UT MARTIN SOFTBALL DROPS FIRST TWO CONTESTS OF THE SPRING GAMES

Friday, February 24

Madeira Beach, Fla.

12:30 pm

UT Martin

1-5

Notre Dame

6-4

Notre Dame

UT Martin

UT MARTIN SOFTBALL DROPS FIRST TWO CONTESTS OF THE SPRING GAMES

2/24/2023 11:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 6: PDF Game 7: PDF

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team battled on the opening day of The Spring Games on Friday afternoon but dropped a pair of tightly contested matchups to Notre Dame (8-7) and Dartmouth (6-4).

The Skyhawks (1-6) had tie contests in the sixth inning of both games on Friday but could not find the need hits nor lockdown pitching in the closing frames to snap a current six-game losing streak.

UT Martin's offense did find success, scoring 11 runs in the two contests while tallying three doubles. Juniors Kiersten Nixon and Kaci Fuller paced the team with three hits each while classmates Annie Gutierrez and Avry Blume also had multi-hit showings. Fuller paced the team with four RBIs, bringing her season total up to 11 through the first seven games while Gutierrez (three) and Nixon (two) also combined for five RBIs.

The pitching tandem of Katie Dreiling and Brooklynn Linneman were hit with the losses in both contests while Emily Brown also saw action in relief.

Game 6: Notre Dame 8, UT Martin 7
The first game of the tournament saw Notre Dame jump out to an early advantage with a RBI groundout by Anna Holloway to put the ACC program on the board with a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

The lead was short-lived however as UT Martin not only tied the game in the bottom half of the inning but took its own lead after a pair of RBIs. Following a leadoff hit by pitch of Kallie Pickens, the Skyhawks moved the third baseman into scoring position before Nixon drove in the game-tying run with a single down the third base line. Then just two batters later, Fuller gave the Skyhawks the lead after reaching on an error which scored Maddi Long to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Skyhawks then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third as they looked like they were going to run away with the contest. A pair of singles earlier in the frame set up Nixon who tallied her second RBI-single to score a run. Then following a pitching change, Gutierrez smacked a single down the third base line to drive in a pair. While holding a four-run advantage, Fuller and Dreiling padded the Skyhawks lead with back-to-back singles which gave UT Martin a 7-1 cushion.

Facing a large hole, Notre Dame began to chip away at the deficit in the fourth inning as Mickey Winchell tallied an RBI groundout with the bases loaded. Then the next at bat saw Jane Kronenberger notch a two-run single to trim the margin down to three runs.

Still trailing by three runs, the Fighting Irish saw the first two players reach safely in the top of the fifth inning courtesy of a hit by pitch and a four-pitch walk. With two free passes extended to Notre Dame, Lexi Orozco made UT Martin pay with a three-run home run to center field to tie the contest at 7-7.

The game remained tied until the top of the sixth inning when Notre Dame ultimately found its game-winning hit on a single up the middle by Leea Hanks to give the squad an 8-7 advantage which it would not relinquish.

Game 7: Dartmouth 6, UT Martin 4
Playing in back-to-back contest, UT Martin looked to get off on the right foot by scoring a run in the first inning. Back-to-back walks by Blume and Nixon set up the scoring opportunity before Gutierrez singled to center to give the Skyhawks an early 1-0 lead.

Dartmouth then mounted its comeback in the top of the second inning. The Big Green tallied three hits in the inning – including an RBI double by Allie Odhe to tie the game – before a sacrifice fly by Jenna Brown and a single by Maddie Katona gave the squad a 3-1 lead.

The Skyhawks battled back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. With the first two runners reaching to open the inning and a successful sacrifice moved the pair into scoring position, a prime scoring chance was in hand. Just needing a big hit, the Skyhawks turned to Fuller who came up with the clutch knock by lacing an opposite field double into left field to clear the bases and tie the score at 3-3.

The Green Wave quickly answered the Skyhawk rally in the top of the fifth by retaking the lead on a well-placed bunt single by Leila Hennessy which plated one run.

Now entering the bottom of the sixth down by a run, UT Martin found the game's equalizer once again. After Jordyn Hustey worked a pinch-hit walk, Kyrsten Brown re-entered the contest and came around to score two batters later on a game-tying double from Blume.

Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, Dartmouth found a clutch hit of its own in the top of the seventh to once again retake the lead as Kate Farren laced a two-run single through the left side which ultimately scored the game-winning runs.

UT Martin will return to action in The Spring Games with a pair of contests on Saturday, Feb. 24. The Skyhawks will play Oakland at 10 a.m. before squaring off against Valparaiso at 12:30 p.m.