By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After a run-ruled contest in the first game of the day, Tennessee Tech took a 7-2 lead into the fifth inning of Saturday's second game against Southern Indiana, but the host Screaming Eagles rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and walk off with an 8-7 victory to take both ends of the doubleheader.
Tech (6-44, 2-21 Ohio Valley Conference) closes out the regular season on Sunday afternoon at noon. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
In game one, USI (20-21, 13-9 OVC) used Josie Newman to great effect, holding the Golden Eagles to just two hits and three walks as she struck out four. Ella Bishop and Haeli Bryson had the two hits in the contest.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth as the Screaming Eagles scored three innings in the frame, leading off with a homer from Sammie Kihega. Hailey Gotshall and Rachel Martinez traded doubles with the latter driving in the former, then a groundout to second from Jordan Rager brought in the third run before the inning closed.
USI forced the run rule in the bottom of the fifth as the Screaming Eagles struck for five runs as Martinez hit a single to left to score Gotshall, then Kennedy Nalley hit a three-run home run to center field. An Allie Goodin single up the middle ended the game as Mackenzie Bedrick touched home.
Callie Piper kept USI scoreless through the first three frames but was unable to retire anyone in the fourth inning, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk. Gracelyn Woollen closed out the game, allowing five runs on six hits with four walks in the final inning and two-thirds.
Southern Indiana took a two-run lead in the bottom of the first as a throwing error allowed Bedrick to score, then Rager came home on a wild pitch.
Tech responded with four runs in the top of the second as Jordan Key and Sydney Dukes both scored on wild pitches, then Ella Bishop drove in Abby Shoulders and Tristen Head with a two-run single to left.
The Golden Eagles extended the lead with three more runs in the third as Meaghan Houk scored on a bases-loaded walk, then an error by the USI second baseman allowed Brooklyn Stewart and Key to score.
Kaylan Cole had a solid start, allowing the two runs in the first inning and didn't yield a hit until the fifth inning. But that was where the Screaming Eagles started its rally, clutching a single run on a Reager single to left to drive in Emma Tucher to make it a 7-3 Tech lead.
The sixth saw the Screaming Eagles add two runs to make it 7-5 as Martinez drew a two-run double into left center with Gotshall and Olivia Howard coming home. The inning ended Cole's day, allowing five runs – three earned – on five hits, walking three and striking out three.
USI got Bedrick on with a walk, then Goodin hit a game-tying two-run home run to left field. After a hit batter, an error at third and a single up the middle to load the bases, Piper was able to cox a foul out to the first base side for the second out. Nalley floated a single into left center to walk off the game as Lexi Fair crossed the plate.
Piper was tagged with the loss, going two-thirds of an inning as she allowed three runs – two earned – on three hits, walking one.
