By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – It's just the beginning of a potentially busy week for the Tennessee Tech softball team as the Golden Eagles went into Johnson City and scratched out a split with the home Bucs, falling in game one 3-2, then bringing out the guns for game two in a 6-3 victory.
But the week is far from over yet as the Tech softball team completed the addition of a Thursday doubleheader at Chattanooga after this weekend's Frost Classic was wiped out with the projected forecast. The Golden Eagles are also exploring the addition of games this weekend, details of which will be announced when available.
Sophomore Nicolle Nysted had a day, going a combined 3-for-6 with three RBI at the plate, including the first two home runs this season for the Golden Eagles, the third in her career. Senior Sydney Love-Baker went 3-for-3 with an RBI in the opener, while following it up with two RBI and a 1-for-4 performance in the nightcap to end the day 4-for-7. Senior Jessie Lowery went 3-for-4 with an RBI in game two.
In the circle, junior Alyssa Arden saw her ERA fall to 0.66 after the start in game one and coming on in relief for the save in game two. Despite taking the loss, she had a good effort in the opener, allowing three unearned runs on three hits, walking and striking out four across 4 1/3 innings.
The ETSU runs scored in the third, staring with a leadoff hit batter, then an error putting runners on second and third. Following a foul-out to Nysted behind the plate and a strikeout for the second out. Nikki Grupp then hit a three-run home run, all unearned.
Fitzgerald made her first appearance in the circle for the Golden Eagles this season in relief, holding ETSU hitless over 1 2/3 innings.
Tech took a 1-0 lead as Love-Baker hit an RBI double to right center, bringing home freshman Mackenzie Fitzgerald. Trailing in the sixth, Nysted collected the first of her RBI with a two-out single to left, driving in senior Beth McCulley, who reached on a double.
Arden came on in relief in game two and shut the door in the final 1 2/3 innings, yielding two hits but nothing else. Haeli Bryson collected her second win of the season as she held off ETSU over 5 1/3 frames, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
Tech was on the board quickly in the first as Love-Baker drove in Fitzgerald with a single to center. It became a 2-0 lead in the second as Nysted led off with a solo home run to right. The Golden Eagles put two more runs on in the third as Nysted homered again, this time a two-run shot to left center, bringing Bryson along to score. Tech scored twice more in the fourth with Lowery collecting an RBI double, driving in Chandler Caldwell, then Lowery scoring on a throwing error on the ETSU catcher off a ball hit by Love-Baker.
Leading 6-0, ETSU collected a single run on a two-out single to left center in the fifth, then a two-run home for Lili Bowen ended Bryson's day in the sixth. Arden came on and coaxed a fly out and a pop up to end the sixth. In the seventh, ETSU led off with a single, but a pop-up, a fielder's choice to erase the lead runner and a foul out ended the contest in the bottom of the seventh.
CHATTANOOGA SCHEDULE CHANGE
Despite having the contests against Evansville erased, the Golden Eagles will play Chattanooga, just a day earlier than expected as Tech will travel down for a doubleheader Thursday, starting at 3 p.m. Central at Frost Stadium.
The Mocs enter the contest with a 2-3 record before playing UT Martin on Wednesday night. Chattanooga took an 8-0 loss to Western Kentucky in their season opener, then split a pair each with Indiana State and Kennesaw State.
Courtney Ball leads Chattanooga in average with a .615 clip, collecting eight hits in 13 at-bats with a home run and five RBI. Kailey Snell has driven in the most runs with six RBI, while Cameren Swafford and Snell have both been driven in five times.
Kat Thompson has been the most effective pitcher for Chattanooga, posting a 3.50 ERA in three appearances over eight frames as she has walked seven and struck out four. Brooke Parrott has started three games, but has collected an 0-2 record in 10 innings of work, allowing 10 earned runs on 11 hits with eight walks and three strikeouts. Hannah Wood (4.94 ERA, 5 2/3 IP, 3 BB, 0 K) has a 1-1 record.
Photo | Matt Busch, ETSU Media Relations
