COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech tried to get the win to complete the series win against Tennessee State on Sunday, but the Tigers struck early to take a 7-2 victory over the Golden Eagles on Sunday.

 

The Golden Eagles (7-13, 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference) return to action on Tuesday as they host North Dakota in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

 

Jailynn Paderez led Tech at the plate as she collected three of the Golden Eagles' eight hits in the game, but the Tech offense was unable to capitalize on the hits.

 

Four Tech errors helped lead State (10-7, 2-1 OVC) to its runs. Payton Wagner allowed five runs – three earned – on five hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings, while Addison Abell pitched the final 4 2/3 innings, holding the Tigers scoreless until the top of the seventh.

 

Jasmine Blackburn drove in three runs to lead TSU as she went 2-for-3, while Onnika Spencer also drove in two.

 

Reina Castillo went the distance, improving to 9-3 on the season, allowing two runs on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

 

TSU scored two runs in the top of the first, then three in the top of the third. The Golden Eagles scored both of its runs in the bottom of the third as Skylar Sybesma reached on a fielder's choice, Olivia Evans singled to left, then Sydney Kirby delivered a two-run double to left field.

 

Neither team scored in the fourth, fifth or sixth innings, but TSU added a pair of runs on a two-out single in the top of the seventh.