PULASKI, Tenn. -- The Martin Methodist Softball team claimed the opener, but dropped the second contest as it split with No. 19 Faulkner (Ala.) Sunday afternoon at Royce Hughes Field.
After Mother Nature had forced a pair of postponements, the RedHawks (6-7, 1-1) finally made their long-awaited home debut in front of a capacity crowd at the East Campus.
The RedHawks capitalized on a late home run to take the opener, 3-1, but suffered a hard-fought 6-4 loss in the nightcap.
The teams return to action to close out the series at 3 p.m. Monday afternoon at Royce Hughes Field.
GAME ONE:
Martin Methodist 3, No. 19 Faulkner 1:
In their first conference matchup of the season, the RedHawks and Eagles played a contest that lasted just a tidy 88 minutes. The RedHawks took the opener thanks to the longball as Sabrina Gilliam blasted a three-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth.
Kaylee Davis scattered six hits across seven innings of work, allowing just a solo home run in the top of the seventh. The home run marked the lone extra-base hit of the afternoon surrendered by the sophomore, who notched her fourth win (4-3) of the season.
Six different RedHawks notched hits in the victory, with Gilliam's blast serving as the lone extra-base hit. Taylor Ferguson, Shelby Clifton, Hannah Hayes, Ombreyah and Taylor Mitchell all accounted for singles.
In addition to her single at the plate, Ferguson kept the RedHawks alive defensively as they made a diving catch in right field in the bottom of the sixth that left the bases loaded for the Eagles.
Returning All-American Caitlin Perry suffered just her second loss (4-2) of the season and Gilliam's home run was the first surrendered by the senior this season.
GAME TWO:
No. 19 Faulkner 6, Martin Methodist 4:
Sunday's second contest saw the RedHawks strike for a run in the bottom of the first, but surrendered four runs in the top of the second and they were never able to recover.
Sabrina Gilliam started the scoring in the bottom of the first with her blast over the center field wall – her second home run of the day.
But in the second, the Eagles capitalized on two RedHawk errors to produce four runs – all unearned and take the 4-1 lead. The Eagles added two, what proved to be, insurance runs in the top of the third.
Trailing 6-1, the RedHawks began to get the bats rolling again as they accounted for two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a pair of hits put runners aboard, the RedHawks saw Hannah Ward drive in two runs with a two-out single to center that plated Reagan Hannah and Ombreyah Daly. The Eagles then returned to Game 1 starter Caitlin Perry, who forced a groundout to end the inning.
The RedHawks made one final push in the seventh, sending four potential game-winning batters to the plate. Hannah Hayes led the frame off with a double and quickly moved to third on an ensuing single from Breanna Owens. Hayes came around to score on Hannah's single to shallow left field and pushed the potential tying run to second. Ashton Edwards came in to pinch hit and lifted a ball to left field, but did not drive deep enough to clear the bases. After Taylor Mitchell struck out, the RedHawks saw first-inning hero Sabrina Gilliam single to load the bases. Hannah Ward connected on a ball down the first base line, but was tagged out to end the contest.
Owens finished the ballgame 3-for-4 with three singles, while Ward's two singles drove in two of the RedHawks four RBIs.
Caitlin Perry (5-2) picked up the win after she relieved starter Bailey Whitfield, who lasted just 3.2 innings.
Victoria Haugness (1-4) suffered the loss in the circle for the RedHawks, lasting just 2.1 innings before giving way to Hannah Hayes, who allowed just two hits and no runs in her 4.2 innings of work.
