Martinez Has Big Day in Lady Raider Wins

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee softball (5-4) went 2-0 in the second day of the Tennessee Tech Ice-Breaker Worth Tournament defeating Louisville 8-5 and Bradley 5-2 at the Cane Creek Complex Sunday.

Middle Tennessee trailed 2-0 until the sixth inning when designated player Jennifer Martinez hit a two RBI single to tie the game. Freshman catcher Leah Grothause put the Lady Raiders on top with a two RBI to make the score 4-2.

Martinez helped the Lady Raiders with an insurance run in the seventh when her double sent home centerfielder Kip Phillips. Junior Stayc Preator pitched a complete game and picked up her first win of the season (1-2), allowing two runs on seven hits and had six strikeouts.

Middle Tennessee defeated Louisville (3-8) 8-5 in the morning game. The Lady Raiders were up 8-0 after four innings, but a four run five hit rally by the Cardinals in the top of the fifth made things interesting.

Pitcher Martinez (4-1) had another strong outing on the mound. She worked four shutout innings, before being replaced by senior Amanda Kendall. After Kendall gave up four runs on five hits, Martinez was inserted back into the line-up to finish the game.

Overall Martinez went 6.1 innings allowing seven hits and striking out eight. The one run scored on Martinez was unearned in the top of the seventh. She also had a good game at the plate, as she hit the Lady Raiders first homerun of the season, and went 2-3 with three RBI.

Senior Lisa Sherman zeroed in on the ball going 3-4 and knocking in three RBI. Laura Brockman and Leah Grothause each went 2-3, with Brockman also picking up an RBI and scoring a run.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Friday when the Lady Raiders travel to Chattanooga, TN to compete in the Frost Classic on the campus of UT-Chattanooga.

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