By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
OXFORD, Ala. – They gave it their best effort, but the hits just weren't coming on Friday as the Tennessee Tech softball team saw its season come to a close in a doubleheader sweep by Jacksonville State.
The Golden Eagles (16-33, 7-15 Ohio Valley Conference) find themselves unable to catch up to Morehead State (8-12 OVC following getting swept at Eastern Illinois on Friday) for the eighth and final spot for next week's OVC tournament in Oxford.
Tech was held to three total hits in the first game, six in the second game. Jessie Lowery went 3-for-4 in the second game, while Hallie Davis hit two home runs, one in each game, to end the season tied for the team lead in home runs with nine.
Taylor Waldrop fell to 10-12 in her final contest with the Golden Eagles, allowing five runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out three.
Davis gave the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead in the second, striking a two-run homer to left field, bringing Gabby LaSala home on the ride.
But the Gamecocks scored one run in the fourth as Haley Sims hit an RBI single up the middle. Anna Chisholm then gave JSU a 3-2 lead with a two-run homer to center field, then Sims and Emily Woodruff each picked up an RBI for insurance in the sixth.
Sims took the win as she allowed two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out seven.
In game two, Kayla Hughes went 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs – four earned – on four hits, walking eight and striking out two. Leigh Ellen Thomas pitched in her first action since March 30, allowing one run on one hit in an inning and a third as she walked one.
Nicole Rodriguez earned the victory, allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings of work, walking one and struck out four.
The Gamecocks put one run on the board in the first, then three in the second.
Tech put one run on the board in the fourth as Davis led off with her second home run of the day.
JSU then added single runs in the fifth and the sixth, then Tech scored its final run of the season as Aminah Wood hit a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Callen Griffin.
Photo by Jim Dillon