By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MARTIN, Tenn. – After a six-run outburst by UT Martin in the opening inning, the Tennessee Tech softball team battled back to cut the deficit to two before the Skyhawks erupted again in the fifth and sixth innings to take the first of three games 10-4 on Friday afternoon.
The series concludes on Saturday as the Golden Eagles (3-32, 0-10 OVC) take on UT Martin in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. The games will be available on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Savannah Talley and Abby Shoulders both went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Golden Eagles, with Talley driving in three of the four runs. Ella Bishop drove in a run as she went 1-for-2.
UT Martin had four players with two RBI each, including Katie Dreiling, who helped her own cause in the circle as she went 3-for-3 with two home runs. Dreiling, who came on in relief in the fourth inning, picked up the victory – her seventh of the season -- as she allowed one hit and two walks while striking out two.
The Skyhawks tagged Gracelyn Woollen for six runs in two-thirds of an inning as the Tech hurler allowed six runs on four hits with three walks. Callie Piper came on in relief and worked the remaining five-and-a-third, allowing four runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out five.
UTM had back-to-back home runs to lead off the bottom of the first from Kaci Fuller and Dreiling in just a span of six pitches. Kiersten Nixon and Brooklyn Linneman then had a pair of two-run hits – a single for Nixon and a double for Linneman – to make it a 6-0 game.
Tech responded with a single run in the top of the second as Talley drove in Carmen Betts with a single to center field. Two more Golden Eagles came across to score in the top of the third as Talley drove in Sarah Livingston and Haeli Bryson on a single, then Bishop brought Talley in on a single to left center.
UT Martin scored a single run in the bottom of the fifth, then added three more in the sixth, including a second round-tripper for Dreiling.
Linneman, who started in the circle for the Skyhawks, went three innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on seven hits, walking one and striking out four.
