GREENVILLE, S.C. – After a tough first day at the Furman Paladin Invitational, the Tennessee Tech softball team rebounded and picked up a pair of victories, topping South Carolina State 5-1 and Evansville 2-0 on Saturday.

 

The Golden Eagles (2-2) conclude their first tournament of the 2025 season on Sunday morning, facing Evansville again at 9:50 AM Central.

 

Addison Abell hurled her way to the victory in the day's opener as she worked five full frames, allowing one run on three hits as she walked two and struck out five. Payton Wagner collected the save as she threw the final two innings – both scoreless – as she yielded three hits with a strikeout.

 

Tech had four players collect two hits as Abby Shoulders and Aline Schlageter both went 2-for-4, Ella Bishop 2-for-3 and Abbee Klinefelter 2-for-2.

 

The Golden Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Shoulders had a leadoff single to left, advanced to second, then reached third on Schlageter's bunt single in front of the plate. Sydney Kirby hit a grounder to short leading to a fielder's choice, but the ball was booted at short, allowing Shoulders to score, Schlageter to take third and Kirby to stand at first.

 

Jailynn Paderez drove in Schlageter with a single to short, then Ella Bishop roped a double into right center to drive in Kirby.

 

Tech added another run in the fourth inning as Klinefelter led off the frame with a solo home run -- the Golden Eagles' first of the season -- to left field. South Carolina State scored its lone run in the fifth on a double, a ground out to second and a wild pitch.

 

The Golden Eagles collected an insurance run in the sixth with Klinefelter and Makayli Harris delivering back-to-back doubles, then Shoulders' grounder allowed pinch-runner Olivia Evans to score.

 

Against Evansville, Emily York and Lainey Fitzgerald pulled together a complete-game shutout with York throwing five complete with a walk and four strikeouts, scattering five hits for the victory. Fitzgerald was credited with the save as she threw two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out two.

 

Fitzgerald also went 2-for-2 with an RBI to help out her cause in the contest. Shoulders, Schlageter and Klinefelter picked up hits for the Golden Eagles.

 

Tech scored the first run in the top of the second as Fitzgerald drove in Klinefelter on a sacrifice fly, then, in the third, Schlageter tripled and came home on Kirby's grounder to short.