By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Saturday's game was a slugfest as Tennessee Tech closed out its three-game series against Austin Peay. The two teams combined for 22 hits, but the Governors struck for three runs in the sixth inning to break a 6-6 tie and were able to hang on for a 9-7 victory.
Tech (13-17, 7-9 OVC) returns to action on Tuesday as it travels to No. 21 Tennessee for a doubleheader.
Mackenzie Fitzgerald went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Golden Eagles at the plate, while Bailey Shorter (3-for-5, four RBI), Lexi Osowski (3-for-4, two RBI) and Kelsey Gross (2-for-3, three RBI) led the APSU attack.
Alyssa Arden fell to 7-9 on the season in the complete-game effort, allowing nine runs on 11 hits, walking two and striking out four. Harley Mullins lasted 3 1/3 innings in the start, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out two. Gross earned the victory in relief, allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits, walking one and striking out four.
Osowski hit a two-run home run to left field in the top of the first, but the Golden Eagles struck back in the bottom half as Fitzgerald scored on Shelby Penning's double down the left field line. The Govs got the run back in the second as a Shorter double brought in Emily Moore.
Tech tied the game in the third inning as Beth McCulley and Haeli Bryson hit back-to-back doubles, bringing Raleigh Lewis' pinch-runner, Hannah Richter, along to score.
Both teams scored three runs in the fourth. Shorter hit a three-run home run to center field, bringing in Kelsey Gray and Moore. Fitzgerald hit her own three-run blast in the bottom half of the frame, scoring Lewis and Paxton Grimes.
Gross helped her cause with a three-run homer in the sixth with Shorter standing on third and Brooke Pfefferle on second. Tech sent its last run across in the home half as Bryson drove in Lewis on a sacrifice fly to left.
