By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MACOMB, Ill. – Both teams had an explosive first inning, but Western Illinois was able to sustain the output longer as the Leathernecks avoided the sweep, topping Tennessee Tech 11-6.
The Golden Eagles (12-9, 4-2 Ohio Valley Conference) take the season series 2-1 and will continue their road trip on Wednesday as they head to Kennesaw State for a 5 p.m. Central contest.
Carmen Betts drove in two for the Golden Eagles as she hit 3-for-4 from the plate to continue her hot tear, while Mac Fitzgerald and Sydney Kirby were 2-for-4. In all, Tech collected 11 hits, but the Leathernecks (12-15, 2-4 OVC) collected 14 in the contest.
The Golden Eagles enjoyed a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Abby Shoulders drove in Fitzgerald on a single to right. Betts put a single down the left field line to score Shoulders. Abby Buettner's grounder to second base allowed Betts to come home, then an error at short gave Kirby the green light to come home.
Western Illinois answered with five runs in the home half of the inning with a three-run double and a two-run single providing the damage, but Tech squared the game at five in the top of the second as Olivia Evans scored on Kirby's single to left.
The Leathernecks extended their lead in the bottom of the third as they struck for four runs with a single, an error, a sacrifice fly and a double creating the tally marks.
Tech scored its final run of the contest in the fourth inning as Betts picked up her second RBI, driving in Evans with a single to center field. WIU scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth for what became the final margin.
Faith Rush and Lennon Spicer threw the first 2 2/3 frames, combining for three walks and three strikeouts. Emily York pitched the final 3 1/3, slowing WIU down to two unearned runs on three hits and striking out four.
Photo | Jim Dillon
