By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a tough weekend at UT Martin last week, the Tennessee Tech softball team rebounded in a big way on Saturday, taking both ends of the doubleheader against defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Southeast Missouri, claiming both games in dramatic fashion.
After all, there's nothing more dramatic than a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning. Carmen Betts did just that, facing an 0-2 count with two down – a pitch away from going to another extra frame. The solo shot gave the Golden Eagles (19-9, 2-3 OVC) a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
Alyssa Arden also completed the 10-inning marathon, throwing 178 pitches to pick up her league-leading 10th victory of the season in the full-game effort.
Tech held on in game one with Tyler Erwin in the circle to take a 5-3 win.
SEMO falls to 14-12 on the season, 3-2 in league play thus far. The three-game series concludes on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. Dylan Vazzano will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Rachel Rook, one of the Redhawks' most prolific pitchers and the reigning OVC Pitcher of the Year, took both losses, despite solid efforts in the circle. In game one, she allowed just one earned run out of four yielded, scattering three hits and four walks while striking out five to add to her SEMO career-leading total. Marisa Davis came on in relief in the fourth and threw the final three innings, allowing one run on two hits as she walked three and struck out two.
Tyler Erwin pitched all seven frames for the complete-game victory, walking one and striking out two as she allowed three runs – two earned – on four hits.
Tech drew first blood in the bottom of the first on an unfortunate play for the Redhawks. As the SEMO catcher overthrew shortstop Alyson Tucker attempting to throw out Betts and Tucker was injured on the attempt, Haeli Bryson was able to score from third.
The Golden Eagles added three more runs in the bottom of the third as an error at short allowed Mackenzie Fitzgerald to score. Sydney Love-Baker loaded the bases on a five-pitch walk, then Kaylan Cole laid down a bunt. The play was unable to get anyone as Betts scored on the fielder's choice. Sydney Dukes then forced across Abby Buettner on a five-pitch walk.
SEMO cut the deficit in the fourth and fifth innings as Kaylee Anderson hit a solo homer in the fourth, then a fielding error at second allowed pinch-runner Kileigh Grissom to score from second.
Tech added an insurance run in the sixth as Brooklin Richardson stole home in tandem with Bryson's swipe of second.
The Redhawks made it interesting in the seventh as Paige Halliwill hit a solo homer to right, but a foul pop to the catcher Savannah Talley, a swinging strikeout and a grounder to Sydney Love-Baker at short ended the game with Erwin claiming the victory.
In game two, the Golden Eagles jumped on starter Paytience Holman early as Fitzgerald led off with a single, then stole second. Bryson laid down a bunt for a single as she beat out the throw, then Betts drew a walk to load the bases. Buettner put a two-run single into center field to drive in Fitzgerald and Bryson, then Love-Baker's sacrifice bunt moved Betts to third. Kaylan Cole repeated the same play, driving in Betts on the suicide squeeze.
SEMO made it 3-1 Tech in the third as Halliwill hit a single to right to drive in Kynzie Wrigley, then tied the game with two runs in the fourth – Sydney Dennis driving in Kat Sackett and Grisham on a hard-hit shot through short.
Holman lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out one. Rook came on in relief and pitched the remainder of the contest.
Betts had an RBI single to second to drive in Richardson to retake the lead in the fourth, but SEMO tied the game once more in the sixth as Dennis drove in Kelby Robinson on a single to third.
Nothing was doing for either side in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. The Golden Eagles stranded two in the seventh, then ended a SEMO rally in the eighth with an Arden-to-Betts-to-Bryson double play. Tech stranded two more in the ninth, then after allowing a lead-off single, Bryson went vertical for a lineout and Arden coaxed a foul pop to Talley and a flyout to Cole.
Arden finished the game allowing four runs on 11 hits, walking and striking out three.
In the 10th frame, Fitzgerald grounded back to the circle on the first pitch, then Bryson flied out to center field. Betts stood in, looked at strike one then fouled off the next two before driving the final pitch down the left field line, staying just fair to end the contest.
Rook took the loss, throwing five innings of relief ball, yielding one run on two hits, walking four and striking out six.
Photo | Jim Dillon
