By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Western Carolina and Alabama State both took early leads on the Tennessee Tech softball team on Saturday, but by the time the games were finished, the Golden Eagles found their way on top.
After a tough first day being held to three hits, Tech collected 14 hits in the second day of the Stinger Classic, earning a 2-1 win over Western Carolina in the day's first action, then a 5-1 victory over host Alabama State.
Weather permitting, the Golden Eagles (2-1) will take on Western Carolina again at 11:30 a.m., followed by a rematch with North Alabama at 2 p.m.
Beth McCulley continued her hot hitting at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI against the Catamounts, then 2-for-3 with a run scored in the game versus the Hornets. She stands at 7-for-9 at the plate on the young season.
Western Carolina struck first in the second inning, driving in a run in a three-hit frame on a sacrifice fly. Tech responded in the third inning with two runs. KaDedra Temple hit a one-out single to center, then came home to score as Jessie Lowery doubled and advanced to third on the throw home to try to erase Temple.
McCulley collected her RBI with a single to put the Golden Eagles on top.
Alyssa Arden, meanwhile, held firm. After giving up four hits to that point, the junior yielded just one more safety and three baserunners in the contest. Arden finished the game with two walks and seven strikeouts to pick up Tech's first win of the season.
In the nightcap, Haeli Bryson was just as effective, yielding just three hits and a walk. Two of the three hits came in the opening frame as Alabama State scored its lone run on a wild pitch. Bryson ended the game with one walk and five strikeouts.
Tech took the lead on a two-run inning in the third as Mackenzie Fitzgerald drove in Hannah Richter on single through short, then Bryson drove in McCulley on an RBI single.
The Golden Eagles improved their advantage in the sixth. With one down, Alexis Trimiar and Paxton Grimes worked the count to reach on walks. A fielding error at short allowed Nicolle Nysted to read and load the bases. Lowery drove in Trimiar on a sacrifice grounder to first, then pinch-hitter Brooklin Richardson grounded back to the circle. The ball was misplayed, allowing Grimes to score.
Tech added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Trimiar drove in Bryson on a single up the middle.
