By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After the first day of action was washed out at the Memphis Tiger Classic, the Tennessee Tech softball team had a hard time getting the bats connecting on Saturday, taking losses to Southeast Missouri and Memphis.
The Golden Eagles (8-16) fell 7-3 to Southeast Missouri in the day's opener, then 8-0 in six innings to host Memphis in the second game of the day.
Tech concludes play in the tournament on Sunday, facing Eastern Michigan at 10:15 a.m., followed by a repeat contest against the Tigers at 2:45 p.m.
The Golden Eagles were held to five hits against the Redhawks, led by freshman Taylor Thomas with two safeties, as well as junior Ashley McGowan, who drove in two of Tech's three runs.
Leigh Ellen Thomas took the loss, falling to 1-6 on the season. She allowed seven runs – four earned – on six hits as she struck out four and walked five in six innings of work.
SEMO took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but Tech took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth as McGowan drove in Taylor Thomas and Bayli Cruse with a two-run single through the right side.
The Redhawks countered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame, then three in the fifth on a three-run blast from Abby Tillotson.
Tech had a single run in the fifth as Cruse drove in Jessie Lowery with a sacrifice fly to left.
In the second game, Memphis pitcher Molly Smith held Tech to just one hit, a single down the left field line off Beth McCulley's bat in the fourth inning.
Smith finished the game throwing all six frames, striking out nine of the 19 batters she faced.
Taylor Waldrop took the loss, falling to 5-7 on the season. She allowed eight runs on 10 hits, walking one as she struck out two.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information