The Skyhawk softball team took on in-state rival Memphis in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 23, in Martin.
Though not an OVC game, the Skyhawks were looking to bolster their overall record, which sat at 26-21 before going into game one of the doubleheader.
Before taking on Memphis, the Skyhawks were tied with conference rivals Belmont and Tennessee Tech at 8-8 in OVC play, with only the teams’ overall records separating them.
With this in mind, the Skyhawks struck first in the first inning of game one after sophomore outfielder Paige Clark ran home following a foul-out by teammate, junior outfielder Aalia Bivens.
UTM’s lead was short-lived, as Memphis outfielder Delaney Smith hit a single that would result in infielder Alyssa Dean running home.
With Dean home and Smith on first, the bases were loaded for a grand slam, which followed shortly after the single. Memphis Outfielder Gracie Morton nailed a home run to send her teammates on base home and establish an early 5-1 lead.
The Skyhawks managed to limit Memphis’ offense to this inning alone, as the Tigers failed to put up any more points after the grand slam.
Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, the team came up just short.
Clark and freshman infielder Chelsey Gore cut down some of Memphis’s lead in the third inning.
Junior infielder Haylee Short flied-out in the sixth inning but allowed freshman catcher Kenna Garst to run home to put the Skyhawks within striking distance at 4-5 going into the seventh inning.
However, the tying run never came, and the Skyhawks lost a close game one 4-5.
Four different Skyhawks tallied one RBI and Clark led the team in runs at two.
Junior pitcher Hannah Ridolfi, who allowed five runs in 2.1 innings pitched, was credited with the loss, dropping to 7-9 on the year.
The Skyhawks came out to avenge their previous loss in game two, an effort that succeeded with a 2-0 victory.
All of the offensive action in game two was limited to the bottom of the first inning, as Bivens and senior shortstop Allie Fulcher recorded RBI’s and Clark and Garst tallied one run apiece.
From here on out, the game belonged to freshman pitcher Erin Gallagher, who stole the show and shut the door on Memphis with four strikeouts and no runs allowed through all seven innings.
With the shutout, Gallagher improved her record to 7-3 on the season.
Following the doubleheader, UTM remained in the same spot in the standings, still wedged between Belmont and Tennessee Tech.
The Skyhawks will return to action on Friday, April 26, in Jacksonville, Flordia, to take on conference leader Jacksonville State (14-4 OVC).
With six games left in the regular season, Memphis marks the last non-OVC game before the OVC Championship. The Skyhawks will engage in three more doubleheaders.
UTM’s final regular season matchup at home will be at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3, against Austin Peay (8-4 OVC).
Statistics used are from UTM Sports Information.
