By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
AUBURN, Ala. – Saturday's action in the Plainsman Invitational proceeded as scheduled, but the Tennessee Tech softball team ran into some rough patches.
The Golden Eagles (0-4) saw Marshall rally then take a commanding 10-4 victory in the first game, then Tech had no answer for No. 13 Auburn in the second game, falling 18-0 in five innings.
Sunday's action in the Plainsman Invitational has been wiped out, meaning Tech will come back to Cookeville and get set for its second tournament of the season, heading down to the Chattanooga Challenge on Friday to take on Western Kentucky and Chattanooga.
In the game against the Thundering Herd, Tech had four home runs to account for their runs as Taylor Thomas hit the Golden Eagles' first four-bagger of the year, then Raegan Sparks knocked one out of the park for a 2-0 lead after two frames.
Beth McCulley hit her first dinger in a Tech uniform to make it 3-0 in the third, but the Golden Eagles saw the Herd stampede their way back into the game and in the lead with two runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Gabby LaSala hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-4, but Marshall answered with four runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Taylor Waldrop had a good outing for the first three frames, but Marshall ended up tagging her for five runs – two earned – on six hits as she walked one and struck out three over the course of five innings. Leigh Ellen Thomas worked the final two innings, allowing five runs – two earned – on three hits. She walked four.
The Tech defense was charged with five errors in the contest.
The Golden Eagles' luck didn't improve in the second game. Kayla Hughes had a tough-luck outing as she allowed 11 runs – nine earned – on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. She started the game and was replaced with Leigh Ellen Thomas in the second, who Auburn immediately pinned seven runs – five earned – on two hits in two-thirds of an inning, before Hughes returned to the game.
Tech mustered three hits against the Tigers, one each from Taylor Thomas, Sydney Love-Baker and Callen Griffin.
Auburn scored eight runs in the first, six runs in the second and four runs in the fourth.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information