Tech routs Colonels 13-1, Schmissrauter gets birthday win
RICHMOND, Ky. -- The Tennessee Tech softball team defined the
word "team" in its two wins at Eastern Kentucky (8-10, 0-2 OVC) on
Sunday, taking the victories of 13-1 and 4-3. The Golden Eagles
(10-14, 2-0 OVC) went 13-for-29 at the plate in Richmond. in their
first Ohio Valley Conference contest.
In game one, the Golden Eagles bats were on fire as every player in
the lineup earned at least one hit. Tech mustered four doubles and
three home runs while only leaving three on base.
Tech started their offensive display in the second inning, scoring
seven runs on as many hits. Freshman Holly Thomas began things when
she blasted her fourth home run of the season, driving in sophomore
Callie Schmidt. After two quick outs, sophomore Kaleigh Gates hit
her second home run, her first coming just last week at Lipscomb.
Following a pair of singles, a double by sophomore Lacie
Coquerille, and an EKU error, Schmidt finished off the hitting
clinic with a RBI single.
Freshman Jordan Leff and sophomore Anna Zdroik each had RBI doubles
in the third and fourth innings respectively, putting the Golden
Eagles up 11-1 entering the fifth.With two outs in the fifth,
freshman Whitney Cummings extended the lead, hitting her second
career home run, over the left-center fence.
Thomas picked up the win on the mound, her fifth this year,
allowing only three hits and striking out five. Eastern Kentucky,
on the other hand, used three pitchers who each gave up at least
four runs.
The second game proved to be a pitching duel between sophomore
Maddie Schmissrauter and Brittany Mockbee of EKU. Each pitcher gave
up eight hits and three earned runs while walking three.
The Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the first inning when a
single by sophomore Katie Betry scored Cummings from second. With
runners on second and third, junior Kimmie White extended the
Golden Eagle lead with a two-run pinch-hit single.
Eastern Kentucky came back in the fifth when it loaded the bases,
opening the inning with three straight singles. Schmissrauter
walked in a run and allowed two runs to score on a hit down the
left-field line, but was able to get out of the inning stranding
two on base for the Colonels.
With the bases loaded in the seventh, sophomore Katie Betry came up
with a clutch hit to center field, scoring freshman Cassidy Skeen,
giving Tech the 4-3 advantage.
Schmissrauter improved her record to 5-8 on her 20th birthday,
striking out three in the contest.
The Golden Eagles will open play at home on Tuesday as they host
the Bradley Braves (8-8) in a doubleheader. The first pitch is
scheduled for 2 p.m.
