MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After delaying the start of its season by six ballgames due to weather, the Martin Methodist Softball team opened its 2021 season Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader at former conference rival Faulkner (Ala.).

The RedHawks suffered dropped the first contest by a 5-1 margin and fell 7-1 in the nightcap.

The opening contest saw the RedHawks produce eight hits, but they stranded 13 baserunners and were unable to push a run across until the top of seventh. The Eagles struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, and added three more in the bottom of the third.

Second baseman Haley Barnes (2-for-4) notched the lone RedHawk multi-hit performance in the defeat and also drove across the lone run of the contest. Savannah Sands, who also pitched 3.2 innings, scored the lone run of the matchup for MMC.

Sands (0-1) took the loss for the RedHawks in their season opener.

Samantha King (0-1) suffered the defeat in the second contest of the day, allowing seven runs in 3.2 innings of work.

Hannah Hayes was the utility player for the RedHawks in the second ballgame, scoring the only run of the contest and swiping two stolen bases. Hayes also tossed 1.2 innings of shutout work in the circle for MMC.

King notched the lone RBI of the nightcap for the RedHawks.

Martin Methodist returns to action this week for its Mid-South Conference openers versus No. 11 Campbellsville (Ky.).

The contests were originally scheduled for a Friday and Saturday doubleheader, but were moved to a Thursday and Friday slate due to threat of inclement weather over the weekend.

First pitch is set for 3 p.m. both afternoons.