By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CLINTON, S.C. – Tennessee Tech's offense came out in force on Saturday as the Golden Eagles put together 20 runs in two contests to improve to 4-0 on the season – the program's first 4-0 start since 1997. Tech topped Norfolk State 8-0 in five innings in the day's opener, then put a 12-spot against Presbyterian for a 12-2 victory to close out its action in the Blue Hose Invitational.
In the first game, Carmen Betts went 3-for-3 with five RBI in the contest, while Abby Shoulders, Sydney Kirby and Jordan Key each drove in a run. Faith Rush picked up the victory as she completed the shutout, yielding just two hits in the game and striking out five in her debut.
Tech struck for two runs in the first frame as Betts drove in Shoulders on a double, then Kirby singled in Betts. Three runs came across as Betts drove in Alina Schlageter, Mac Fitzgerald and Shoulders with a double.
Key had an RBI single as she drove in Betts in the fourth, then Shoulders and Betts had back-to-back RBI doubles in the fifth to force the walk-off.
In the second game, Shoulders and Meaghan Houk each drove in four runs in the game as Tech collected 12 hits.
Emily York picked up the victory in relief to earn her first win of the season, going 3 1/3 innings with no runs allowed on four hits, striking out four. Starter Lennon Spicer went 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. She walked two and struck out five.
Shoulders picked up Tech's first home run of the season with a two-run shot to left in the top of the first. Presbyterian cut the Golden Eagles' lead in half with a run-scoring double in the bottom half of the frame, then tied the game with an RBI single in the third.
Tech collected seven runs in the sixth inning. Schlageter started the scoring with a single to short to bring Sofia Carroll home. A Betts sacrifice fly sent Schlageter home, then Kirby drew a bases-loaded walk to drive Fitzgerald across. Houk doubled to right field with the bases still loaded, but the play turned into a four-run, bases-clearing parade as Shoulders, Abby Buettner, Kirby and Houk all scored on the play.
The Golden Eagles got two more in the seventh as Shoulders had a two-run double to right center, then Buettner brought her home on a single up the middle.
Tech returns to action on Friday and Saturday as it heads down to Baton Rouge for the Defend The Bluff tournament, facing host Southern and the University of the Incarnate Word.
