By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Trailing 2-0 for the first five innings against Indiana State, Tennessee Tech just needed to find a time to strike. They found it in the sixth and seventh innings as the Golden Eagles scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to take an 8-5 win over the Sycamores to split the second day of the Blues City Tournament.
Faith Rush and S.J. Talley each drove in two runs, while Mac Fitzgerald went 3-for-5 in the nightcap, 5-for-9 on the day.
After ISU plated two runs against Peyton Wagner in the bottom of the first, Emily York came on and earned her second win of the season, going 6 2/3 frames and didn't allow a run until the bottom of the seventh. York ended the game allowing three runs – one earned – on nine hits, striking out two.
A two-run double scored the Sycamores' runs in the first inning, then it was nothing doing until the sixth inning as Sofia Carroll halved the deficit with an RBI single to left, driving in Meaghan Houk.
Olivia Evans led off the seventh inning with a bunt single, then Fitzgerald singled up the middle. With one down, a passed ball moved the runners up, then Carmen Betts loaded the bases with a walk. An error at short allowed Sydney Kirby to reach and Evans to score. Houk worked the count for a walk to squeeze another run across.
Rush had a two-run single to right as Betts and Kirby scored, then a two-base error on a ball hit by Talley allowed Houk and Rush to come home. As Evans was walked, Talley took home for the seventh run of the frame.
Indiana State made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh with a single, an error at short and a single scoring runs. The Sycamores had the bases loaded for the final two outs of the contest.
Mac Fitzgerald had four RBI in the day's opener, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Jordan Key also had a 2-for-4 showing in the game.
DePaul struck for two runs in the first frame, then five in the third inning, chasing starter Lennon Spicer. She was tagged for seven runs – six earned – in 2 1/3 innings with seven hits yielded, two walks and no strikeouts.
The Golden Eagles chipped away at the deficit with a single run in the fourth. Abby Buettner singled, then was lifted for Bailee Stack as a pinch-runner. Sydney Kirby doubled into center field to push Stack to third, then Key dropped a single into left field to send Stack home for the first run.
Tech made it a 7-5 game in the sixth inning with four runs in the frame. Key hit a one-out single, then Alina Schlageter took her place at first, then advanced on a passed ball. Ella Bishop reached on a 6-5 fielder's choice as the Blue Demons erased the lead runner at third.
Faith Rush started the momentum back with a single to right, then Olivia Evans drew a full-count walk. Fitzgerald stepped up and sent the ball screaming over the left field wall for a grand slam.
DePaul countered for three runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly.
The Golden Eagles (6-2) close out the Blues City Tournament on Sunday as they take on host Memphis at 2 p.m.
