By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a day with a lot of ups and downs as the Tennessee Tech softball team saw a split against Morehead State. The visiting Eagles won the day's opener as MSU held the Golden Eagles to four hits in a 5-2 victory, then Tech took the nightcap by the same score, 5-2.
The Golden Eagles (31-15, 13-9 Ohio Valley Conference) return to action on Saturday and Sunday as they host Murray State in a three-game set.
In the opener, both teams were scoreless through the first four frames, but Morehead struck for four runs in the top of the fifth. Peyton Jordan hit a single into center field and the ball got away from the outfielder, allowing Trinity Spear to get home for the first run. Alexis Strother eyed a single through the middle to bring in Jordan, then Ieesha Lightbody delivered a two-run single to center.
The visitors added a run in the sixth as Madeline Gailor drove in Spear with a single to center field, stretching it to second on an error.
Tech scored a single run in the sixth as Haeli Bryson had an RBI double down the left field line to plate Mackenzie Fitzgerald, ending the day for starter Lennon Spicer.
Maddie Ogden came in with the game-tying run on deck, ceding a walk to Sydney Dukes, then struck out Sydney Love-Baker and Savannah Talley before coaxing a flyout to Abby Buettner to get out of the bases-loaded jam. Ogden went on to collect her first save of the season, her lone run surrendered on a solo home run to Shelby Penning to lead off the top of the seventh.
Spicer (5-16) collected the victory – Morehead's sixth of the season and fifth in OVC play – allowing one run on three hits, walking two and striking out three.
Tyler Erwin saw her third loss of the season, allowing five runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out eight.
In game two, Tech got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as Buettner led off with a solo home run on the first pitch. Morehead answered in the fourth as Peyton Slater went yard.
The Golden Eagles retook the lead in the fifth as Carmen Betts drove in Brooklin Richardson and Buettner with a double roped down the right field line. Morehead chipped into the lead with a Strother RBI single to right, but Tech scored insurance in the bottom of the sixth as Shelby Penning hit a one-out home run off the batter's eye in center field, then Richardson hit a single to left to drive in pinch runner KaDedra Temple.
Bryson earned the win – her sixth of the year – as she allowed two runs on five hits in the complete-game effort, walking none and striking out five. Ogden took the loss, allowing five runs – four earned – on seven hits, walking one and striking out six.
Photo | Jim Dillon, file