Posted: May 07, 2011
MARTIN, Tenn. – The Golden Eagles maintained their half-game lead over Murray State as they split Saturday's doubleheader with UT Martin. The Golden Eagles won the first game 5-4, but fell in game two 3-2.
The Golden Eagles opened the first game with an offensive flurry in the first inning, as Lacie Coquerille opened the game with an RBI-single to right field. The offense in the first continued as Whitney Cummings belted a three-run home run, her sixth of the season, to right field to give Tech the 4-0 lead.
Tech starter Holly Thomas cruised through six innings giving up just one run and five hits. Her one blemish through six innings came in the second on an RBI-single from Becca Williams.
Tech centerfielder Kaleigh Gates pushed Tech's lead back to four with a solo-home run to center to make it 5-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Skyhawks mounted a rally that saw Amanda Brandenburg drive in three runs with a double to bring UTM within one at 5-4. Thomas held firm as she forced a groundout to end the game at 5-4 in favor of Tech.
With the win, Thomas improved to 16-8 on the season, giving up four runs, three earned, for her fifth straight victory. Her 16 wins matches a career-high that she set last season.
Brandenburg took the loss as she fell to 11-3, while striking out three.
The night cap of Saturday's doubleheader saw another one-run game, but this time its was the Skyhawks who came out on top with the 3-2 win.
TTU starter Claudia Harke and UTM starter Chelsea Jones each gave up a run in the first inning, but recovered quickly as they kept the opposing offenses in check through the fourth inning.
UTM's Williams broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI-single to center field. The Golden Eagles answered right back as Cummings launched her second home run of the day, and seventh of the season, to tie the score at two.
The bottom of the sixth saw the Skyhawks recover quickly as they regained the lead off a Laurie Lindow RBI to reclaim the lead at 3-2. Tech managed to get runners on second and third in the top of the seventh, but a double play and a groundout ended the Golden Eagle threat as UTM held on to the 3-2 victory.
Harke took the loss as she gave up three runs, on five hits, while Brandenburg claimed the win, improving to 12-3.
Murray State split its doubleheader with Jacksonville State and still sits one win behind Tech in the OVC standings.
TTU (22-25, 13-15 OVC) wraps up its three-game series with UT Martin Sunday. The opening pitch is set for 1 p.m.
The Golden Eagles can advance to the OVC Tournament with a win over the Skyhawks, or a Murray State loss at Jacksonville State Sunday.