By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Lindenwood pitcher Amanda Weyh helped her own cause as she pitched two victories over the Tennessee Tech softball team on Friday, while going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a home run in the doubleheader.
The visiting Lions won the opener 3-1, then took the nightcap 4-3 to earn the series victory over the Golden Eagles (15-13, 6-5 Ohio Valley Conference).
Tech concludes the series with Lindenwood (16-16, 5-6 OVC) with a single game on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field are free to the public. The finale will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Lennon Spicer went the distance in the opener as she threw all seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout. Weyh threw the first 5 2/3 frames on the opposing side, allowing just one run on four hits with two strikeouts. Avery Wapp recorded the save, throwing the final inning and a third. Wapp allowed just one hit with two strikeouts.
Lindenwood scored the game's first run in the top of the third as Mya Bethany's double to left field allowed Irelynn West to cross the plate. The Lions extended the lead in the fifth as Weyh led off the inning with a solo shot to left field.
Tech scored its lone run in the sixth as Carmen Betts put a double in the center field on a 10-pitch at-bat to bring Mac Fitzgerald in and cut the deficit to one. Lindenwood put a run back on its column in the top of the seventh as West's double bounced over the outfield fence, sending Chloe Honchar home.
The Golden Eagles were able to get a one-out double to keep their hopes alive, but a strikeout and a foul out on the third base side ended the rally attempt.
The second game saw Lindenwood tie the game in the fourth and sixth innings before taking the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh.
Wapp and Tech starter Payton Wagner dueled in the early frames. Wagner went 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits and three walks, while Wapp allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out eight.
Lindenwood stranded 13 runners in the contest, leaving the bases loaded three times as the Golden Eagles worked out of some tough jams.
Weyh earned the win, throwing the final two innings and not allowing a hit as she struck out four. Emily York took her first loss of the season over the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one.
Abby Buettner's double to left center gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead as Betts scored on the hit, then Tech extended the lead in the bottom of the third as Betts followed suit with an RBI double to left to send Abby Shoulders heading for home.
Lindenwood tied the game in the fourth with a pair of runs. Weyh reached on a fielder's choice as the Golden Eagles tried to get Honchar at the plate. The ball got away, giving Weyh room to take second. West followed it up with a double to right center, sending the unearned run home.
Betts reclaimed the lead for the Golden Eagles as she hit a one-out home run to right to take a 3-2 lead, but Lindenwood evened the score once more as Tori Hatton laid down a bunt leading to a fielder's choice with no play to be made as Ashley Gerber crossed the plate.
The top of the seventh started as Weyh led off with a triple to right, then West brought her in with a seeing-eye single up the middle. In the Tech half of the seventh, Weyh coached a grounder to third, then struck out the final two batters to end the ballgame.
Betts went 3-for-4 in the game with two RBI and Abby Buettner was 2-for-3.
3-5 2 RBI, 3 R HR
