COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech softball team honored its senior players in its home finale against Tennessee State on Sunday, it was a game that seemed to feature everything from big defensive plays to big at-bats.

 

It also seemed to echo the course of the Golden Eagles' season as it was a back-and-forth contest then a fight to the finish.

 

Trailing by one run heading into the seventh inning, Tennessee State struck for four runs in the top of the frame as light rain started to fall at Tech Softball Field and the Tigers were able to hold on for the 15-10 victory on Sunday afternoon.

 

Tech will conclude its season next week with a visit to Ohio Valley Conference newcomer Southern Indiana in Evansville as the Golden Eagles will be unable to make the conference tournament field following the weekend's losses and Lindenwood's three-game sweep over Eastern Illinois.

 

With Haeli Bryson, Sydney Dukes and Callie Piper recognized pregame, they all came through in big ways in the contest. Bryson finished the game going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, Dukes 3-for-3 with a run scored, while Piper, in the start, allowed four runs on four hits and two walks.

 

TSU (18-24-1, 9-11 OVC) tagged Piper for all four of those runs in the top of the third inning, but they poured more on Kaylan Cole with two in the third before closing out the frame, then tacked up four more in the top of the fourth before being lifted in favor of Gracelyn Woollen.

 

Cole officially went one-third of an inning, allowing six runs on three hits and two walks, while Woollen pitched the final four innings with five runs – three earned – on six hits and five walks.

 

Onnika Spencer and Peyton Fontino each had five RBI for the Tigers. 

 

Caitlyn Manus, who pitched the TSU victory on Saturday, lasted two-and-a-third innings on Sunday as the Golden Eagles tagged her for eight runs – five earned – on seven hits and four walks. Holly Ayala, who took the loss on Saturday, allowed just two more runs to Tech on six hits and two walks over four-and-two-thirds with two strikeouts to claim the victory.

 

Carmen Betts had an exciting play in the second as she dived to make a stop, then – still seated on the ground – threw across to get the out. Jordan Key then was able to throw the lead Tiger out at third on a 7-5 connection to Betts.

 

Tech scored first, claiming a single run in the bottom of the second as Jordan Key's grounder to second allowed Nicolle Nysted to score, giving Key the first of her three RBI in the contest.

 

TSU responded with a six-run third inning as Nahtali Simpson doubled down the right field line for two runs, Spencer swapped places with a double to left center, Fointno followed with a two-run single to center, then Alyssia Drayton capped off the frame with a RBI single to right to take a 6-1 lead.

 

Tech got that back and more in the home half of the inning. Ella Bishop, Bryson and Betts had back-to-back-to-back hits, the latter driving in the first two on a single to left center. Savannah Talley drew a walk on four pitches and Nysted gained a free pass as well. A throwing error to try to catch pinch-runner Bailee Stack got away from the TSU third baseman, allowing Stack to score. After Dukes walked, Key hit a two-run single to right field, prompting a pitching change. Dukes and Key scored on back-to-back errors to close out the inning's scoring.

 

TSU retook the lead with four runs in the top of the fourth with a hit-by-pitch, walk, hit-by-pitch sequence to load the bases with no one out, then Onnika Spencer cleared the bases with a three-run double to left center. Fointno's sacrifice fly later brought Spencer home to make it 10-8 Tigers.

 

In the home half, Tech got one of the runs back as Abby Shoulders hit an RBI single to center field to drive in Nysted. TSU clawed the run back in the top of the fifth as Mikayla Duke drove in Ryla Traylor with a single to short. The run trading continued in the bottom of the fifth as Bryson came home to roost on a fielder's choice to left field as the outfielder was able to erase Betts at second.

 

After a silent sixth inning, TSU drew some insurance as Spencer had an RBI single, Fointno had a two-run double, then Fointno scored on an error at second.

 

During the seventh inning, the seniors were subbed out, allowing them to get a curtain call from the fans in attendance. Tennessee State was able to retire the Tech side with a grounder, a flyout before a walk, then a 6-4 fielder's choice to close out the game.