The UTM softball team used a seventh inning rally against UAB to sweep Day Two of The Snowman hosted by Mississippi State with wins over Alcorn State (8-2) and UAB (3-2) on Saturday.
UTM pushed its winning streak to three games through the first two days of the Alex Wilson Memorial Tournament. The Skyhawks posted 18 base hits while posting a team ERA of 2.00 on the day.
Six Skyhawks tallied multiple hits on the day while the trio of Kaitlyn Kelley, Kenna Garst and Paige Clark led the team with three hits each. Kelley paced the team with four RBIs on the afternoon, including the eventual game-winning two-run double to seal the comeback victory against UAB. Chelsey Gore chipped in two RBIs on the day while Shyanne Sheffield, Kallie Pickens, Garst and Clark also drove in runs.
Erin Gallagher (6-3) started against Alcorn State, striking out five and allowing two earned runs in five innings to secure the victory. Hannah Ridolfi earned the start against UAB, scattering two runs over 4.2 innings of work while Seeley Layne (2-3) picked up the victory. Layne was simply outstanding as she appeared in relief in both contests and tossed 4.1 innings of shutout action.
Game 18: UTM 8, Alcorn State 2
After being shutout in the matchup yesterday, Alcorn State jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. The Braves posted a two-out rally with a single by Malea Dickerson before Amari Ramsey launched a two-run home run down the left field line to take a 2-0 lead.
UTM chipped away at the lead in the bottom half of the inning as a leadoff double by Clark later resulted in a RBI sacrifice fly by Kelley to put the squad on the board. The Skyhawks then found the game’s equalizer in the second inning as Pickens reach on a three-base error before later scoring on a passed ball.
The Skyhawks cranked up their offense in the fourth inning as the team tallied five runs on six hits. Aalia Bivens tallied an early single while Pickens scored the senior by stroking a RBI-triple into right center. A bunt single by Sheffield later brought Pickens home while Gore and Kelley tallied back-to-back single to make it a 7-2 contest.
UT Martin put the finishing touches on its scoring outburst with a RBI-single by Garst to score Lex Rogers in the bottom of the fifth and make it an 8-2 decision.
Game 19: UTM 3, UAB 2
The second game of the day would remain scoreless until the Blazers struck in the bottom of the third inning. UAB would maximize on an error, a single and a walk to load the bases with two outs. Needing the big hit, the Blazers would turn to Sierra Frazier who laced a single into right field to score a pair and take a 2-0 lead.
The Skyhawks went into the seventh inning looking for some late inning magic and found just that. An error and a single by Garst put runner on the corners with no outs. The scoring opportunity would not go to waste as Clark tallied an opposite field single down the right field line to cut the margin in half. Still trailing by a run with two players in scoring position, Kelley tallied her third hit of the day with a double to left center to clear the bases and give the Skyhawks a 3-2 lead which they would not relinquish.
UTM will look to cap off The Snowman with a pair of games on Sunday, March 1. The Skyhawks will square off against UAB at 10 a.m. before facing tournament host Mississippi State at 3 p.m. on SEC Network +.
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