March 12, 2011
Pitching and defense hold firm as Tech takes first two against Tennessee State
The Golden Eagle softball team did not miss a beat, despite not playing a game during the last week, as it opened it Ohio Valley Conference schedule with a pair of wins against Tennessee State.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Golden Eagle softball team did not miss a beat, despite not playing a game during the last week, as it opened it's Ohio Valley Conference schedule with a pair of wins against Tennessee State.
With its two wins against the Tigers (5-3 and 2-1), Tech has improved to 9-7 (2-0 OVC) and extended its winning streak to seven games.
The Golden Eagles played a disciplined two games against the Tigers, committing only one error during the doubleheader, but eight errors came back to haunt TSU.
The Tigers defensive struggles started to show in the second inning of game one as TSU held a 2-0 lead. Utilizing three hits and three TSU errors, the Golden Eagles were able to put a five-spot on the scoreboard behind three RBI hits from Lacie Coquerille, Brooke Basten and Melody Christian.
Junior Holly Thomas, who gave up two runs in the first inning, kept the Tigers in check throughout the rest of the game as she took the 5-3 victory, for her sixth win of the season. She struck out seven TSU batters, using 124 pitches, while giving up three runs, two of which were earned.
Offense was at a premium in the second game as both teams managed a combined three runs on six hits.
After giving up three hits and a run in 2.2 innings, sophomore Claudia Harke was lifted for junior pitcher Whitney Cummings, who got the Golden Eagles out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the third inning.
TSU's Kelly Troglin cruised through the first three innings, but in the fourth a Tiger error and a walk set the stage for sophomore Brittney Spalding, who hit a two-run double to left center field to put the Golden Eagles up 2-1.
Cummings locked in for the final three innings, allowing just one base runner, to earn her third victory of the season. Cummings struck out six batters, in 4.1 innings pitched, while walking just one batter.
Tennessee Tech wraps up its three-game series with TSU Sunday at 11 a.m.
