By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – When Tennessee Tech faced Chattanooga the first two times this season, getting hits wasn't the problem.
Getting timely hits was.
The Golden Eagles corrected that on Wednesday, topping the visiting Mocs 7-0, giving Michelle DePolo her first win at the Tech Softball Field.
"The difference was that we were able to get those timely hits," she said. "I think the atmosphere also played a big part into it – we were finally home. We've been on the road so much. Two weekends ago (against Southeast Missouri) were the first home games I've had on this field, even though I've been here a year-and-a-half now. The girls – all our freshmen, all our sophomores – I think they feel that energy too. The juniors and seniors, they haven't been on this field in so long.
"Of course, we know Chattanooga well, so there's a little bit of energy when you know the other team pretty well."
Tech, with the sweep over Morehead State, has now won four straight games – a big momentum boost heading into a crucial Ohio Valley Conference series this weekend against Eastern Illinois.
"I'm kind of a perfectionist, so it's definitely a good thing," DePolo said. "I'm adamant about never getting complacent. If we go out and play our best and lose? That's fine, it happens. But if we're not putting our best effort forward, that's a loss no matter what the score is. One of the things I really like is our effort and focus, especially after what ended up being a really long weekend that dragged on against Morehead State."
While Tech was getting the bats going, Alyssa Arden wasn't giving Chattanooga much of a chance to get anything started. She allowed three hits in the first two frames and that was it as the junior collected her first shutout of the season, allowing four walks and striking out five. A pair of errors added to the Mocs' six baserunner left in the contest.
"Alyssa pitched great and really hit her spots," DePolo said. "We had a great gameplan and Alyssa executed it to perfection. Some of the things she's been working on this season, she was able to execute those. When any pitcher performs well, it's because the defense behind her plays great. Our defense was solid and had another stellar night."
Chattanooga dropped its 11th straight game with the loss.
At the plate, the Golden Eagles (12-11) collected a dozen hits with multi-hit games for Mackenzie Fitzgerald, Beth McCulley, Sydney Love-Baker and Carmen Betts. Fitzgerald and Love-Baker also drove in two runs each.
After collecting a leadoff hit, the Mocs moved their runner to second on a walk, then a foul ball in left allowed her to take third. But the Tech defense came through, collecting a 6-4-3 double play from Love-Baker to Fitzgerald to Haeli Bryson to end the inning.
Fitzgerald led off the Tech first as she reached on a dropped fly ball in right and was able to leg it all the way over to third. Jessie Lowery took a 2-0 count, then ripped a double into left center to drive in Fitzgerald for the first run. Lowey advanced to third on a Bryson grounder back to the circle, then Nicolle Nysted and McCulley took back-to-back walks, then Love-Baker roped a single down the third base line to drive in two more.
Tech added three more runs in the bottom of the second. Paxton Grimes took first to lead off the frame as she was hit by a pitch. Shelby Penning's grounder to short advanced Grimes, then Fitzgerald drove a single up the middle to score the run. Lowery reached as the Mocs tried to erase Fitzgerald at third, but missed. It later came back to haunt UTC as Bryson singled to short, putting runners at the corners and driving Fitzgerald in. Nysted then had a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Lowery to make it 6-0.
The Golden Eagles added their last run in the fifth inning as Love-Baker and Betts had back-to-back singles, then, with two down, Fitzgerald collected a double down the left field line to drive in Love-Baker.
Kat Thompson took the loss for the Mocs, lasting just one-third of an inning, allowing two earned runs, three total, on two hits and two walks. Hannah Wood pitched the next two frames, allowing three earned runs on five hits, while Brooke Parrott threw the final three-and-two-thirds, yielding a run on five hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The Golden Eagles are scheduled to take on Eastern Illinois this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Inclement weather is expected over the next few days, which could change this weekend's schedule. Updates will be on TTUsports.com when available.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
