By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a battle in the first game, but while Rhode Island took the day's opener, the Tennessee Tech softball team secured a split against the Rams.
The Golden Eagles (10-8) won the second game 4-0, behind a complete-game effort from Payton Wagner in the circle. She yielded just five hits and three walks while striking out two.
In the opener, the two teams combined for 22 hits as Rhode Island claimed a 9-7 victory with leads swapping in the first three innings before the Rams surged forward.
Lennon Spicer took the loss in the opener, allowing four runs – two earned – on five hits while striking out three in three frames. Faith Rush was tagged for three runs with two walks in a third of an inning, while Emily York allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in the final 3 2/3 innings.
Cassie Swenson had five RBI for the Rams in the contest as she went 2-for-4. Sofia Carroll led the Golden Eagles with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate in the opener, while Abby Shoulders and Faith Rush each drove in two runs each.
An error at short allowed two runs to score in the first inning, but the Golden Eagles answered back in the bottom half of the frame. Mac Fitzgerald led off with a single up the middle, then stole second and third, scoring on a wild pitch. Carmen Betts then had a stand-up triple and came home on Sydney Kirby's grounder to second.
Tech took the lead in the second as Tristen Head scored on Shoulders' single to center field.
Rhode Island swapped the lead in the top of the third with two runs, then surged further ahead with three runs in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded triple.
The Golden Eagles got a single run in the fourth as Olivia Evans scored on a sacrifice fly from Shoulders. The Rams scored their final two runs in the fifth and Rush answered in the home half with a two-run blast. Tech's final run scored as Evans hit a two-out single back to the pitcher. With two on and the winning run at the plate, Rhode Island ended the contest with a strikeout.
In the second game, the runs all came for the Golden Eagles. Kirby drove in two of Tech's runs, while Fitzgerald and Betts each picked up an RBI.
After two scoreless frames, Tech came through with a run in the third as Kirby grounded out to short, allowing Shoulders to score. In the fifth, the Golden Eagles picked up two runs as Betts drove in Alina Schlageter with a single to second base, then Kirby eyed a single up the middle to bring in pinch-runner Bailee Stack.
Tech's final run scored in the sixth as Fitzgerald drove in Schlageter with a single to center field.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday as they head to Western Illinois for their first meeting in Ohio Valley Conference competition. Tech swept the series with the Leathernecks last season. The series also starts off an eight-game road trip with additional stops at Kennesaw State, Morehead State and East Tennessee State.
Tech returns home on March 29 for a conference series against Lindenwood.
Photo | Jim Dillon
