By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech offense came out on fire in the first game of the Golden Eagle Classic against Quinnipiac, then Tyler Erwin claimed a victory in the pitcher's duel in the night cap as the Golden Eagles won their fifth straight game and five of their last six, topping the Bobcats 11-0 in five innings, then beating Quinnipiac 2-0 in the second game.
The Golden Eagles (14-6) return to action on Sunday as the Golden Eagle Classic continues. Tech will host Bellarmine in the day's opener at Noon, while Indiana State will take on Bellarmine at 2:30 and Quinnipiac returns to action against the Sycamores at 5 p.m. With the winter storm watch in effect for Friday night and Saturday morning, the schedule is subject to change. Updates will be available on TTUsports.com and on the team's social media channels.
In the day's opener, Savannah Talley was 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, while Sydney Love-Baker, Kaylan Cole and Nicolle Nysted each drove in two runs.
Alyssa Arden (W, 7-4) had a solid outing in the circle, allowing one hit in four innings of work, walking two and striking out three. Her counterpart, Sydney Horan, took the loss, allowing six runs – four earned – on six hits in 1 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out one. Julia Woeste allowed five runs on six hits in the final 2 2/3.
Mackenzie Fitzgerald led off the bottom of the first with line drive single up the middle, then stole second before Love-Baker drew a walk. Haeli Bryson hit a grounder and the Bobcats chose to take Fitzgerald out at third. Carmen Betts hit an infield single to short, loading the bases. With two down, Sydney Dukes took a walk to drive the first run in, then Cole dropped a single into left field to drive in Betts and Bryson. Talley hit a single to center field, driving in Dukes for a 4-0 lead.
In the second, Fitzgerald led off with a triple to right center, but on the throw back in from the outfield, the ball sailed into the Tech dugout, allowing Fitzgerald to take home. Bryson later came home to score on a wild pitch to make it a 6-0 lead after two.
Love-Baker hit a two-run triple, driving in Talley and Fitzgerald to make it 8-0, then a Talley RBI double and a Nysted pinch-hit two-run double added three more runs in the fourth.
In game two, Erwin allowed just one hit to the Bobcats, walking one and striking out seven – all on swinging strike threes – to earn the complete-game victory to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Fitzgerald, Love-Baker and Betts had Tech's three hits off of Quinnipiac hurler Jaclyn Gonzalez, who walked one and struck out two en route to the loss.
Tech scored its two runs in the sixth inning. Fitzgerald led off the frame with a single past third, then stole second. Love-Baker put down a bunt, but a fielding error at first allowed her to reach. With a double steal, Fitzgerald went home, then Love-Baker swiped second and advanced to third on an errant throw trying to get Fitzgerald. Bryson hit a 5-3 grounder, picking up the RBI as Love-Baker crossed the plate.
Photo | Jim Dillon
