CLEARWATER, Fla. – Freshman pitcher Erin Nuwer and sophomore pitcher Sage Mardjetko delivered dominant performances in their first starts as Lady Vols Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, leading Tennessee to a pair of run-rule victories over Bethune-Cookman and Iowa.
Nuwer, making her first career start, fired a five-inning no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman in a 10-0 win. The East Aurora, New York, native joined legendary pitcher Monica Abbott as the only Lady Vols to throw a no-hitter in their Tennessee debut. The right-hander struck out eight and allowed only one walk, coming in the third inning. Her no-hitter marked the 59th in Tennessee history.
Mardjetko, in her first start as a Lady Vol, was equally impressive in game two against Iowa. After giving up an early run in the second inning, she escaped a bases-loaded jam and went on to dominate the Hawkeyes lineup. A Lemont, Illinois, native, Mardjetko surrendered just two hits, walked one, and recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts.
Game One: No. 6 Tennessee 10, Bethune-Cookman 0
Tennessee jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by freshman Amayah Doyle’s two-run home run to left, the first of her career. Senior Laura Mealer added a two-run blast to center in the second inning to extend the Lady Vols’ lead to 7-0. Tennessee added another run in the third and two more in the fourth to complete the win.
Game Two: No. 6 Tennessee 10, Iowa 1
Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an RBI single. The Hawkeyes loaded the bases with one out in the frame, but Mardjetko struck out back-to-back batters to escape the jam.
In the third inning, McKenna Gibson tied the game with an RBI single to center, scoring Bella Faw. Tennessee added two runs in the fourth for a 3-1 lead before exploding for seven runs in the fifth inning. Sophia Nugent hit a two-run home run, followed by Kinsey Fiedler’s two-run RBI single. Gibson capped the scoring with a three-run home run, her third hit of the game, securing the run-rule victory.
Due Up
Tennessee faces Notre Dame at 1 p.m. ET and No. 21 Northwestern at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. The matchup against Northwestern will be broadcast nationally on MLB Network.
