By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the uphill battle the Tennessee Tech softball team is fighting this season, the Golden Eagles took a big step toward improvement. Even though Eastern Illinois did claim the victories in the final two games of the series to take the sweep, Tech didn't go down without a fight.
The Golden Eagle defense, powered by a solid performance from Kaylan Cole, stranded 14 Eastern Illinois runners in a 3-2 defeat in game one, while Callie Piper, in a complete game effort, kept Tech within reach until the Panthers scored runs in the final three innings to take a 7-2 win in the finale.
Tech (3-37, 0-15 Ohio Valley Conference) returns to action for its final non-conference midweek action of the season on Tuesday as it hosts East Tennessee State, first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. from Tech Softball Field.
In game one, all five runs were scored in the first three frames. Tech got on the scoreboard first as Meaghan Houk led off the bottom of the second with a double to right center. Jordan Key used small ball to move her over with a 1-4 sacrifice bunt, then Ella Bishop brought her home with a sacrifice fly to straight-away center.
The Panthers (24-15, 12-2 OVC) took the lead after Lindy Milkowski led off with a double to center, then Rachel Kaufman, EIU's starting pitcher, helped out her own cause with a two-run home run to left center. Riley Dittmar scored the third run, driving in Kendall Grover with a single between second and first.
Tech scored its second and final run without collecting a hit in the bottom of the third as Abby Shoulders led off with a four-pitch walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, then came home as Carmen Betts flied out to center field, but the throw back went wild, allowing Shoulders to cross home.
Gracelyn Woollen threw the first 2 1/3 innings for the Golden Eagles, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out one. Cole threw the final 4 2/3 frames, yielding just two hits as she walked three and struck out three.
Kaufman went the distance after a pre-game switch, working all seven innings as she allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits, walking four and striking out five.
Tech also tacked runs onto the scoreboard first in the second game as the Golden Eagles struck for two runs in the bottom of the first. Betts drove in Shoulders on an RBI single, then a Nicolle Nysted hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Haeli Bryson.
However, it was Eastern Illinois scoring in the remainder of the game as the Panthers scored two in the second, single runs in the third, fifth and sixth and two more in the seventh.
Jaylen Prichard picked up her two RBI in the second with a double to left field in the second, then Grover scored on a wild pitch in the third. Milkowski drove in Prichard with a double to left in the fifth, then Aniya Holt's double down the left field line brought Dittmar home in the sixth.
Pinch runner Morgan Lewis scored on a wild pitch that hit the dirt, bounced off of Brooklyn Stewart's chest protector and away from home plate, then Grover hit a solo home run to left center.
Piper threw all seven innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits, walking four and striking out five.
For the Panthers, Alexa Rehmeier pitched the first three innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking four and striking out one to earn the victory. Olivia Price claimed the save as the threw four frames, yielding one hit and walking two.
Photo | Jim Dillon
