By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
STATESBORO, Ga. – Tennessee Tech started off with a close battle to open the Georgia Southern GATA Challenge on Friday, taking Rhode Island to extra innings in the opener, but the hosts were able to collect some big hits to run-rule the Golden Eagles in the second game of the day.
Rhode Island scored the walk-off run in the eighth inning to claim a 2-1 victory, while Georgia Southern won 11-0.
Tech (1-9) returns to action Saturday in Statesboro as it takes on Eastern Kentucky at 8 AM, then gets a rematch with Rhode Island at 3:30 PM. With wet weather in the forecast in Statesboro, the games are weather permitting and the schedule subject to change.
Makayli Harris collected two hits in the contest against the Rams to lead the Golden Eagles, while also coming across to score Tech's lone run in the fourth inning. Harris reached on a single back to the circle, then was able to come all the way around as Ella Bishop's fly ball to center field was dropped, putting the Golden Eagles up 1-0.
The Rams tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single.
Neither team scored again in regulation, sending the game to extra innings. Tech was able to get ghost runner Skylar Gooden moved over to third, but was unable to get her home. The Rams were able to collect the walk-off run as a wild pitch allowed the ghost runner to move to third, then a sacrifice fly to left field ended the game.
Addison Abell went 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits as she walked one and struck out one. Emily York was tagged with the tough-luck loss, allowing the final unearned run on four hits over four innings, striking out two.
Against the host Eagles, Tech was held to three hits as Ashley Capelouto, Gooden and Ella Wampler each collected safeties in the contest as the Golden Eagles stranded five in all.
A sacrifice fly and a single up the middle put Georgia Southern up 2-0 in the first, then the Eagles broke things open in the third with a three-run home run. GSU hit another homer – a two run shot – in the third, then collected a three-run double and had another run score on a wild pitch in the fourth inning.
Lainey Fitzgerald took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits over an inning and a third, walking two and striking out one. Hannah Lange worked the next two-thirds, allowing two runs on three hits, then Wampler wrapped up the game with four runs – three earned – on three hits, walking one.
