PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern softball team defeated the Grace College Lancers in a pair at Royce Hughes Field on Saturday. UTS cinched up game one 9-6 and took game two with some late-inning fireworks 8-7.

GAME ONE

Anisten Burleson would single and drive in Hayley Parrott in the first. Later in the inning, Hannah Branam would plate Stella Gilbreath to give the Firehawks a 2-0 lead.

Gilbreath would reach on an error that would allow Sydney Self to score in the second.

Kaley Ezell would single to score Kayla Lawrence in the third extending the UTS lead to 4-1.

Mckenzie Cain would blast an RBI double plating Burleson. Lawrence would reach on an error in the fourth letting Branam score. UTS would hold the lead at 6-3.

In the fifth, the trio of Self, Parrott, and Burleson would drive in Carley Pendley, Self, and Gilbreath to give the Firehawks a 9-4 lead through five innings.

Kamryn Murdock would get the start. She would hurl 3.1 innings allowing three earned runs and striking out seven. Ana Aaron would toss 2.2 innings of relief earning the win. Aaron allowed three earned runs and recorded five strikeouts. Jayci Boozer would log a save for the Firehawks pitching the final inning allowing a pair of hits and fanning three.

GAME TWO

UTS would begin in a large deficit but would begin to chip away at the Lancer lead. Gilbreath would draw a walk and a passed ball would allow Self to score in the first.

Self would drive a double in the second scoring Branam and Makenna Birdsong. UTS would trail 5-3.

In the fourth, Self would drive in Parrott, and Gilbreath drove in Self. UTS would trail 7-5.

UTS would add another run on a sacrifice fly in the 5^th. Karlee Wright would drive in Cain to shave the lead to 7-6.

In the home half of the sixth, Parrott would drive in Emily Gable, and Gilbreath would drive in Parrott to give the Firehawks the lead.

Macy Ciramella would allow three earned runs in 1.1 innings of work. Gilbreath would finish the game by hurling 5.2 innings. She allowed a pair of earned runs and five hits taking the win.

NEXT UP

The Firehawks will close out the three-game series tomorrow at Royce Hughes field with the first pitch scheduled for 10 AM.

FOLLOW THE FIREHAWKS

Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding UTS Athletics by following the Firehawks on Twitter (@GoFirehawks), Instagram (@gofirehawks), and Facebook (@UTSathletics).