PULASKI, Tenn. – The Martin Methodist Softball team rattled off a pair of one-run victories against rival Bethel (Tenn.) University Wednesday afternoon at Royce Hughes Field.
The wins kept the RedHawks (13-9, 5-1 SSAC) in the top half of the Southern States Athletic Conference standings as conference play begins in earnest the rest of this month and into April.
In the opener, the RedHawks took an early lead and then tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 3-2 victory. The nightcap was another tight contest as the RedHawks claimed a 1-0 win over the Lady Wildcats (7-15, 1-3 SSAC).
The wins were critical ones for the RedHawks, who will meet three ranked opponents in their next three SSAC contests. The RedHawks will travel to No. 9 William Carey (Miss.) University on Friday and follow up with two ballgames at No. 15 University of Mobile (Ala.) on Saturday.
The RedHawks return to Royce Hughes Field on March 27 when they host No. 23 Faulkner (Ala.) University.
Martin Methodist 3, Bethel 2:
The first contest of the day saw the RedHawks take an early one-run lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Taylor Hurford.
The lead would hold up until the fifth when they Lady Wildcats struck for a game-tying run.
The contest would remained tied less than an inning, however, as reigning Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Week Caylee Porter drove in two runs with a two-out single to left.
The RedHawks had to withstand one last Bethel rally in the top of the seventh. After a leadoff walk and single, the Lady Wildcats had two runners aboard with no outs. Caylee Davis relieved RedHawk starter Baylee Mellott and eventually wiggled out of the jam with minimal damage for the save.
With the bases loaded, Davis forced a pair of ground outs and then a fly out to right to give the RedHawks the 3-2 victory.
The save was the second of the season for Davis while Mellott picked up her seventh win (7-4) of the year.
Martin Methodist 1, Bethel 0:
Fresh off a clutch save at the end of the first game, Kaylee Davis returned to the circle in the second contest as the starter.
And while she allowed nine hits, Davis did not yield a single run on the day as the RedHawks turned their three hits into the game's only run and 1-0 shutout victory.
The fourth inning is where the RedHawks took the lead as they capitalized on a Lady Wildcat leadoff error. Courtney McFarlan popped to left field, but Lexee Miller dropped the catch and McFarlan safely reached base. McFarlan capitalized on a Lady Wildcat passed ball to move into scoring position and then came around to score on a sacrifice bunt from Reagan Hannah.
The run held up as the game-winner for the RedHawks as Sydney Watson replaced Davis in the top of the seventh and used a stellar defensive play to end the game. With one on and one out, Watson snagged a shot hit back up the middle and then quickly fired to first to seal the game with a dramatic double play.
The three-out save was the first of Watson's career. Davis picked up her fifth win (5-4) in the circle for the RedHawks.
Taylor Ferguson went 2-for-3 at the plate as the RedHawks produced just three hits in the second contest. Ferguson went 2-for-2 with two runs scored in the first contest for a solid 4-for-5 day that featured two doubles and two runs scored.
