COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech started off with a bang on Saturday, then held on in a dramatic finish as the Golden Eagles held on for a 6-5 victory over Southeast Missouri to close out the series.

 

Makayli Harris hit two home runs in the contest, then Emily York held off some of the Redhawks' top hitters to claim the victory.

 

"This is something we can build on, especially as we're in the home stretch of the conference schedule," said Tech head coach Danielle Penner. "I think the biggest thing we need to recognize is that we were in every single game against a team that went to the NCAA Regionals last season. Southeast Missouri is a team that has consistently been toward the top of the conference. It was a great team win. We had three great pitching performances. We got offense from multiple players."

 

Tech improves to 16-28, 8-13 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while SEMO falls to 21-14, 14-6 in the league. With the victory, the Golden Eagles maintain a one-game lead over Western Illinois for the No. 7-spot in the conference standings with six OVC contests to go. Tech also has a two-game lead over ninth-place UT Martin with the top eight team making the OVC tournament in Peoria next month.

 

Harris ended the game 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI, while Olivia Evans also went 2-for-3.

 

The Golden Eagles put themselves in great position early on with a four-spot in the first frame. Abby Shoulders and Evans led the Tech side off with back-to-back singles, then a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners. Sydney Kirby reached on a fielder's choice and picked up the RBI as Shoulders crossed the plate.

 

Harris then took the first pitch, launching it over the left center field wall to put the Golden Eagles up 4-0.

 

Tech added a second run in the bottom of the second as Evans drove in Brooklyn Stewart with a single to right center.

 

In the bottom of the third with one down, SEMO tried to make the adjustment on Harris in her second at-bat. After the first pitch was outside for a ball, Harris was not fooled by the second as she drilled it over the left field wall and emptying the Golden Eagle dugout as the Golden Eagles then led 6-0 through the first three innings.

 

"(Friday), they were targeting me in and it just wasn't going my way," Harris said. "I made some adjustments before the game. I knew we needed to get some momentum going, so be able to do that for my teammates was an incredible feeling."

 

SEMO started to make its way back in the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs as Tori Bradley hit a pinch-hit home run to center field, then after a triple put Addisyn Martinie at third, a throwing error allowed Martinie to score. The Redhawks then added a single run in the fifth as Sydney Dennis scored on an inning-ending rundown to catch Brooklyn Saysoff.

 

Wagner's day ended after the fifth as she allowed three runs – two earned – on four hits, walking three and striking out one. She collected the win – her second of the year – as Addison Abell and York held off the Redhawks.

 

Abell had a flawless sixth inning as she coaxed a pair of grounders to Jailynn Paderez sandwiching a flyout to Evans in left. However, back-to-back hits with a double for Brittany Affolter and a single for Kinley Wilkins prompted a chance to York.

 

"I knew what I needed to come in and do," York said. "Southeast Missouri is a really good hitting team, so I knew it'd be a challenge, but with our defense behind me, I wasn't worried."

 

Dennis loaded the bases on a bunt single, then a fielder's choice as Paderez tried to find an available play allowed Affolter to score. Saysoff flied out to center field, but no one advanced on the play. It wasn't the case the next batter as Gracie Luna hit a sacrifice fly to right field, deep enough to plate Wilkins and make it a one-run game with two down.

 

York wasn't fazed. She knew the task ahead and kept on working. 

 

"I just treat it like a 0-0 game," York said. "I knew I needed to keep my cool and focus on the situation ahead. I was just as cool as a cucumber out there."

 

The sophomore nailed the location on the first pitch to Sydney Melton for a called strike, then just missed for a ball to even the count. Melton fouled off the third selection, then launched the ball on the fourth pitch. Alina Schlageter had it in her sights from right off the bat and made the catch in center field to end the contest.

 

Abell officially went one inning, allowing two runs on two hits, then York went one inning, yielding just one hit as she collected her first save of the season.

 

The Golden Eagles return to action on Wednesday as Tech hosts former OVC foe Austin Peay in a non-conference contest, starting at 4 p.m. Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field is open to the public.