By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Abby Shoulders hit a rolling grounder to the East Tennessee State first baseman. With Bailee Stack charging for home, the Buccaneers threw the ball home but the play was not in time. With that fielder's choice play, the Tennessee Tech softball team finally got back into the win column, erasing an 18-game losing streak with an 8-0 run-rule victory on Tuesday night.
Tech (4-38) dropped the first game 11-3.
The Golden Eagles return to Ohio Valley Conference action on Saturday and Sunday at SIUE, weather permitting.
In both games, each team had a big inning that led to a run-rule finish. In game one, it was a eight-run frame for the Buccaneers in the sixth to break a 3-3 tie. In the second game, the Golden Eagles extended their 2-0 lead with six runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.
In the circle, Callie Piper had a good effort in the opener, yielding four runs on five hits, walking five and striking out two. However, the sixth frame unraveled for the Golden Eagles as ETSU pushed eight runs across on four hits and two errors.
Kaylan Cole picked up her second win of the season as she worked all five innings, allowing three hits and three walks. She also struck out two.
All three of Tech's runs in the first game came in the second inning. Shoulders plated two as she drilled a ball to short. As the ETSU shortstop tried to get her glove under the ball, it took a hop and bounced over the fielder and into the outfield, allowing Ella Bishop and Sarah Livingston to score. Makayli Harris also came home on a fielder's choice off Jordan Key's bat.
ETSU scored two runs in the third inning on a pair of singles, then tied the game in the fourth on a bunt single.
In the second game, Tech took a 1-0 lead on Haeli Bryson's single down the left field line, driving in Shoulders. Then, in the third, Bryson went yard, driving the ball over the left field wall.
In the fifth inning, Bryson and Betts took back-to-back walks. Nicolle Nysted hit a grounder and the defense chose to try to get one of the lead runners, but the play was unsuccessful, loading the bases. Jordan Key hit a single to third, pushing Bryson across, then two straight wild pitches brought Betts and pinch-runner Livingston across.
Bishop had an RBI single to center field to score Key, then Sidney Dukes drew a full-count walk to put two on. Jordynn Shirley hit a single to center field and took second on the throw as Bishop scored to make it 7-0. The final and clinching run scored on Shoulders' grounder as Stack was charging home.
Bryson finished the second game 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Nysted had a multi-hit game in the opener, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Photo | Jim Dillon
