SKYHAWK SOFTBALL SPLITS SEASON OPENER AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA LION CLASSIC

Friday, February 7

Hammond, LA

Noon

UT Martin

0-1

Buffalo

1-0

Buffalo

UT Martin

SKYHAWK SOFTBALL SPLITS SEASON OPENER AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA LION CLASSIC

2/7/2020 5:29:00 PM | Softball

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

HAMMOND, La. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team opened the 2020 campaign by splitting the opening day of the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic on Friday afternoon.

The Skyhawks (1-1) took great strides in their first action of the season by jumping out to an early lead against Buffalo before ultimately falling 4-3 in the opener. Despite the late rally to flip the result in the opener, UT Martin took control of the contest against Alabama State and never looked back, cruising to a 5-0 victory.

UT Martin saw its returners post strong showings after a long offseason. Junior Madelyn Dycus paced the team with a .600 batting average in the doubleheader, posting three base hits and one RBI. Junior Paige Clark also posted a multi-hit day with two base hits and a pair of stolen bases to go with one RBI. As a whole, the group of Dycus, Clark, Chelsey Gore, Aalia Bivens and Shyanne Sheffield each tallied RBIs on the afternoon.

The Skyhawks pitching staff was impressive, posting a team ERA of 2.00 while tallying 15 strikeouts between the two contests. Erin Gallagher (0-1) started the opener and struck out 10 before allowing four runs in the sixth inning to be hit with the loss. In Game 2, senior Hannah Ridolfi (1-0) tossed five scoreless innings for the victory while junior Seeley Layne pitched three innings of scoreless relief between the two games.

Game 1: Buffalo 4, UT Martin 3
UT Martin jumped out to an early lead in the season opener by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. The Skyhawks used some small ball to kick off the inning as Clark reach via a walk before swiping second to move into scoring position. A pair of consecutive bunts by Gore and Sheffield led to Clark scoring while setting up Bivens to drive in the team's second run on a double down the left field line.

The Skyhawks would pad their margin in the fifth inning as back-to-back singles by Dycus and Chayse Skinner led off the frame. With two runners in scoring position later in the inning, Sheffield singled through the left side to tally her second RBI of the contest and give the Skyhawks a 3-0 lead.

Gallagher was cruising through the game with five no-hit innings and eight strikeouts until Buffalo found its stride in the top of the sixth. After the Bulls tallied their first base hit to lead off the inning the squad rattled off four hits in the inning - including a go-ahead two-run home run by Jenelle Martinez to ultimately serve as the game-winner.

Game 2: UT Martin 5, Alabama State 0
In the second game of the day, the Skyhawks took a lead in the third inning and never looked back. After Bivens led off the inning by reaching via a hit by pitch, the Skyhawk duo of Dycus and Cark tallied back-to-back singles to put the team on top. As the pair both moved into scoring position, Dycus later raced home to score on a wild pitch before Clark quickly followed in her tracks on a sacrifice bunt by Gore to give the Skyhawks a 3-0 lead.

The Skyhawks added to their margin in the fourth inning after capitalizing on miscues. Maddi Long would reach base via a passed ball to lead off the inning before being pulled for pinch runner Emily Alexander. The freshman speedster immediately went to work by swiping second before advancing to third and later home on a pair of wild pitches. The Skyhawks put the finishing touches on the contest with a single up the middle by Dycus to make it a five-run margin.

UT Martin will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 8 when squaring off against Alabama State (noon) and host Southeastern Louisiana (6 p.m.). The contest against Southeastern Louisiana will be streamed live on YouTube.