Tech closes Frost Classic strong, dismantles ETSU, 11-1
Holly Thomas received plenty of run support as she nearly completed a no-hitter in the Tennessee Tech softball team’s final game of the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial. The Golden Eagles (5-5) defeated East Tennessee State (7-5), 11-1.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Holly Thomas received plenty of run support as she nearly completed a no-hitter in the Tennessee Tech softball team's final game of the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial. The Golden Eagles (5-5) defeated East Tennessee State (7-5), 11-1, to finish the tournament with a 3-2 mark.
Thomas was one out away from her second career no-no before an ETSU single with two outs in the bottom of the 5th broke up the bid. Tech was ahead 8-0 at the time, and one more out would have resulted in a Tech victory due to the 8-run rule.
The Golden Eagles scored two runs in the 1st before piling on six in the top of the 5th inning to blow the game wide open. East Tennessee State answered with a solo run in the bottom of the frame, but Tech scored three in the top of the 7th to round out the scoring.
Four Golden Eagles finished with two hits on the afternoon. Callie Schmidt finished 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and two runs scored, while Whitney Cummings went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and three runs scored to tie her career high. Melody Christian and Chanelle Spalding both finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored apiece as the top four Golden Eagles in the lineup combined to go 8-for-15 for the game.
Kaleigh Gates hit her third home run of the season as she went 1-of-4 at the plate, and Brittany Spalding hit a two-RBI single to finish 1-for-3. Brooke Basten also got into the act, finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Thomas (4-2) pitched 6.0 innings and allowed just three hits and one earned run while striking out six to pick up the win.
Maddie Schmissrauter entered in the 7th inning and pitched a scoreless frame with a strikeout to close out the game.
For the tournament, Cummings hit a blistering .533 (8-for-15) with two home runs, eight RBIs and four runs scored. Schmidt batted .438 (7-for-16) over the five-game stretch with three home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored, and Gates also added three homers to go along with a .308 batting average and four RBIs.
Thomas started three games for TTU, finishing with a 2-1 record and 1.56 earned run average. She struck out 15 batters in 18.0 innings of work and picked up a save in her lone relief appearance.
The Golden Eagles now look ahead to Wednesday when Tech will make its home debut against Tennessee at 5 p.m. Admission to the game at Tech Softball Field is free to all fans.
