By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Recent years have not been kind for the Tennessee Tech softball team when it took on Lipscomb, with the last win against the Lady Bisons coming in 2016, then 2009 before that.
Alyssa Arden and Alexis Trimiar changed that in the first game Saturday as the Golden Eagles won their 10th game of the 2020 campaign, topping Lipscomb 3-1 in eight innings during the opener.
The Golden Eagles (10-8) almost made it two on Saturday, taking a 6-0 lead, but the Lady Bisons rallied back to come-from-behind and get the walk-off victory in the nightcap, 8-7.
The two teams finish out the three-game set on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m.
Arden went the distance, throwing all eight frames as she allowed one unearned run on four hits as she walked five and struck out seven.
Lipscomb took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Peyton Ward hit a single to left with two on, but Tech tied the game in the top of the fourth as Beth McCulley put a double into right center to even the game at a run each.
Neither team was able to push anything across – Lipscomb leaving two on – through the remainder of regulation. The Lady Bisons pulled the plug on starter Megan Gray in the eighth inning after she allowed just one run on three hits, striking out eight.
The Golden Eagles made them regret the decision as they jumped on reliever Chloe Yeager in the extra frame as Raegan Sparks walked, pinch-runner KaDedra Temple stole second, a Jessie Lowery bunt single put runners on the corners, then Raleigh Lewis was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
In came Trimiar. Facing a 2-2 count, the sophomore infielder roped a double down the left field line, pushing the Golden Eagles ahead as Temple and Lowery scored.
Arden saw the Lady Bison threaten in the bottom of the eighth as Lipscomb got runners on second and third with two down, but the sophomore pitcher was able to coax a fly out to Lowery in left to end the game.
In game two, the Golden Eagles got off to a quick start in the opening two frames. Sparks had an RBI single to drive in Sydney Love-Baker, than a Trimiar groundout to second for the second out allowed Lowery to score.
Tech got four more runs in the second as Nicolle Nysted, Chandler Caldwell and Temple had back-to-back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. Love-Baker hit into a grounder and reached on a fielder's choice as the Lady Bisons' defense threw out Nysted at home to keep the bases loaded.
However, Lowery cleared the bases on the second pitch of her at-bat, dropping a three-run double into center field.
Lipscomb chipped away for a run in the bottom of the second, then scored four in the third on four hits and two errors. LU tied the game with a single run in the fourth.
The Golden Eagles retook the lead in the fifth as Caldwell had an RBI single down the right field line, driving in Trimiar and leading 7-6.
The advantage held until the seventh inning. Olivia Ward led off the frame with a solo shot to right center on the first pitch. A walk and an error put two on, with Arden coming into the contest in relief. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance, but Tech was able to get two outs.
In the end, it was for naught as Amy Vitula ended the game with an RBI single to right to drive in Caitlin Turner for the walk-off run.
Bryson threw the first 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits as she walked and struck out one. Kendall Durard took the loss in relief, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and two strike outs in 3 1/3 frames. Arden threw the final two-thirds, yielding one hit.
Lipscomb's Emily Yakubowski lasted 1 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. Katie Turner came on in relief and slowed the Golden Eagles down, allowing one run on five hits as she walked four and struck out one.
