By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Haeli Bryson helped her own cause on Sunday as she hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie in game two, then pitched Tennessee Tech to victory, earning her second victory of the day as the Golden Eagles took both ends of the doubleheader at Morehead State.
Tech (10-11, 5-3 Ohio Valley Conference) won game one 3-1, then claimed the 7-5 victory in the nightcap.
In game one, Bryson went the distance, allowing just one run on two hits as she walked none and struck out five. In the second contest, she worked the final three innings, pitching hitless and scoreless ball as she yielded just one walk and struck out another to improve to 5-1 on the year.
Nicolle Nysted led the Golden Eagles with four RBI on the day – a solo homer in game one, then a three-run shot to left center in the opening frame of game two, bringing Mackenzie Fitzgerald and Jessie Lowery along for the ride.
Tech struck first in the third inning of the day's opener as Nysted's first homer gave the Golden Eagles the lead. Morehead evened the game up in the bottom of the fourth, scoring a run on a double, but that proved to be it in the contest for the homestanding Eagles.
Tech quickly responded in the fifth as Nysted and Fitzgerald delivered back-to-back singles, then Raleigh Lewis drove in Nysted's pinch-runner, Amanda Phy, on a grounder to second. Carmen Betts took a walk, then stole second, while an error at short off Beth McCulley's grounder allowed Fitzgerald to score, but the Eagles threw Betts out at the plate on an 8-2 putout.
The Golden Eagles had nine hits, with Lowery, Nysted and Fitzgerald picking up two each. Tech also stranded 10 batters in the contest.
Game two was a close one as Tech collected seven hits to Morehead's five, Nysted the only multi-hit batter for Tech with two safeties. In addition to Bryson's two RBI and Nysted's three RBI on their home runs, McCulley also picked up two RBI in the victory.
Tech quickly plated three in the first as Lowery drew a walk and Fitzgerald hit a single to short. Nysted hit the three-run home run to take the lead, but Morehead tied it up in the bottom of the first with its own three-run homer.
The Golden Eagles retook the lead in the third, driving in two. Fitzgerald drew a walk, then stole both second and third. Nysted also claimed a free pass, as did Sydney Love-Baker to load the bases. McCulley stood in and put a two-run double into left field. Love-Baker tried to take home on Lewis' sacrifice bunt try, but the Tech shortstop was caught in a 1-2 putout.
Morehead claimed one run in its third, scoring on a single up the middle. But, in the fifth, the Eagles threatened, loading the bases on a walk, a single to short and a bunt single. Tech brought in Bryson to pitch and the first batter reached on a fielder's choice, but not before Betts and Nysted erased the lead runner on a 5-3 combo. Bryson coaxed a popout to Alexis Trimiar, but a wild pitch allowed a run to cross and tie the game. She was able to get out of the frame with no more damage, getting the third out on a grounder back to the circle.
With the game knotted, KaDedra Temple was hit by a pitch, then Bryson went yard, putting Tech up by two. Morehead got a runner in the sixth on an error, but the runner was thrown out at second stealing as Nysted and Love-Baker caught the robber.
Kendall Durard got the start for Tech, working the first four frames. She allowed five runs in five hits, walking two in the process.
Game three wraps up the series on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for noon Central.
