Blue Raiders Drop Two at Buzz Classic

MARIETTA, Ga. - Middle Tennessee softball (3-8) dropped its final two games Saturday at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic falling to Georgia Southern 4-2 and Iowa 3-1.

Game One: Georgia Southern 4, Middle Tennessee 2

Georgia Southern's Sam Steiner hit a one out two run homer to break a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth to give the Eagles the lead and eventual win over Middle Tennessee. Georgia Southern tied the game in the fourth inning off a two RBI double by the Eagles Katie Smith.

Middle Tennessee's Liz Davis hit the first homerun of her career in the bottom of the second inning to give the team a 1-0 lead. The Blue Raiders tacked on their second run of the inning when Candis Littrell went home off an error by Georgia Southern's first baseman.

Freshman hurler Ashley Katinas started the game lasting 3.2 innings and was taken out with two runners on and two outs. Crystal Bobo, who gave up the two RBI double to tie the game, replaced Katinas who got the no decision after Bobo gave up the two go ahead runs.

Middle Tennessee left 10 runners on base and twice had the bases loaded with one out. The Blue Raiders had five hits in the game and didn't commit an error.

GAME TWO: Iowa 3, Middle Tennessee 1

Iowa jumped on the board in the first inning after Katinas gave up two walks with one out. Hawkeye centerfielder Sami Baugh hit an RBI single that plated the first run of the game.

Middle Tennessee answered in the top of the second inning when shortstop Candis Littrll launched a rocket over the centerfield wall. It was the second homerun of the day for the Blue Raiders and also the second in Littrell's career.

In the bottom of the fifth Iowa broke the 1-1 tie when Summer Downs hit a triple to right field and then scored off an RBI single by Kylie Murray. A sacrifice bunt placed Murray on second and then she moved to third on a wild pitch by Katinas and scored off an error.

Katinas tossed her second complete game of her career and took the loss. In six inning she allowed three runs on five hits and struck out two. She falls to 0-4 on the year.

Middle Tennessee will face Saint Louis University on Sunday. Game time is set for 9 a.m. Central.