By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The season started well enough for the Tennessee Tech softball team as the Golden Eagles were poised to take the campaign opener against South Carolina State, but the Lady Bulldogs rallied and walked the game off in the bottom of the seventh in a 3-2 defeat to start the new year.
Tech then fell 5-3 to Stonehill in the second game of the day.
The Golden Eagles (0-2) return to action in the Furman Paladin Invitational on Saturday as they get a rematch with South Carolina State at 8:30 a.m., then will take on Evansville at 1:30 p.m. Tech closes out the tournament on Sunday at 9:50 a.m. against Evansville.
Emily York took the tough-luck loss in the day's opener as she struck out eight to one walk. She allowed three runs – but just one earned – as she went 6 1/3 innings.
After a leadoff double for Abby Shoulders to begin the contest, Alina Schlageter drove in Tech's first run of the year with a single to center field to give Shoulders room to score. The score held until the Golden Eagles extended its lead as Sydney Kirby doubled in Sofia Carroll with a ball into right field.
S.C. State grabbed a run in the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field.
Tech led 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. After a leadoff single and a strikeout, a dropped fly ball allowed runners to advance to second and third.
After York's day ended in favor of Lainey Fitzgerald, Jamaria Charley singled up the middle to tie the game, then stole the next bag to put runners at second and third. Kaylah Leslie hit a grounder back to second, but the play allowed Mikenna Williams to score the walk-off run.
Tech collected five hits in the game as Shoulders, Ashley Capelouto and Ella Bishop had singles and Schlageter and Kirby doubles.
In game two, Shoulders and Kirby both collected two hits, while Kirby and Ashlyn Riggs each had a double. Schlageter and Bishop also had singles.
Carroll gave Tech the early lead in the first inning as her grounder to short gave Shoulders room to score for the 1-0 advantage, but Stonehill scored two unearned runs in the second to take the lead, then three RBI singles in the third to extend the lead to 5-1.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the fourth inning as Ella Bishop came home to score as Julie Martin was thrown out stealing second. Schlageter ended Tech's day in the same fashion as the day started as she hit a single to center field in the bottom of the seventh to plate Shoulders.
Payton Wagner took the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – on six hits over two innings. Addison Abell threw five frames of scoreless ball with seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
