By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech was able to chase off Murray State ace Hannah James after one inning, but the visiting Racers rallied late to take a 7-3 victory over the Golden Eagles on Sunday.
Haeli Bryson was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Golden Eagles (31-18, 13-12 Ohio Valley Conference), while Sierra Gilmore had three RBI and Logan Braundmeier, Gracie Osbron and Erin Lackey each went 2-for-4 to lead the Racers (34-14-1, 19-6 OVC) to keep pace a game back of Belmont in the league standings.
Tech scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the first, tagging James for five hits. Mackenzie Fitzgerald led off with a double to center field, then Dukes lasered a single through the right side of the infield to put runners on the corners. Carmen Betts lofted a ball up toward first baseman Lily Fischer, but the ball shifted course, falling in between Fischer and second baseman Lindsey Carroll, bringing in Fitzgerald. Bryson roped a double into center field to score Dukes. Shelby Penning then reached on a fielder's choice as James threw home to get Betts at the plate. Abby Buettner brought the final run home with a single down the right field line.
Alyssa Arden gave up two unearned runs in the top of the second as Taylor Jackson scored on a fielding error stemming off of Erin Lackey's single to right. Isabella Wilson then came home on a wild pitch to make it a 3-2 game.
The score held until the top of the fifth inning as Sierra Gilmore tied the game on a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Logan Braundmeier, then Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Gracie Osbron.
Murray State then added three runs in the sixth as Gilmore had a two-run single, then Fischer singled to left to drive in Gilmore.
Meanwhile, Jenna Veber, who came in to pitch in the second inning, held the Golden Eagles to three hits to earn her 14th win of the season. Veber walked none and struck out six.
Arden took the loss to fall to 13-11 on the year, allowing seven runs – five earned – on nine hit, walking four and striking out four in the complete-game effort.
The Golden Eagles close out the regular season next weekend as they travel to Charleston, Ill., to take on Eastern Illinois.
Photo | Jim Dillon
