By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Georgia State struck first but Tennessee Tech scored more often as the Golden Eagles took a 7-1 victory over the visiting Panthers on Tuesday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles (12-26) return to action Saturday and Sunday as they take on UT Martin on the road to continue Ohio Valley Conference play.
Emily York had a great outing in the circle as she went the distance, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out seven. Sydney Boulware took the loss, allowing six runs on four hits, walking three and striking out one in an inning and a third. Emily Hodnett worked the next inning and two-thirds, holding Tech scoreless with one hit and three walks. Kate Kastelic pitched the final three frames allowing one run on five hits.
Olivia Evans and Bella Ochoa each collected two hits, while Abbee Klinefelter drove in three. Tech, as a team, had 10 total hits in the contest with Abby Shoulders, Julie Martin, Jailynn Paderez, Brooklyn Stewart and Alina Schalgeter all picked up hits in the game.
Georgia State picked up a run in the top of the first as Middlebrooks led off with a double to left field, took third on a single just in front of third base, then scored on a grounder to second.
While Tech went quiet in the bottom of the first, the Golden Eagles were anything but in the bottom of the second. Paderez led off with a walk, then Ella Bishop's sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Bailee Stack to second. Ochoa reached on a bunt single, then stole second.
Brooklyn Stewart hit a grounder and the GSU defense elected to try to get the lead runner, but Stack scored on the play. Stewart took second on a stolen base, then Schlageter drew a walk to load the bases. Abby Shoulders singled back to the circle, sending Ochoa home, then Evans singled to short to bring Stewart home.
Klinefelter delivered the big blast as she roped a double into left center, giving Schlageter, Shoulders and Evans room to come home and make it a 6-1 Tech lead.
The next three innings were quiet once more, but Tech added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Paderez singled home Evans on a single past short.
Photo | Jim Dillon
