By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri wrapped up the sweep over the Tennessee Tech softball team on Saturday, but even though the results weren't what the Golden Eagles wanted, there were still some positives on Saturday.
In the series finale, Tech (8-10, 3-3 Ohio Valley Conference) saw its bats wake up late as well as some big defensive plays, but it wasn't enough to come back from an early assault as the Redhawks (7-9, 5-1 OVC) took an 8-4 victory.
In the conclusion of game two, suspended from Friday night, the Golden Eagles were able to put together four scoreless frames as the 4-1 score in the previous night's action held as the final tally. Just a walk and an error put a SEMO base runner on in the remainder of the contest.
Haeli Bryson completed the game as her final line read four earned runs on six hits, walking one and striking five over seven innings. Her SEMO counterpart, Marisa Davis, went four full frames and did not allow a hit or a walk, while striking out two.
SEMO's four runs from Friday night included a pair of Kaylee Anderson home runs, as well as a Jillian Anderson RBI single.
Anderson wasn't the only Redhawk with two home runs as Ashley Ellis ended the series finale with a pair of homers to drive in five of SEMO's eight runs. She hit a three-run shot in the top of the first inning, then, after Katie Dreiling hit an RBI double in the third, Ellis hit her second home run of the game to left center field.
SEMO had a chance to add more in the first inning as Jillian Anderson led off with a double to right center, but tried to leg it out to a triple. Beth McCulley started the relay to Sydney Love-Baker to Carmen Betts to throw the runner out on the play.
Love-Baker also erased Jillian Anderson in the fifth as she lined out to Love-Baker, then tagged out Abigail Rickermann, who was originally called safe on the play. The umpires conferred, then signaled the out to confirm the unassisted double play.
Tech broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fourth as Nicolle Nysted hit a home run to center field, increasing her team-leading total to four round-trippers.
SEMO added another run in the fifth as Rachel Anderson singled to left, bringing Jillian Anderson home, then one more in the sixth as Austine Pauley scored on an error.
The Golden Eagles put three runs on the scoreboard in the sixth. Jessie Lowery led off the inning with her first home run of the season, then Sydney Love-Baker and Nysted collected singles. Alexis Trimiar singled to center field to drive in Love-Baker, then pinch runner Hannah Richter scored on a fielder's choice as the Redhawks erased Trimiar at second.
Alyssa Arden took the loss, falling to 4-5 on the season, as she allowed six runs on five hits across four innings. She walked one and struck out two. Mackenzie Fitzgerald threw the next two frames, allowing one earned run on two hits, walking two and striking out one. Kendall Durard pitched the final inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Rachel Rook threw five innings for the win, allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out four. Paytience Holman, the winner from game one, allowed two runs on three hits with a strikeout, then Davis pitched the final frame, going three up, three down.
Tech returns to action on Wednesday as it travels to North Alabama for a non-conference contest.
