By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Abby Shoulders picked up three of Tennessee Tech's five RBI and Callie Piper put together a strong outing as the Golden Eagles picked up the first victory in the Danielle Penner era, topping College of Charleston 8-3 on Sunday.
Piper picked up her first career victory in the circle as she went five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. She walked one and struck out two. Kaylan Cole came on in the final two frames and shut the door, pitching two scoreless innings with two hits and two walks.
In addition to Shoulders' three RBI, Haeli Bryson knocked in two as both Golden Eagles went 3-for-4 at the plate to pace the lineup. Ella Bishop and Jordan Key also had two hits each as Tech collected 13 safeties against the Cougars' battery.
Tech struck first in the opening frame as Bryson collected a two-out single to center, then a wild pitch allowed the Golden Eagle first baseman to move over to second. Carmen Betts hit a ball back to the circle, but a throwing error by the Cougar pitcher allowed Bryson to score.
In the top of the third, Key led off with a ball through the right side. Tristen Head came on as a pinch runner and stole second. Shoulders and Jordynn Shirley put down back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases. Bryson followed through with a single through second and first, plating Head and Shoulders and extending the lead to 3-0.
Charleston threatened in the third as a runner attempted to score from second on a single. Shoulders threw home to catcher Savannah Talley for a 8-2 putout.
Tech gained some insurance in the top of the sixth, tapping four more runs onto the scoreboard as Shoulders hit a two-run double to right center to score Bishop and pinch-runner Bailey Stack, then advanced to third on a pop-up to first base, then scored on a throwing error by the Cougar catcher. Brooklin Richardson, pinch-running for Key, came home to score on a wild pitch.
Charleston picked up three runs in the home half of the sixth inning as a hit batter, a double and a single led to one run, then two walks pushed another across the plate. The third scored on a fielder's choice as Tech erased the runner going to third on a 6-5 putout.
The Golden Eagles added one last run in the top of the seventh as Shoulders drove in Sydney Dukes on a sacrifice fly to right.
Tech returns to action next week as they compete at the Mercer Bear Invitational, taking on Jacksonville and South Carolina down in Macon, Ga.
