By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An early start was enough to propel the Tennessee Tech softball team to a three-game sweep of Tennessee State on Sunday as the Golden Eagles plated three in the first inning and held on to a 5-2 victory.
The Golden Eagles (30-14, 12-8 Ohio Valley Conference) moved into fourth in the league standings, positioned four games back of co-conference leaders Murray State and Belmont, both square at 16-4 in the league. Tech hosts Morehead State (4-15) in a doubleheader on Wednesday before the Golden Eagles close out the home slate this weekend with Murray State.
Tyler Erwin picked up her 12th win of the season, allowing two runs to the Tigers on five hits, walking one and striking out two.
Her counterpart, Francys King, took the loss to fall to 2-10 on the year, allowing three runs on five hits over five innings, walking three and striking out three. Raven Loveless pitched the final two frames, allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits as she walked one.
Sydney Dukes went 3-for-3 and Mackenzie Fitzgerald 3-for-4, while Sydney Love-Baker and Savannah Talley each drove in two.
In the first, Fitzgerald led off with a single up the middle, then stole second. Carmen Betts drew a walk. Following a Bryson fly ball, Dukes also saw four balls to load the bases. Love-Baker laid down a bunt back to the circle, but a play couldn't be made anywhere as Fitzgerald came in to score and the bags still juiced. Talley stood in and roped a double in right center, plating Betts and Dukes for a 3-0 lead.
TSU cut the lead down to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Anayah Baker led off the TSU turn, legging a hit to center field all the way to a triple, but an error there allowed Baker to come home to score. Marisa Mauroschadt also picked up an RBI, driving in Mikayla Duke on a single to center.
Tech picked up insurance with single runs in the sixth and the seventh. In the sixth, Abby Buettner came home to score on a Fitzgerald hit, then, in the seventh, Love-Baker put down another bunt single – this time to first base, sending Bryson home.
