By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
PEORIA, Ill. – Tennessee Tech used a six-run fourth inning in Wednesday's Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship opener to erase memories of last season's loss to Tennessee State in the tournament, piling on for a six-inning, 10-2 run-rule victory.
Moving into double-elimination play, the Golden Eagles had a tough outing in the second game as the defending OVC champs topped Tech (20-34) 6-0.
Tech will now get a 24-hour break as it waits to see who it will play in the consolation bracket at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. The Golden Eagles will take on the loser of top-seeded Eastern Illinois against the winner of Southern Indiana/Lindenwood.
Abbee Klinefelter and Jailynn Paderez each got two hits in the opener, while Alina Schlageter drove in three and Sydney Kirby two.
Emily York improved to 10-9 on the season as she put together a strong performance against the Tigers (23-22), allowing two runs on six hits as she walked none and struck out four.
Reina Castillo took the loss for the Tigers, allowing eight runs in 3 2/3 innings – four earned – on eight hits, one walk and one strikeout. Olivia Calderone threw a third of an inning with three walks, while Tianna Salcido pitched the final two frames, allowing two unearned runs on one hit, walking one and striking out another.
The Golden Eagles wasted no time in the top of the first. With Klinefelter standing on base, Kirby stood in and blasted a two-run shot to left field to take a 2-0 lead. Tennessee State halved the Tech advantage as Onnika Spencer hit an RBI double down the left field line.
After the second and third innings went quietly, the Golden Eagles burst open the flood gates, striking for six runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Schlageter hit a triple to left center, bringing in pinch runner Bailee Stack, Makayli Harris and Ella Bishop. Abby Shoulders picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly, bringing in Schlageter and moving Sofia Carroll to third on a throwing error.
Olivia Evans knocked Carroll in with a single down the left field line, then Klinefelter doubled in Evans with a hit to left field.
TSU added a single run as JaKeyla McDaniel collected an RBI single to make it 8-2 in the fifth, but the Golden Eagles forced the run rule in the sixth inning as a throwing error on Klinefelter's ball to the third baseman brought in Evans, then Paderez hit a single up the middle to drive in Hailey Stewart.
Tech took out State 1-2-3 with two flyouts to right and one to center to end the contest in six frames.
In the game against the Redhawks, Elliott Stinson held the Golden Eagles to three hits in the game as she went the distance, walking two and striking out three. Paderez had two of the hits, while Evans collected the other.
Payton Wagner took the loss, allowing five runs – four earned – on seven hits. Lainey Fitzgerald came in and pitched the remainder, allowing one run on one hit, walking one and striking out one.
SEMO scored four runs in the bottom of the first with a two-run single, an RBI double to right and a grounder to second to drive in a run. The Redhawks added a single run in the third on a fielding error in the outfield, then a run in the sixth on a single to right field.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
