By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – One weekend in the books for the Tennessee Tech softball team and the Golden Eagles are standing in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.
There's still a long way to go in the 2021 campaign, but the Golden Eagles started things off on the right foot, earning a three-game sweep over Tennessee State.
Tech (8-7 overall, 3-0 OVC) host Southeast Missouri next weekend, who went 2-1 in the first conference series against Austin Peay.
Haeli Bryson (3-0) and Kendall Durard (1-2) pitched the Golden Eagles to victory, the latter in a complete-game shutout, as Tech defeated the Tigers 3-2 in game one, then 2-0 in the nightcap. Bryson went the distance, allowing two runs – one earned – on six hits as she walked none and struck out six. Durard pitched all seven, yielding just three hits as she walked two and struck out five.
The Tech pitchers outdueled Raven Loveless (2-4), who allowed three runs on 10 hits, walking two and striking out six, and Lauren Powell (2-3), who allowed two runs – both unearned – on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
In game one, Nicolle Nysted, Bryson and Alexis Trimiar picked up an RBI each, while Mackenzie Fitzgerald, Nysted and Trimiar went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Tech scored two runs right off the bat in the first inning as Fitzgerald led off with a single, then advanced to third on consecutive grounders from Lowery and Sydney Love-Baker. Nysted put a double down the right field line to drive in the first, then Bryson followed it up with an RBI single.
TSU added a single run in the fourth with an RBI double, but Tech picked the run back up in the fifth as Love-Baker and Nysted reached on back-to-back singles, then Bryson walked on a 3-1 pitch to load the bases. Trimiar grounded into a fielder's choice at short, reaching as the Tigers' defense took out pinch-runner Brooklin Richardson at third, but enough to get Love-Baker home to score.
The Tigers plated one more in the bottom of the seventh on a throwing error off a single, but Bryson coaxed a pop-up to short to end the contest.
Tech had opportunities for more, but stranded 11 base-runners in the game.
In game two, Bryson was the only multi-hit batter, going 2-for-3 at the plate. The Golden Eagles collected both of its runs in the contest in the fifth as Shelby Penning reached on an error at third, then stole second with a Carmen Betts single to second driving in the run. Hannah Richter came in to run for Betts, stealing second and third and scoring on the latter steal as a throwing error from the catcher gave her room to come home.
Tech stranded six base runners in the contest, Tennessee State left five.
