By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The bats were swinging well on Friday as the Tennessee Tech softball team went 2-0 on the first day of the Chattanooga Challenge. The Golden Eagles drove in 21 total runs in two games, run-ruling Purdue Fort Wayne 16-2 in five innings, then shutting out Northwestern State 5-0 in the second game.
Haeli Bryson continued her hot streak, driving in seven RBI on the day as she was 3-for-7 at the plate. In the first seven games of the season, Bryson has 15 total RBI, eight shy of the total team-leading 23 collected by Nicolle Nysted last season. The team as a whole has 51, over a third of the 144 driven in at the conclusion of the season.
Tech, at 6-1, has posted its best start since the Golden Eagles started 15-0 in 1997.
Bryson also collected a three-hit shutout against Northwestern State to improve to 2-0 in the circle. She walked two and struck out eight in the victory.
Tyler Erwin also picked up her second win of the season, throwing four scoreless innings against PFW with three hits allowed while striking out two. Callie Piper threw the fifth frame against the Mastadons, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out one.
In addition to Bryson's four RBI against PFW, Mackenzie Fitzgerald also had a four-RBI day, while Carmen Betts drove in three against the Mastadons.
Tech struck for six runs in the bottom of the first. Fitzgerald led off with a single, then Sydney Love-Baker reached on an error to short. Bryson drove in the first run with a single, then Abby Buettner loaded the bases as she reached on an error at short with no play to be made.
Betts delivered the big blow, dropping a double into the field to clear the bases ahead of her. KaDedra Temple and Shelby Penning drew walks to load the bases once more, then Jordan Key picked up an RBI as she drew a free pass. Fitzgerald pushed another run across on a grounder as Temple came home, but the Mastadon defense was able to collect an out on the play and get out of the inning.
Tech added five more runs in the third as Fitzgerald drove in Penning and Talley with a triple, Love-Baker pushed Fitzgerald across, then Bryson hit a two-run bomb to make it an 11-0 game through three.
Five more came across in the fourth as Jessica Arrington came home on a Nysted single, Key brought Nysted home on an error at short, then Fitzgerald had another RBI double. Love-Baker drove in Key with a single and Bryson drove in Fitzgerald on a grounder to second.
Gracie Brinkerhoff took the loss, allowing 16 runs – 10 earned – on 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. She walked four and struck out two.
In the day's second game, Fitzgerald led off with a single to short, then stole second. Bryson reached on an error at short. A Buettner fly out to right allowed Fitzgerald to move up to third, then Bryson swiped second. A passed ball allowed Fitzgerald to take home, then Betts followed up with a single back to the circle, allowing Bryson to score.
In the second inning with two down, Key eyed a single through the left side, then Fitzgerald singled to center. Love-Baker worked the count to draw a walk, then Bryson picked up two more RBI with a single to left.
Tech scored a single run in the top of the seventh as Bryson put down a sacrifice bunt back to the circle. Fitzgerald's speed was enough to get her home from third on the play.
The Golden Eagles (6-1) continue their play at the Chattanooga Challenge on Saturday as Tech takes on Indiana State at 11:30 a.m., followed by a matchup with host Chattanooga at 4:30 p.m.
