SKYHAWK SOFTBALL COMES BACK IN GAME TWO TO EARN SPLIT OF DAY TWO OF STETSON INVITATIONAL

Saturday, March 9

DeLand, Fla.

11:30 a.m.

UT Martin

10-10

Maryland

11-10

UT Martin

Maryland

SKYHAWK SOFTBALL COMES BACK IN GAME TWO TO EARN SPLIT OF DAY TWO OF STETSON INVITATIONAL

3/10/2019 12:01:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 20: PDF Game 21: PDF

DELAND, Fla. – After suffering a narrow 5-4 defeat earlier in the day to Big Ten foe Maryland, the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team posted a commanding victory in its final contest of the day, knocking off tournament host Stetson 8-1 to split the second day of the Stetson Invitational.

Game 20: Maryland 5, UT Martin 4
Maryland took an early lead in the contest, scoring in the bottom of the second inning off a double by Sammie Stefan into left field. The Terrapins then added to their margin with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly and a RBI groundout to take a 3-0 lead after two innings of work.

UT Martin (11-10) jumped onto the scoreboard and cut into the margin in the top of the fourth inning. Gracyn McBride and Haylee Short both tallied singles in the inning to set up freshman Kenna Garst with a prime scoring opportunity. With runners on first and second and two outs, Garst tallied a double to left center to score a pair and cut the deficit down to one run.

After Maryland added another run in the bottom of the fourth, the Skyhawks rallied back once again in the fifth. A single by Paige Clark started the rally before a two-run home run by Alli Fulcher – her second in as many days and third of the season – tied the game at 4-4.

The game would remain tied until the bottom of the sixth inning. A leadoff triple in the inning proved troublesome before a single by Taylor Okada tallied the eventual game-winning run.
Hannah Ridolfi (4-3) was hit with the loss after allowing four earned runs over six innings of work. Ridolfi would allow eight hits on the day while striking out two and walking three.

Game 21: UT Martin 8, Stetson 1
UT Martin packed its bats for the second game of the day in the twilight of DeLand. In the top of the second, Bivens and Short would both reach to lead off the inning before an error scored the game's first run. The Skyhawks later tallied another run on a double-steal attempt with Short scoring on the play.

Stetson recorded its first and only run in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly down the left field line.

The Skyhawks would tally their third run of the game on a RBI double by McBride to score Fulcher on the play. The visitors looked to add some insurance down the stretch as a double down the left field line by Georgia Land scored a run in the top of the sixth before a single to centerfield by Clark brought in a pair to push the team's advantage out to 6-1.

Looking to close the game out strong, UT Martin added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Three singles in the inning would load the bases with one out. With the bases juiced, Land notched her third RBI of the contest with a two-run single to right field to push the lead out to its final margin of 8-1.

Freshman Lexi Ray (4-4) was fantastic in her outing, allowing just one earned run in seven innings of work. Ray struck out three batters while allowing just five base hits and one walk.

UT Martin will close out its appearance in the Stetson Invitational with a matchup against Maryland on Sunday, March 10. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.