By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE – Tennessee Tech tried its best to keep the game going on Friday evening, but Eastern Illinois' offensive assault in the early frames proved too much to overcome as the Panthers took the first of the weekend's three games 13-4 in five innings.
The series concludes on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Dylan Vazzano will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Lindy Milkowski led Eastern Illinois (22-15, 10-2 Ohio Valley Conference) as she drove in five runs in the contest, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs. Kendall Grover also went 3-for-3.
Gracelyn Woollen took the loss as she allowed three runs on two hits in the opening frame, striking out one and walking two. Callie Piper came on in the second, pitching the next 2 1/3 innings with nine runs – eight earned – allowed on nine hits, walking three and striking out one. Kaylan Cole threw the final inning and two-thirds, yielding an unearned run on a hit, walking one.
Olivia Price picked up her 10th win of the season for the Panthers, working the first four frames followed by the final third as she came back into the contest after the Golden Eagles (3-35, 0-13 OVC) poured on four runs on three hits on reliever Kaitlyn Reifsteck in the bottom of the fifth.
Milkowski homered with one down in the top of the first, then a wild pitch and a double steal put two more runs on the board as EIU struck for three. The Panthers added two in the second with a home steal as Tech wiped out the trailing base runner, then an RBI double made it a 5-0 game after two.
With two down in the third, the Panthers struck again as an Aryn Henke double plated one, followed by Milkowski's second home run – a three-run blast the second time – extending the lead to 9-0. EIU scored four more in the fourth with two RBI singles and two sacrifice flies driving in the runs.
Facing an early exit for the game, the Golden Eagles made a late push. With one down, Abby Shoulders drew a four-pitch walk, then a bobbled ball at short allowed Tristen Head to reach. Following a fly out to right off Haeli Bryson's bat that allowed Shoulders to take third, Carmen Betts eyed a single through the left side of the infield to plate Tech's first run.
With Sarah Livingston coming on to pinch-run for Betts, the runners moved closer on a wild pitch. Meaghan Houk responded with a home run of her own, a three-run blast to left field.
Tech tried to keep it going as Jordan Key hit a ball that glanced off the leaping first baseman's glove for a double, but a misplayed ball at second trying to stop Key resulted in the Tech left fielder legging it to third on the error. Savannah Talley walked on a full count and Jordynn Shirley replaced her at first, giving the Golden Eagles the potential game-continuing run at first.
The Panthers opted to close out the game with their starter, bringing Price back into the circle as she struck out Ella Bishop to end the Tech rally.
The Golden Eagles had nine hits in the contest as Bryson, Betts and Key each collected two hits.
Photo | Jim Dillon
