3-RBI Day For Makarewicz Lifts Skyhawks To 5-3 Win Over Saint Louis

Thursday, February 12

Martin, Tenn.

4 p.m

UT Martin

4-2

Saint Louis

2-4

Saint Louis

UT Martin

3-RBI Day For Makarewicz Lifts Skyhawks To 5-3 Win Over Saint Louis

2/12/2026 9:07:00 PM | Softball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball program kicked off its home slate with an impressive come-from-behind 5-3 victory over Saint Louis in the opener of the Skyhawk Invitational on Thursday afternoon.

The Skyhawks (4-2) picked up their fourth straight win behind a pair of monster performances both in the batters box and in the circle. Leading the way for the home team was the play of senior Avary Makarewicz who went 2-for-3 at the plate while drilling a solo home run and driving in a game-high three RBIs in the victory. Makarewicz was one of three players to record multiple hits in the contest for UT Martin as both Kennedy Brown and Carly Ward went 2-for-2 to lengthen the lineup.

Ashtyn Green started the contest but was relieved by sophomore Natalie Kreuziger in the second inning. With a fresh arm in the circle, the sophomore hurler picked up her first win of the season after pitching 5.1 scoreless innings of relief while striking out four batters. When Kreuziger did run into a little action on the basepaths in the seventh inning, newcomer Sami Scholtz picked up her first save as a Skyhawk by stranding the bases loaded with a strikeout to secure the 5-3 win.

Saint Louis (2-4) jumped out to an early lead by scoring all three of the team's runs in the opening frame of the game. A fielding error out of the leadoff spot proved costly as a single by Karsen Jany was followed by a three-run home run to deep center field by Anna Christ to give the Billikens an early 3-0 advantage.

The Skyhawks began to climb out of their early hole in the second inning when Makarewicz turned on the second pitch she saw and launched a towering solo home run into the left center gap. UT Martin then tied up the margin in the bottom of the fourth when the twin tandem of Kyrsten Brown and Kennedy Brown tallied consecutive RBI-singles to knot the contest at 3-3.

After putting the Skyhawks on the board in the second inning, Makarewicz continued her hot-streak at the plate by lacing a two-run single through the right side to give the home squad a 5-3 lead in the fifth.

With a two-run cushion to lean on, the Skyhawks looked to close out their home opener with a victory. A leadoff groundout set up the inning before back-to-back singles up the middle by Jany and Christ chased Kreuziger out of the game. With Scholtz entering the game, the Billikens laced their third consecutive single to load the bases. A potential sacrifice fly came off the bat of Riley Nelson, but a strong throw by Teagan Hayes thwarted the potential play at the plate. With the bases still loaded and two outs, Scholtz anchored down and capped her first save with a swinging strikeout.

UT Martin will return to action for Day 2 of the Skyhawk Invitational with a pair of games on Friday, Feb. 13. Early action will see the Skyhawks challenge Valparaiso at 9:30 a.m. before returning to Bettye Giles Field at 3 p.m. for a matchup against Mississippi Valley State.