By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
STATESBORO, Ga. – For a long time, Tennessee Tech and Eastern Kentucky were rivals on the softball field in the Ohio Valley Conference. Over the years, it was one of the premier matchups in the league and created a lot of legendary games for both programs.
On Saturday, as the two teams met once more – this time on the neutral field of Georgia Southern's GATA Challenge – the Golden Eagles unloaded, striking for nine unanswered runs as Tech shut out the Colonels 9-0.
Rain hampered the rest of the day though as Tech's later game against Rhode Island was wiped out. As weather continues to move through Statesboro, Sunday's game against Georgia Southern has been pushed back to a 1 PM ET/Noon CT first pitch. The schedule is subject to change.
Sofia Carroll and Ella Bishop both went 2-for-3, while Carroll had the game's biggest blast – a three-run home run in the sixth inning.
Addison Abell picked up the victory – her first of the season – as she went the run-ruled distance, shutting out EKU and allowing just five hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Tech collected 10 total hits in the contest and stranded just three. The Golden Eagle defense forced EKU to strand seven runners in all.
The Golden Eagles dented the scoreboard early as Jailynn Paderez took a two-out walk and advanced to second. Ashley Capelouto drove her in with a double to left center.
After a 1-2-3 second, Tech came through again. Carroll led off with a double, then a fielding error on an Olivia Evans bunt momentarily put runners on the corners until Evans swiped second. Both runners stayed put on a grounder back to the circle, but Paderez brought them home with a double to right center.
Bella Ochoa came in to run at second, then Bishop brought the pinch runner in with a double to left center to make it a 4-0 Tech lead.
The fourth and the fifth innings were quiet, but the Golden Eagles broke the game open in the top of the sixth. Bishop led off with a single to left, then took second on Abbee Klinefelter's sacrifice bunt. Ella Grace Harvey picked up the RBI with a single to right center as Bishop scored.
Makayli Harris singled through short, then, with two on, Carroll sent the ball on a long-distance trip – a three-run blast.
The inning wasn't over though – Olivia Evans hit a triple to left, then Bailee Stack drove her in with a grounder to short.
With the potential run-rule staring EKU in the eye, Tech's defense came up strong. First was a foul out to the third-base side. A double was quickly erased with a grounder to short, then evolving into a 1-5 takedown at third for two to end the game.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
