PULASKI, Tenn. – If Saturday afternoon's softball twinbill are any indicator, Martin Methodist and Faulkner (Ala.) University are in store for an extremely competitive rivalry when the two teams meet as conference foes beginning next fall.
In a pair of one-run games, the two teams split as the RedHawks (11-11) rallied for an 8-7 victory in eight innings in the opener, while the Eagles (14-3) fended off another RedHawk rally to claim a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.
After allowing four runs in the top of the seventh, the RedHawks found themselves down to their final three outs and on the wrong end of a 6-5 score. The RedHawks rallied, however, after Morgan May reached on an infield single before coming into score on an Alley Benefield RBI single back up the middle. The RedHawks threatened to win the game two batters later after Dana Winfrey singled to left field and moved pinch runner Destiny Busby to third and Benefield to second. The RedHawks were unable to capitalize on the ensuing two batters as Caroline Ezell and Megan Anderson struck out to force extra innings.
The RedHawks found themselves in a similar situation in the bottom of the eighth after the Eagles plated a lone run in the top half of the frame.
This time, however, the RedHawks did more than tie the contest as Jasmine Crenshaw sacrifice bunted Anderson over to start the inning, which began with a runner at second base per International Tiebreaker Rules. Courtney Grooms and Morgan May both reached via error on the ensuing at-bats with May's error bringing home Anderson for the tying run.
Once again, the stage was set for Benefield, who laced a single just past the infield at shortstop to send May for the game's winning run to a mob of teammates at home plate.
On the afternoon, Benefield finished with three hits – all singles— and a pair of RBIs in five plate appearances, but none were bigger than her final at-bat. The sophomore also scored a run of her own in the win for the RedHawks, who snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory.
Ana Davila pitched a perfect 1.1 innings in relief to pick up her second win in a RedHawk uniform (2-0). The freshman came on in place of Emily Robb, who gave up 11 hits and six runs in her 6.2 innings of work.
Faulkner 3, Martin Methodist 2:
In the nightcap, the RedHawks rallied but were unable to overcame an early deficit in the loss to the Eagles.
After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the third, the RedHawks mounted a surge in the bottom of the fourth – scoring two runs and putting the pressure back on their future conference rivals.
Over the next three innings, however, the RedHawks had several chances but were unable to push another run across the board in the loss.
As a team, the RedHawks finished with just three hits against Eagles starter Natalie Walker, who also notched five strikeouts and allowed just one earned run.
Two of the hits came from Veronika Fukunishi, who finished 2-for-3 on the afternoon and joined Morgan May as the lone RedHawks to cross the plate in the loss. Courtney Grooms recorded the other lone hit of the afternoon in a 1-for-3 performance at the plate.
Dharianna Familia suffered the loss on the mound (4-3), her second in her last three starts. The freshman allowed four hits and three earned runs in just two innings of work before giving way to Ana Davilia. Davilia pitched four innings of near-perfect ball, allowing just one hit in relief. Emily Robb returned out of the bullpen and allowed just one hit before recording the final three outs of the ballgame for the RedHawks, who fell back to .500 on the year.
The RedHawks will have a chance to push back ahead .500 Sunday, however, when they host Davenport (Mich.) for a Sunday matinee at the East Campus. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
