​Pitcher Sage Mardjetko has been the subject of a handful of praises from Tennessee Softball head coach Karen Weekly since the beginning of the season, and she continued to back up her coach’s confidence, shutting down Missouri State in game one of Friday’s doubleheader.
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The No. 1 Lady Vols defeated Missouri State 5-0 to open the UAB Green and Gold Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. The Lady Vols (11-0) have had some stress-free outings thanks to the pitching staff, and Mardjetko continued that theme, posting seven innings of shutout play over the Bears (7-4).
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Mardjetko started off the first inning with an out before walking her next batter. Despite the free pass, she sat down the final two batters through a flyout and a strikeout.
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Walks continued in the second inning for Mardjetko. With two outs in the top of the second, she walked Kayla Ulrich, then struck out Emily Gerardy to end the inning.
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Ella Dodge got things started for the offense in the bottom of the second with a lead-off home run to left center. Despite Emma Clarke and Taelyn Holley reaching with a double and a single, the Lady Vols couldn’t cash in and left the frame with just one run.
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Mardjetko locked back in for the top of the third, striking out the side, tallying up her total of strikeouts to five through three innings.
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The Lady Vols cashed in two more runs with small ball in the bottom of the third. Dodge walked in the first run; a wild pitch allowed Gabby Leach to score the second.
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Despite a leadoff single, which was the Bears’ first hit of the night, Mardjetko struck out two and forced a groundout, avoiding another jam and shutting down the offense.
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With a 3-0 Lady Vols lead entering the bottom of the fifth, Makenzie Butt sent the second home run of the day for Tennessee into left center, pushing the lead to four runs.
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Dodge drove in the fifth and final run of the night, scoring Sophia Knight on a double. With a five-run lead, Mardjetko took the field for the seventh inning of play, needing just three more outs to complete the shutout.
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Ulrich led off the top of the inning with a single, before Gerardy followed her up with a single of her own, putting two on and no outs for the Bears.
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Mardjetko bunkered down and struck out the next batter, while Elsa Morrison threw down the runner attempting to steal third. From no outs and two on to two outs and one runner on second, the Lady Vols were an out away from the win.
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Alexis Perales was the final out of the night for the Bears as Mardjetko forced a line-out right to first base.
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Mardjetko finished with seven complete innings of work, striking out 11 while walking three. Her season ERA for the year drops to an impressive 0.60.