MONDAY'S GAMES
@NC State 10,
Murray State 1
@Norfolk State 8,
Morehead State 3
Central Connecticut State 5,
Morehead State 4
@UT Martin 5, Saint Louis 0
Saint Louis 4,
@UT Martin 1
@Chattanooga 5,
Eastern Kentucky 2
NC STATE 10, MURRAY STATE 1
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Racers fell to NC State to close out the Fairfield Inn & Suites Crabtree Invitational in Raleigh, North Carolina on Monday morning. Behind three home runs from Brigette Nordberg, the Wolfpack put on a commanding offensive display on their way to a 10-1 win over the Racers.
Murray State manufactured their first run of the game in the opening frame after a sacrifice fly from Madison Culver scored Brenna Finck, who drew a leadoff walk to open the ballgame. Carrying a 1-0 lead into the home half, the Wolfpack would retaliate with two runs of their own when Brigette Nordberg crushed a two run round-tripper to right, giving her side a 2-1 lead through the end of the first.
After a scoreless second inning from both sides, the Racers had a promising opportunity after loading the bases in the visiting half of the third. Attempting to erase the deficit, the Racers were unable to push across a run - stranding three to end the inning.
After a leadoff walk to start the home half for NC State, Nordberg stepped to the plate and sent another two run shot to left center for her second long ball of the competition. With no further damage to the scoreboard, the Wolfpack would hold a 4-1 lead through the end of three complete.
Unable to get the offense going in the next half, the Racers found themselves in a difficult position defensively when NC State put runners on first and second with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth. Grace Vaughn came on to pitch for the Racers, inheriting both baserunners, but would work out of the predicament without surrendering a run - keeping the score within reach at 4-1 through four innings of play.
Moving to the home half of the fifth, the first three Wolfpack batters would reach safely to load the bases with nobody out. After a sacrifice fly from Kelli Wagner scored one, Natalie Jones would blow the game open with the third Wolfpack home run of the day - a three run blast to left field. Finally, NC State would finish off the game in style when Nordberg launched her third home run of the ballgame, a two run rocket to arrive at a final score of 10-1 in favor of the Wolfpack.
Madison Culver (1-2, RBI) drove in the Racer run, while Jensen Striegel, Sierra Gilmore, and Denise Teague also recorded a hit in the ballgame.
The Racers return to action this coming weekend at the Coach B Classic, hosted by the Salukis of Southern Illinois.
UT MARTIN 5, SAINT LOUIS 0; SAINT LOUIS 4, UT MARTIN 1
MARTIN, Tenn. - After a handful of schedule alterations, the University of Tennessee at Martin softball team made its home debut on Monday afternoon, splitting the series against non-conference foe Saint Louis at Bettye Giles Field. UT Martin would win the home opener 5-0 before falling 4-1 in the second half of the doubleheader.
UT Martin looked comfortable playing within newly enhanced Bettye Giles Field with fans treated to a new state-of-the-art grandstands upgrade behind home plate. The Skyhawks would tally 11 hits on the day – including three doubles – while the pitching staff was impressive as well, allowing just four earned runs.
The Skyhawk trio of Haylee Short, Gabbi Campbell and Gracyn McBride each tallied a pair of hits on the day while five other players joined in the hit column. While UT Martin scored six runs, Alli Fulcher, Georgia Land and McBride notched the day’s RBIs with the other three runs scoring on errors.
Junior starter Hannah Ridolfi (3-1, 2.86 ERA) paced the Skyhawk staff by notching her first shutout of the season and fourth of her career in Game One. Ridolfi struck out four while issuing no walks in seven innings of scoreless work. In Game Two, Caitlin Karo (1-1, 3.63 ERA) got the start and gave up two runs in three innings of work. Erin Gallagher appeared in relief, giving up two home runs in two three innings while Lexi Ray tossed two scoreless innings to complete the game.
Game 11: UT Martin 5, Saint Louis 1
UT Martin got its first run on the board in the bottom of the second inning. A pair of walks to Campbell and Gore sandwiched an infield single by McBride to load the bases with one out. From there things became wild as a scorching lineout off the bat of Kallie Pickens resulted in an out before a throwing error allowed Campbell to score on the play and take a 1-0 lead.
The Skyhawks would continue to pile on runs from there as Fulcher scored Paige Clark from third on a sacrifice fly in the third inning before another error on a Pickens ball put in play resulted in two more runs in the following inning gave the home squad a 4-0 lead.
UT Martin would add some insurance in the bottom as Campbell led off the inning with a laced double which diverted off the first baseman and into the right field corner. With a runner in scoring position, Land drove in her classmate with a single up the middle to notch the game’s fifth and final run.
Game 12: Saint Louis 4, UT Martin 1
Saint Louis struck for a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a lead it would not relinquish. A leadoff walk proved costly, resulting in the first run of the game following a single to right by Sadie Wise. The Billikens would add another run as Kaylea Chappelle drove in a run with a single to left field before being called out at second with two runners occupying the same base.
A pair of back-to-back solo home runs by Kristi Stevenson and Mackenzie Lawson saw the lead jump out to four runs in the top of the fourth.
The Skyhawks finally broke the shutout attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning. Aalia Bivens would crush a double to left center before later coming home to score on a RBI groundout by Garst.
UT Martin will return to action on Friday, March 1 when traveling to the Blues City Classic, hosted by Memphis.
CHATTANOOGA 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 2
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team fell on the road, 5-2, at Chattanooga on Monday afternoon.
Eastern started a late rally in the top of the fifth inning when Jackie Mercado sent her first home run of the year way over the right field fence to cut into the Moc lead 5-2.
However, EKU did not get any closer than that.
Chattanooga wasted no time in the first inning scoring five runs, including a grand slam from Amanda Beltran.
In the top of the first inning, Destinee Lizzmore and Zoe Mihalicz both reached base for the Colonels but could not come across for an early lead.
Eastern had its best chance in the third inning, when Mihalicz and Erica Bowers reached base via the hit by pitch with one out in the inning. That is when Emily Corbitt singled up the middle but Mihalicz was thrown out at the plate trying to score.
Sammi Miller walked to load the bases for the Colonels, but the threat would end after a ground out by Mercado.
Bethany Todd went four innings allowing four hits and striking out six.
Allison Swinford started on the mound for the Mocs, going five innings and striking out three.
Miller and Carly Robinson each picked up two hits on the contest for the Colonels.
Beltran went 1-for-4 for Chattanooga with a grand slam.
EKU pounded out eight hits on the contest. Chattanooga had 11 on the day.
The Colonels return to the field Friday when they take on Southeastern Louisiana at Alabama State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.