By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the way Abby Buettner was hitting over the last four days, the Tennessee Tech designated player might not have wanted the Golden Eagle Classic to end.
Buettner hit two home runs against Indiana State and had six RBI on Monday to lead the Golden Eagles to an 11-3 win over Bellarmine and a 7-4 win over the Sycamores to close out the event. Buettner finished the tournament hitting .462 with four home runs and 11 RBI.
With the victories on Monday, the Golden Eagles (17-6) extend their winning streak to eight games. It is the longest winning streak for Tech since winning 10 straight twice in the 2007 campaign.
Tyler Erwin picked up the victory against Bellarmine, extending her record to 6-1 on the season. Erwin allowed three runs on four hits, walking none and striking out three. Tech collected 10 runs on her counterpart, Megan Murphy, across four frames as she allowed seven hits and six walks, while striking out one.
After the Knights scored a run on a stolen base and two errors, the Golden Eagles picked the run back up and more as they scored three in the home half of the inning. Buettner collected her first RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly to drive in Mackenzie Fitzgerald. Kaylan Cole had a single to drive in Haeli Bryson, then Savannah Talley drew a bases-loaded walk to make it a 3-1 game.
Tech scored two more in the second as a wild pitch allowed Fitzgerald to score, then Buettner hit an RBI single to center field, plating Bryson.
Bellarmine climbed back within two at 5-3 in the top of the fourth, but the Golden Eagles blasted the game wide open in the home half, striking for five runs. Bryson had a bunt single, driving in Fitzgerald. With the bases loaded, the Golden Eagles picked up a grand slam for the second straight game, this time off the bat of Sydney Dukes.
The Golden Eagles added one more run in the fifth as Carmen Betts hit an RBI single to center field to bring in Fitzgerald.
After a fast start in the first inning, Tech saw Indiana State rally to make it a close game, but the Golden Eagles were able to get some late insurance to preserve the complete-game victory for Alyssa Arden, collecting her ninth win of the year.
Arden yielded four runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out four. Lyndsi Adamson took the loss, allowing four runs in one-third of an inning before being lifted for Cassi Newbanks. The latter allowed three more runs on seven hits over the next 5 2/3 innings, walking six and striking out none.
Love-Baker scored on a wild pitch, Betts had an RBI single to drive in Bryson, then Buettner hit her first home run of the game along the left field line to put the Golden Eagles up 4-0 after the first inning. Indiana State scored one on a single, then Tech got that run back on a Shelby Penning solo home run to right to lead 5-1.
The Sycamores clawed back, sprouting two runs in the third and one more in the fourth to make it a 5-4 Golden Eagle lead. Tech added two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Betts reached on a single through the left side of the infield, then Buettner went yard once again with a two-run shot to left center.
The Golden Eagles return to action this weekend, opening Ohio Valley Conference play at UT Martin. Tech will play two on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m., followed by a single game on Sunday.
Photo | Jim Dillon
