By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Continued offensive pressure and a collective effort in the circle were plenty enough to lift the Tennessee Tech softball team to a 6-1 victory over in-state rival ETSU Wednesday evening at Tech Softball Field.
Lennon Spicer opened the tilt for the Golden Eagles (18-18), flipping two scoreless frames with just a single hit allowed and three strikeouts. Payton Wagner, who earned her seventh victory of the year, took over in the circle to provide another two clean innings.
With Wagner in control, the Tech bats went to work on the Buccanneers (9-27), thanks to a hefty swing by Carmen Betts. Manning the hot corner for the purple and gold, Betts clobbered a home run to center field to give the Cookeville crew a 1-0 lead.
Backed by an advantage, Emily York took her turn in the circle for the Golden Eagles, finishing off the final three innings with just one run allowed and four strikeouts. She earned her seventh save of the year after the Tech offense dented the dish five more times to keep the lead intact.
The purple and gold made it a 4-0 lead in the fifth, with Sofia Carroll jumping in on the fun. The right fielder ripped an RBI double down the left-field line, doubling the Tech advantage to 2-0. A walk to shortstop Ella Bishop loaded the bags.
Designated player Abbee Klinefelter delivered for the big inning, lacing a two-run base hit to center field. After ETSU picked up its lone run in the sixth on an RBI single, the Tech offense responded in kind in the bottom half.
This time around, Sydney Kirby recorded the clutch swing. With the bases loaded again, Kirby ripped a two-run single to center field, plating a pair for the 6-1 lead.
Betts, Kirby, and Bishop all tallied a pair of hits in the contest to lead the offensive effort, with Kirby and Klinefelter tying for the team lead with a pair of RBI each. Betts also accounted for a pair of runs scored and two walks.
The Golden Eagles make their way north for a weekend series at Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Illinois, with a doubleheader slated for Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. CT in Charleston, Ill.
Photo by Jim Dillon
