By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Sunday's series finale at Morehead State had a lot of twists and turns, but the Tennessee Tech offense broke the game wide open with a five-run fifth inning to take a 9-4 victory to take the series 2-1.
With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 14-11 overall on the season, 6-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tech has gone 2-1 in each of its first three league series and maintains a solid positioning among the top half of the conference.
Emily York improved to 5-0 on the season, picking up the victory in relief as she worked the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Tech starter Lennon Spicer, facing her former Morehead State teammates, pitched the first inning and a third, allowing two runs on five hits.
MSU reliever Jessie Begley took the loss, falling to 4-4 on the season, as the reliever allowed four runs – three earned – in 1 2/3 innings.
S.J. Talley and Sofia Carroll both drove in two runs, while Mac Fitzgerald came home to score three times. Fitzgerald and Abby Buettner both went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Tech got the first run on the board in the top of the first as Abby Shoulders drove in Fitzgerald with a double to left center. Morehead took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second as Trinity Spear laced a triple into left center to plate two.
The Golden Eagles got the runs back in the top of the third as Carmen Betts hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Fitzgerald home, then Buettner doubled to left center to score Shoulders. Tech extended the lead in the top of the fourth as Talley hit a solo home run to right center to make it a 4-2 Golden Eagle lead.
Morehead State evened the score once more in the bottom of the fourth as Darlene Montoya hit an RBI single into right field, then Taikibrea Campbell scored on a double play from a foul catch from Fitzgerald into a 4-2-3 putout to end the inning.
In the fifth inning, Fitzgerald led off with a double to left center, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Betts drew a four-pitch walk and Bailee Stack came on to run at first. Buettner hit a ball to third, but the ball was muffed, allowing Fitzgerald to score and put runners at the corners.
With Tristen Head now running at first, Meaghan Houk singled to center field to send Stack home. Jordan Key singled to left and took second as the defense erased Head. Ella Bishop was walked on four pitches to load the bases, then Talley drew a walk on a 3-1 pitch. Sofia Carroll came through with the big blow as she hit a two-run double into right center to drive in Bishop and Key's pinch runner, Alina Schalgeter.
After the Golden Eagles' outburst, York held the home team to two hits and a walk, stranding four Morehead State runners to preserve the win.
Tech returns to action on Wednesday as it travels to East Tennessee State for a single game at 5 p.m. Central. The Golden Eagles return home on Friday for a three-game OVC series against Lindenwood.
Photo | Jim Dillon, file
