By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Saturday saw the Tennessee Tech softball team earn a split against homestanding Morehead State as the Golden Eagles claimed the 7-2 victory in the nightcap after falling 4-2 in the opener.
The Golden Eagles (13-11, 5-3 Ohio Valley Conference) conclude the series with the Eagles (8-13, 2-6 OVC) on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Central. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Lennon Spicer (4-6) picked up the victory over her former teammates as she went six complete innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. She walked one and struck out five. Emily York threw the final inning, allowing just one hit.
Carmen Betts drove in a team-best two runs without collecting a hit in the second game, while Abby Shoulders, Meaghan Houk and Ella Bishop each went 2-for-3. One of Houk's two hits was her second home run of the season.
Tech scored three runs in the third inning as Mac Fitzgerald scored on Betts' grounder to short, then Shoulders came home on Abby Buettner's single to left. Following a Houk double, an error at short on Jordan Key's grounder to short allowed Buettner to score.
The Golden Eagles added a single run in the fourth as Olivia Evans crossed the plate on Shoulders' single to right. Houk homered in the fifth, then Betts scored Fitzgerald on a sacrifice fly and Shoulders scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth.
Morehead State scored its two runs in the bottom of the sixth, using a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to provide the scoring.
During the day's first game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Tech was able to throw out Morehead's leading runner at the plate with Ella Bishop connecting with S.J. Talley on the putout, but the home Eagles scored the first run as Darlene Montoya drew a four-pitch walk to send Sela Pickford across the plate for a 1-0 lead.
In the Tech third, Mac Fitzgerald led off with a single to left and advanced to second on a fielding error, then stole third. Abby Shoulders brought Fitzgerald in with a single to left. After Shoulders stole second, Carmen Betts hit a ball back to the circle and reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners.
Following Bailee Stack's sub for Betts as a pinch runner, Stack stole second and Sydney Kirby took a four-pitch walk to load the bases.
However, Morehead State was able to get out of the inning as Abby Buettner's ball to third was thrown home to erase Shoulders, Sofia Carroll's grounder to the pitcher was thrown home to cut down Stack, then Ella Bishop grounded out to the circle to end the frame.
Home plate defense continued in the bottom of the third. After Morehead State loaded the bases, a grounder to Carmen Betts was tossed to Talley to throw another Eagle runner out at the plate. With two down in the frame, Taikibrea Campbell hit a double into right center, bringing Trinity Spear, Pickford and Kaytlyn Cripps home.
Tech scored its last run in the sixth inning as Fitzgerald's grounder to short gave Bishop room to come home.
Fitzgerald and Shoulders each went 2-for-4 at the plate and collected an RBI in the game.
Payton Wagner took the loss to fall to 4-2 on the season, allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits across three innings, walking three and striking out three. Emily York threw three scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Photo | Jim Dillon, file
