COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team wrapped up a spot in next week's Ohio Valley Conference tournament on Saturday as the Golden Eagles opened their series against Morehead State with a 10-2 win in five innings.

 

The originally scheduled start of noon was pushed back nearly seven hours before the game got underway and Morehead State took a quick lead with a two-run home run for Kendra Lewis, but that was it for the visiting Eagles (8-39, 6-18 Ohio Valley Conference).

 

After yielding three hits in the opening frame, Tech starter Emily York was able to settle things down as she completed the game, allowing just three more hits the rest of the way. York improved to 9-9 on the season, allowing two runs on five total hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

 

Olivia Evans had a 4-for-4 night with two RBI and two runs scored. She also had two RBI singles in the opening frame as the Golden Eagles quickly responded with six runs in the bottom of the first.

 

Abby Shoulders led off with a single to right, then stole second. Evans drove her in with a single to left. Abbee Klinefelter traded places with a single to center field followed by an errant throw, then Sydney Kirby reached on a catcher's interference call. After a fly ball allowed Klinefelter to take third, Makayli Harris drew a walk to load the bases.

 

Ella Bishop grounded a ball back to the circle and Morehead's defense elected to go home to get Klinefelter at the plate. Sofia Carroll, Alina Schlageter and Shoulders collected consecutive walks with the bases loaded to plate three, then Evans drove in the sixth run of the inning with a hit to second base, beating out the throw.

 

Tech then added four runs in the bottom of the third. After the first out, Evans roped a single up the middle, then Klinefelter brought her back home with a double to center field. Following a pitching change, Kirby lined a double down the left field line to bring Klinefelter home. Jailynn Paderez singled through the right side and her pinch runner, Bailee Stack, swiped second with the throw sailing away allowing Kirby to head home. Harris then drove in the final run with a grounder to short with Stack going homeward.

 

Rylie Burney took the loss, allowing eight runs – seven earned – on seven hits, six walks and a strikeout. Sela Pickford went two-thirds of a frame, allowing two unearned runs on two hits. Emma Solis threw the final inning, yielding a hit and a strikeout.

 

The series is set to conclude Sunday at noon. Weather in the forecast could force a start-time switch. Updates will be available at TTUsports.com and on the team's social media accounts when available.