By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Abby Buettner and S.J. Talley both went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs each as the Tennessee Tech softball team bounced back to close out the weekend series with a 10-8 victory over Southeast Missouri on Sunday.
Tech (16-16, 7-8 Ohio Valley Conference) is back in action at home this week as the Golden Eagles host Kennesaw State on Wednesday, then a three-game set against UT Martin on Saturday and Sunday. All games at Tech Softball Field are free to the public.
Emily York earned the win in relief, improving to 6-2 on the season, while Lennon Spicer collected the save. York threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits, walking three and striking out three. Spicer pitched the final inning and a third, striking out one.
SEMO saw five pitchers work the contest, but starter Willow Van Haren was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs – three earned – without recording an out. The Redhawks kept the game close, but never tied the game.
The Golden Eagles scored four runs right off the bat as Mac Fitzgerald reached on an error at second, then Abby Shoulders put two on with a single to left. Carmen Betts collected a hit as the Redhawks to plate Fitzgerald, then Buettner drove in Shoulders and Betts. Following a Sydney Kirby single to center field, Sofia Carroll's grounder to short led to a fielder's choice as SEMO threw out Kirby at second while Buettner scored.
Shoulders put two more runs on the board as she grounded out to third but the throw got away from the first baseman, allowing S.J. Talley and Jordan Key to score on the miscue.
The Redhawks scored single runs in the second and the third, then plated two in the fourth to make it a 6-4 game.
Tech scored two more runs in the fifth as Talley's single to right brought Brooklin Richardson and Alina Schlageter home, then two more in the sixth as Fitzgerald scored on a wild pitch and two errors on the same play allowed Shoulders to score to make it a 10-4 game.
The rain fell in the sixth inning, delaying the game for nearly two hours, but SEMO came back from the delay and struck for four runs as Paige Halliwill and Marissa Peek hit back-to-back RBI doubles, then Aubrie Shore knocked out a two-run home run to make it 10-8
Spicer came in and retired the final batter of the frame, then coaxed three straight groundouts to end the game.
Photo | Jim Dillon, file
