By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead State certainly made it interesting in the late innings, but three insurance runs in the top of the seventh secured Tennessee Tech's effort on Monday, topping the home Eagles 7-3.
The victory gives the Golden Eagles their second Ohio Valley Conference sweep of the season as Tech evened its overall record at 11-11 and improved to 6-3 in the league.
Alyssa Arden pitched through the first four frames and was responsible for two of Morehead State's three runs in the fifth, with Haeli Bryson – the victor in both games on Sunday – yielding the other run in the frame, which provided all of the Eagles' runs on the day.
Arden allowed two runs on three hits, striking out three, while Bryson allowed a run on two hits over an inning-and-a-third. Arden then closed out the game in relief, throwing the final inning-and-two-thirds. Neither hurler gave up a walk, though Arden did clip two en route to her fifth win of the campaign.
Beth McCulley led the Golden Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Carmen Betts and Shelby Penning each drove in two.
Tech struck first in the second inning. Nicolle Nysted hit a single into left, then Sydney Love-Baker drew a walk. McCulley loaded the bases with single to center, then, with one down, Betts dropped a double into left center, putting a crooked number on the scoreboard as Nysted and Love-Baker scored.
The Golden Eagles added a third run in the third. Jessie Lowery reached on an error at short, then Bryson laid down a bunt single. Lowery went running and the Morehead first baseman miscalculated the throw, giving the speedy senior room to score.
The fifth inning saw another Tech run score. Bryson reached on a fielder's choice as Morehead State elected to throw out Lowery at second. Nysted and Love-Baker drew walks, loading the bases, then McCulley roped a single into left field, sending Bryson home to roost and make it a 4-0 Tech lead. An interference call as Love-Baker attempted to take third on KaDedra Temple's grounder to short, then a strikeout swinging ended the inning with no further damage for the home Eagles.
Morehead responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Kelsey Sparks led off with a single down the left field line, then Peyton Rose was hit by a pitch, ending Arden's first tenure in the circle. Kirya Kingery dropped a single into center into reach of a diving McCulley, bringing Sparks home. Alexis Strother then hit a two-run single to right center, driving in the two lead runners.
In the seventh, Tech picked up some insurance runs. Love-Baker led off with a single up the middle, then an errant throw allowed her to take second. McCulley followed suit, hitting a single, then a throwing error in center allowed her to trade places as pinch-runner Amanda Phy came home to score. After two straight foul outs, Penning stood in and hit a home run to left field, her second career blast and first of the season.
Lennon Spicer took the loss, falling to 4-7 on the season. She allowed four earned runs, six total, on 11 hits as she struck out three and walked three more. Kelsey Perkins pitched one inning in relief, allowing one run on one hit.
Morehead State fell to 6-12 overall, 0-9 in the OVC.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Wednesday as they come home for a non-conference contest against Chattanooga, starting at 5 p.m.
