By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech softball team had two close contests on Saturday as the Golden Eagles saw two defeats coming in the seventh inning.
Tech almost toppled Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky, falling 4-3 on a walkoff, then Evansville scored three runs in the top of the seventh to beat the Golden Eagles 9-6.
The Golden Eagles (6-10) close out the WKU Hilltopper Spring Fling on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., taking on the host Hilltoppers.
Lainey Fitzgerald got the start against the Wildcats, allowing just two runs on six hits over four frames, walking two and striking out two. Addison Abell had a scoreless fifth, then Emily York took the loss, allowing two runs in the bottom of the seventh as she gave up six hits.
Tech scored the game's first run in the second with Ella Bishop driving in Abbee Klinefelter on a ground ball to short. A second run scored in the third as Olivia Evans crossed the plate off a Sydney Kirby single to center field coupled with an error.
Kentucky tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff home run and an RBI single. The Golden Eagles pulled back ahead in the top of the seventh as Julie Martin, pinch-running for Jailynn Paderez, scored on an error at short.
A double and three straight singles tied the game and gave Kentucky the victory in the bottom of the seventh.
Evans was 2-for-4 at the plate, while Kirby, Klinefelter and Bishop had the other hits for the Golden Eagles. Evans ended the day batting 3-for-7 with two RBI and a run scored.
In game two, Kyleigh Pitzer threw the first two innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one. Hannah Lange threw four complete, allowing four runs – three earned – on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Payton Wagner took the tough-luck loss, allowing one run on two hits in the final inning, striking out three.
Evans drove In two runs as she went 1-for-3, Makayli Harris went 2-for-3, while Klinefelter, Ashley Capelouto, Paderez, Bishop and Martin each had a hit.
Evansville scored two runs each in the first and second to go up 4-0, but the Golden Eagles answered with three runs in the second. Bishop drove in Harris with a single through the left side, then Paderez and Bishop both scored on a wild pitch.
The Purple Aces extended the lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth with a two-run single, then Tech scratched back a run in the bottom half to make it 6-4. Evans drove in pinch-runner Skylar Sybesma with a single.
The Golden Eagles then knotted the score at 6 with two runs in the sixth with Evans driving in Martin with the grounder to short, then Klinefelter bringing in Alina Schlageter with a single into center field.
Evansville countered with three runs in the top of the seventh with two singles to right – one for a solo run, another for two. The Golden Eagles went 1-2-3 in the inning to close out the game.
