By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Finally back on their home field for the first time this season, the Tennessee Tech softball team looked to pick up a couple of wins on the first day of the Tennessee Tech Tournament, but Ohio and Robert Morris were able to stave off the Golden Eagles as the Bobcats topped Tech 4-1, then the Colonials followed suit in the day's final game 12-3 in five innings.
Tech (1-18) returns to action on Saturday as the Golden Eagles take on Robert Morris at approximately 12:30 p.m., followed by Ohio at 3 p.m.
Callie Piper had a strong outing against the Bobcats, going the distance as she allowed four runs on 10 hits, walking six and striking out one.
Tech led 1-0 in the bottom of the third as Nicolle Nysted drove in Carmen Betts with a double to left center as the Golden Eagles collected three of their six hits in the frame. Betts had a single up the middle and Abby Buettner singled back to the circle.
Betts ended the game going 3-for-4.
Keegan Moore picked up the victory for Ohio as she worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits as she walked two and struck out two. Skipp Miller earned the save as she threw 2 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings, walking two and striking out one.
Annalia Paoli went 3-for-4 to lead Ohio (8-11) with two RBI.
Against Robert Morris, the Colonials (6-10) scored seven runs in the top of the fourth and four in the top of the fifth as the Golden Eagles had 12 walks in the contest and seven wild pitches to hamper their efforts. RMU finished the game with seven hits, led by Anna Resnik, who went 2-for-4. Resnik and Avery Winchell both drove in two runs.
Tech scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to try to avoid the run rule as Abby Shoulders led off with a single through the left side of the infield, then Tristen Head drew a walk. Bryson needled a single along the left field line to drive in Shoulders. A wild pitch moved Head and Bryson up, then Betts drove in Head on a grounder to second and Nysted a single to right to plate Bryson. RMU was able to get out of the frame to end the contest.
Madison DeVault went the distance, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts to improve to 3-3 on the year.
Kaylan Cole fell to 0-7, allowing four runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts as she started and finished the contest over 3 1/3 innings. Gracelyn Woollen was tagged for four runs – three earned – on three hits and two walks with a strikeout, while Avery Flatford went two-thirds of a frame, allowing four runs on seven walks and a strikeout.
Bryson ended the game with two of Tech's five hits, while Shoulders, Betts and Nysted had the other three safeties.
Photo | Jim Dillon
