By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech and UT Martin traded a pair of one-run losses on Saturday as the two teams split the scheduled doubleheader with identical 3-2 results.
The Golden Eagles (17-17, 8-9 Ohio Valley Conference) will play the Skyhawks again on Sunday starting at noon to decide the winner of the series.
UT Martin took game one as Anna Blanton went 3-for-3 and Kaci Fuller 2-for-4, each with an RBI, while Maddie Long picked up the other RBI in the game.
Lennon Spicer allowed two runs on seven hits across four innings, striking out one. Emily York took the tough-luck loss allowing the go-ahead run on three hits in her three frames of work.
The tandem of Katie Dreiling and Kiersten Nixon held Tech to just four hits in the contest, with Mack Fitzgerald, Abby Shoulders, Sofia Carroll and Ella Bishop collecting the safeties. Dreiling threw four innings, allowing two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out four. Nixon picked up the victory for her fifth win of the year with two scoreless frames and was the pitcher of record as the Skyhawks took the lead in the seventh.
UTM took the lead with two runs in the fourth inning as Long drove in Dylan Scott with a single through the left side of the infield, then Blanton hit a single down the left field line to plate Nixon.
All four of Tech's hits came in the bottom of the fifth as the Golden Eagles tied the game. Jordan Key picked up the first RBI as her grounder to short gave Carroll room to score, then Fitzgerald's base hit to left sent Bishop home.
The Skyhawks scored the go-ahead run in the seventh as Fuller's single to second base plated Blanton. After Bishop led off with a four-pitch walk, UTM retired the next three Golden Eagle batters to avoid a rally and end the opener.
In game two, Tech scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the third inning. Shoulders struck out swinging, but the ball got away on a wild pitch. The following throwing error allowed Shoulders to stand safely on second. Carmen Betts singled to left field to put runners at the corners.
Abby Buettner reached on a fielder's choice – enough to get the RBI as Shoulders scored – then Betts' pinch-runner Bailee Stack took off for third on a throwing error at second. Brooklin Richardson came on as a pinch-runner and immediately stole second. Carroll's ground out to first allowed Stack to score, then Richardson crossed on a wild pitch.
UTM scored its pair in the top of the fifth as Avry Blume scored on a fielder's choice off Fuller's bat, then Fuller came home to score on an errant ball hit back to the circle.
Payton Wagner went five complete frames, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and four strikeouts to collect her sixth victory of the season. York earned her sixth save of the season, throwing the final two scoreless frames without allowing a hit or a walk.
Photo | Jim Dillon
