By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Kaylan Cole picked up her fourth win of the season on Saturday and third in her last five appearances as the Tennessee Tech junior kept Tennessee State off the scoreboard until the seventh inning to claim a 7-1 victory in the first game of the doubleheader at Tech Softball Field.
It was one big inning propelling the Golden Eagle offense with a six-run fifth inning, but it was the reverse in game two at the Tigers scored four runs in the fifth and two in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie and earn a split with a 7-1 decision in the nightcap.
Tech (6-41, 2-18 Ohio Valley Conference) will play TSU (17-24-1, 8-11 OVC) in the weekend finale for Senior Day on Sunday. Callie Piper, Sydney Dukes and Haeli Bryson will be recognized before the contest, scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
In the day's opener, Meaghan Houk had a game, going 2-for-3 at the late with an RBI and two runs scored. She put Tech on the board in the bottom of the second after she led off with a triple off the left field fence. Houk then played trickster as she put together a big lead toward home. The TSU catcher and third baseman tried to get Houk in a rundown, but the Colgate transfer slid under the catcher to complete the home steal.
There was nothing else doing for either team as the defense was keeping runners scoring as TSU turned two double plays, Tech another to leave 11 Tigers and six Golden Eagles stranded.
That changed in the fifth inning as Tech was finally able to get to TSU starter Holly Ayala. With one down, Jordan Key singled, but a throwing error allowed her to take second. Makayli Harris hit a hard-hit liner back to the circle, putting runners at the corners. Abby Shoulders hit a ball to short, but the Tiger shortstop misplayed it, allowing pinch-runner Bailee Stack to score.
Ella Bishop loaded the bases with a single to right, then Houk, Savannah Talley and Nicolle Nysted each drew walks to push runs across. Carmen Betts completed the scoring, putting a double down in left field to score Houk and pinch-runner Sarah Livingston.
TSU scored its lone run in the top of the seventh as Onnika Spencer drove in Anayah Baker on a single along the third-base line.
Cole finished the game allowing one run on six hits as she walked seven and struck out two, improving to a team-best 4-13 on the year.
Ayala went 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs – six earned – on five hits, walking four. Caitlyn Manus threw the final inning-and-a-third, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out one.
Manus then went the distance in game two, holding the Golden Eagles to a single run in the bottom of the first. She yielded six hits and four walks, while striking out three.
Callie Piper had a great start, but the Tigers gave her trouble in the fifth, ending her day after 4 1/3 innings. Piper allowed five runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out one. Gracelyn Woollen came on in relief and went the next two innings and a third, allowing two runs on five hits, but walked five. Cole pitched the final third, coaxing a grounder to short on three pitched to prevent any further damage.
Shoulders had the only multi-hit game for the Golden Eagles in the second contest, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Talley drove her in with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first.
TSU scored one in the first as Baker scored on Ryla Traylor's attempt for at second as she was retired 2-6. The Tigers then plated four in the fifth on five hits and an error.
Alyssi Drayton hit a single up the middle, then Laila Armstrong put down nearly a perfect bunt in front of the plate to reach on a bunt single. After a Baker flyout, Traylor and Nahtali Simpson hit back-to-back singles, the latter driving in Drayton for an RBI, but the throw home had too much mustard and sailed away from the Tech catcher, allowing Armstrong to score. Mikayla Duke ripped a two-run double through the left side of the infield to close out the scoring in the fifth.
TSU scored two more runs in the seventh as Spencer came across on a fielder's choice with Jasmine Blackburn erased on a 4-6 putout and Peyton Fointno reaching on the play. Drayton later came home to score on a wild pitch.
Photo | Jim Dillon
