COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The offense came through in a big way for the Tennessee Tech softball team as the Golden Eagles claimed a pair of victories over Western Illinois on Saturday, rallying to tie the day's first game in the bottom of the seventh, then won in the ninth 5-4. Tech then run-ruled the visitors in game two 14-6.

 

The Golden Eagles (9-19, 3-5 Ohio Valley Conference) will close out the series against the Leathernecks on Sunday. First pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m. with rain in the forecast. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.

 

Tech collected 11 hits in game one and 14 in game two, hitting .439 on the day with Abbee Klinefelter driving in four runs on the day on a 4-for-6 effort, Sydney Kirby collected four hits and Makayli Harris three. Ashley Capelouto also drove in three in the twinbill.

 

Emily York allowed a single run in four of the first five innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on 11 hits, walking one and striking out five as she went all nine frames. She improved to 4-5 on the win.

 

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Kirby hit a one-out double to right center, then Harris was hit by a pitch. Ella Bishop advanced the runners on a grounder to short and Capelouto came up with the clutch hit with a two-run single to right center, knotting the game up and sending it to extra innings.

 

Both teams went quiet in the eighth and the Leathernecks were retired in the top of the ninth. In the home half, Klinefelter drew a walk and Bella Ochoa came on to pinch run. After Kirby grounded out to second with Ochoa advancing, Harris put a single into left center field, giving the runner plenty of room to score and walk off the game.

 

In game two, it appeared that the Leathernecks were going to put together an offensive onslaught, scoring five runs in the top of the first off of Lainey Fitzgerald as the freshman went two-thirds of an inning allowing three walks and four hits with one strikeout.

 

Addison Abell put out the fire and dominated the rest of the way as she pitched the final 4 1/3 innings allowing just a single unearned run in the third on five hits and two walks with a strikeout.

 

Tech countered as six players had two hits in the contest, rallying almost immediately with three runs in both the bottoms of the first and second. Klinefelter drove in Abby Shoulders with a single down the right field line, then Oliva Evans scored on a sacrifice to center field. Capelouto singled to right for the third run of the inning as Klinefelter touched home. 

 

In the second, Alina Schlageter and Shoulder picked up back-to-back walks with the runners advancing to second and third on Evans' sacrifice bunt. A passed ball allowed Schlageter to score, then Klinefelter drove in Shoulders with a single to left. Klinefelter later came around on a passed ball.

 

The Golden Eagles plated two more in the third as Shoulders hit a double to right center for one RBI, driving in Schlageter. Using heads-up baserunning, Brooklyn Stewart was able to catch Western Illinois' defense napping to collect a second run on the play.

 

Tech opened the flood gates in the fourth inning. After Kirby led off with a single through the right side, pinch runner Julie Martin moved up twice on wild pitches. Harris brought her home with a single, then Capelouto doubled to right center. Ella Bishop brought those two home with a single up the middle.

Bishop stole second, then Stewart pushed a single through the left side. Pinch runner Bailee Stack stole second, then Bishop scored on a fielder's choice on Schlageter's grounder to short as the Leathernecks erased Stack at third. Shoulders singled between first and second, then stole second. A passed ball allowed Schlageter to score and Shoulders to take third. After Evans hit a single to third base and stole second, Klinefelter drove in the final Tech run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

 

Tech's defense held after allowing a leadoff double, but the lead runner was taken out at second, then a flyout to right and a ground out back to the circle completed the run-ruled contest.