By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CHARLESTON, Ill. – After a 12-0 lead in game one, the Tennessee Tech softball team saw Eastern Illinois rally back, tying the game in the seventh inning to send the contest into extra innings, then the Panthers walked off the game in the eighth for a 16-15 victory over the Golden Eagles.
In game two, Tech tied the game at four runs each early, but EIU (25-29, 10-17 Ohio Valley Conference) shut the Golden Eagles down offensively and took a 10-4 victory.
With the two defeats, Tech (31-20, 13-14 OVC) locks down the No. 6-seed in this weekend's OVC Softball Championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., and will see a very familiar foe as the Golden Eagles will see No. 7-seed Eastern Illinois. That game, a single-elimination contest, is scheduled for 10 a.m. The winner advances into double-elimination play, the loser sees its season come to a close.
Tech collected 15 runs on 13 hits in game one, scoring three runs in the first, then nine more in the second to build a dominating 12-0 advantage. With six Tech homers in the contest – Carmen Betts and Sydney Love-Baker in the opening frame, then Savannah Talley driving in three with one blow in the second – the Golden Eagles looked like they could have a comfortable route through Sunday's first game.
It wasn't the case – Eastern Illinois scored three runs in the bottom of the second and two more in the third to cut its deficit to 12-5 through three. The Panthers were able to keep Tech quiet in the third, fourth and fifth frames. EIU inched closer with a run in the fifth.
In the sixth inning, Abby Buettner and Shelby Penning each hit solo home runs to pull back out by nine, then EIU answered with a three-run homer to make it a 14-9 Tech lead through six.
Sydney Dukes had a solo shot in the top of the seventh, then the defense quickly retired the first batter on a strikeout. Following a hit, an error and another single and walk, one run came across and the bags were loaded. The defense coaxed a flyout to get the second out, then Lindy Milkowski hit a grand slam, leaving EIU just one run behind, but they weren't done as Riley Dittmar tied the game with a solo home run.
With the game sent to extras, Tech was unable to get anything going in the eighth. The Panthers answered with a lead-off single, a sacrifice bunt and Jaylen Prichard driving in the walkoff run with a single to left field.
Alyssa Arden took the loss, falling to 13-12 as she started and closed the game, throwing 5 1/3 frames as she allowed 10 runs on nine hits, walking nine and striking out none. Tyler Erwin threw two innings, allowing six runs – one earned – on five hits, walking one and striking out one.
Alexa Rehmeier was the fourth EIU pitcher of the game and only faced one Tech batter as she was credited with the victory, her 11th of the season.
After the teams combined for nine home runs in the first game, nothing left the field in the second game in what ended up another high-scoring contest.
Tech scored the first run as Haeli Bryson drove in Carmen Betts on a single to right. EIU picked up right where it left off as Milkowski had a two-run double, then Rachel Kaufman and Abi Stahlhut each picked up RBI singles.
The Golden Eagles answered for three runs in the second to tie the game. Mackenzie Fitzgerald hit a two-run double to left center to plate Kaylan Cole and Penning, then Fitzgerald scored on a fielding error of Dukes' grounder to first.
That, however, was the last run Tech scored on the day as the Golden Eagles were held to two hits in the remainder of the game.
EIU broke the 4-4 tie in the bottom of the second on a Milkowski single to left center, scored two in the third on a double and a single, one in the fourth on a double and two in the sixth on a single and a double.
Bryson took the loss for Tech, falling to 6-5, with seven runs allowed on 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out one. Tyler Erwin worked 3 2/3 innings in the second game, allowing three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out one.
Rehmeier claimed the win in the second game as well, yielding just two hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. The damage was done on Tieghan Morio, who allowed four runs – three earned – on three hits over an inning and a third, walking two and striking out seven.
Photo | Sandy King, EIU
