By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MURRAY, Ky. – Alyssa Arden pitched a gem on Saturday, yielding just three hits as the Tennessee Tech softball team topped Murray State 3-1 to take the rubber game and win the series.
The Golden Eagles improved to 15-18 on the season, 9-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Murray State dropped to 15-23, 12-10 in the league. Tech returns to action on Monday as the Golden Eagles take on Tennessee in a non-conference matchup, a makeup of the series scheduled last week.
Arden allowed just one run – an unearned run that came across on Sierra Gilmore's single to left – as she walked one and struck out four in the complete-game effort. She threw 75 total pitches in the contest.
Hannah James had the start, going an inning and a third until Sydney Love-Baker went yard with a leadoff home run to tie the game and Paxton Grimes followed up with a double to center. Jenna Veber came in and got the Racers out of the inning, but went on to take the loss after allowing two more Golden Eagles.
Jessie Lowery went 3-for-4 on the day with two RBI, driving in the other two runs in the contest. In the fourth inning, she drove in Grimes with a grounder to second. In the sixth, she hit a single up the middle, driving in pinch-runner Amanda Phy.
Veber's day ended as she allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out two as she took her 11th loss of the season. Taylor Makowsky threw the final frame, striking out one.