks began to mount their comeback attempt in the top of the sixth inning. Down by five, Fulcher would see the bases become loaded in front of her before stroking a two-run double off the top of the left field wall – narrowly missing a grand slam of her own by just inches – to cut the margin in half.

UT Martin would mount its final rally attempt in the top of the seventh. With runners on the corners Clark would tally her second RBI of the day to cut the margin to just two runs. The Skyhawks would ultimately see the game's potential tying run come up to the plate before the final out was record to end the contest.

UT Martin will return to action with a pair of games on Day Two of the Bash in the Boro. The Skyhawks will square off against Saint Francis (8 a.m.) and Savannah State (10:30 a.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 9.