By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

ROCK HILL, S.C. – After a good offensive showing earlier in the week, the Tennessee Tech bats had a tough time finding ways to figure out St. Francis' pitchers on Saturday, dropping two games to the Red Flashes in the Winthrop Garnet/Gold Classic.

St. Francis took the first game 6-2, then shut out the Golden Eagles 10-0 in six innings in the later matchup.

Tech (4-6) was able to pick up two runs in the first game after trailing 6-0. The Golden Eagles' first run scored as Jessie Lowery came across on an error following Mackenzie Fitzgerald's single to right in the fourth inning.

In the seventh, Shelby Penning came home to score on an error on a batted ball from Alexis Trimiar.

Alyssa Arden fell to 2-3 on the season, allowing four earned runs on three hits as she walked three and struck out two in three innings of work. Haeli Bryson came on in relief and worked the next three frames, yielding two earned runs on three hits while striking out three. Callie Piper threw the final inning, striking out one.

In game two, Jordan Pietrzykoski drove in five runs with an RBI single in the first, then a grand slam in an eight-run sixth inning to enact the run rule.

Tech was held to two hits by Grace Vesco, who struck out three en route to her fourth win of the season.

Kendall Durard (0-2) allowed nine earned runs on 11 hits across 5 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out four.

The Golden Eagles return to action tomorrow as they take on Illinois-Chicago at 10:45 a.m., then face host Winthrop at 1 p.m.