By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
OXFORD, Ala. – After Southeast Missouri went up 5-0 in the top of the first, the Tennessee Tech softball team didn't back down.
Abby Buettner drilled two home runs and picked up all five Golden Eagle RBI in the game, but the game wasn't out of reach at any point.
While the Golden Eagles fell 6-5 in the contest Thursday night, Tech had every opportunity to retake the lead.
The Golden Eagles had three balls hit deep to the warning track, including the final ball thrown to Mackenzie Fitzgerald. Paige Halliwill made a leaping catch – with KaDedra Temple standing on first – saving what would have been a go-ahead home run.
It was the second ball that Fitzgerald had driven to the wall, while Kaylan Cole, who came in to hit in the fifth inning, also had one all the way to the track before falling into a SEMO outfielder's glove.
The first inning seemed almost disastrous for the Golden Eagles as SEMO collected five runs in the opening frame. Aubrey Shore scored on Halliwilli's ball for a fielder's choice, then an errant throw home allowed Tatum Gerwitz to cross as well. Chelsy Pena had a two-run single, then Sydney Dennis had a RBI single to complete the frame's scoring.
After Sydney Love-Baker took a walk, Buettner tied the team lead in home runs with her ninth round-tripper, blasting the first pitch over the wall to make it a 5-2 contest and the Golden Eagles were right back in the game.
Alyssa Arden settled in and shut the Redhawks down, shutting them down in the second and third innings.
In the fourth inning, Haeli Bryson led off with a walk, then a fielder's choice on Carmen Betts' grounder erased her at second. Love-Baker hit a single to second as she beat out the throw. Buettner came up again, swung at the first pitch, took a ball, then looked at strike two. She wasn't waiting for the third strike – Buettner launched the ball to left field for a no-doubt three-run home run to give her a team-leading 10th home run on the season.
SEMO retook the lead in the bottom half of the frame as Kynzie Wrigley drove in Kileigh Grisham on a single to right. Grisham came in as a pinch runner after Shore reached on a double that dropped in to left center in front of the Tech outfielders.
Following that, Arden continued to give her offense a chance, holding SEMO scoreless in the fifth and the sixth inning. Tech had an opportunity in the fifth as Cole flied out to left and Fitzgerald flied out to right – both balls missing home runs by inches.
In the top of the seventh, Shelby Penning popped up to third on a 1-0 count for the first out, then Savannah Talley roped a single through the right side. Temple came in as a pinch runner, then Cole struck out swinging.
Fitzgerald was called looking on the first pitch, then fouled off the next two pitches. The fourth was just right as she took it for a ride. Both benches reacted as the Golden Eagles anticipated a go-ahead home run and the Redhawks watched with baited breath.
As the ball landed in Halliwell's outstretched arm, the emotions shifted. SEMO celebrated the victory as the Golden Eagles came to the realization that their season was done.
Paytience Holman was credited with her sixth win of the season, allowing five runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out six. Arden took the loss to fall to 14-14 on the year, allowing six runs – three earned – on eight hits, walking four and striking out five.
It was a difficult way to end the season, but the Golden Eagles (32-22) still had plenty to hang their hats on. It was the most wins for Tech since 2015 and their first OVC tournament win since that same season.
The OVC Softball Championship will continue on Friday and Saturday.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
