March 24, 2012

Golden Eagles win rain-interrupted game in Nashville

With heavy rains in the area, the Tennessee Tech softball team was only able to play one game today at Tennessee State. The Golden Eagles made it count, topping the Tigers 5-3 in a nearly four-hour contest.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With heavy rains in the area, the Tennessee Tech softball team was only able to play one game Saturday at Tennessee State. The Golden Eagles made it count, topping the Tigers 5-3 in a nearly four-hour contest.

The teams were forced to move game two to Sunday, and will play a doubleheader with games at noon and 2 p.m.

Tech pitcher Holly Thomas got off to a bumpy start, as TSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the second. Thomas shut down the threat, however, striking out three batters looking to get out of the jam.

The Tigers (9-16, 2-4 OVC) managed to get on the board in the third, as Devin Amar hit an RBI double on a full count. After a wild pitch scored another run, Amar crossed the plate on a groundout to make it 3-0 TSU.

Thomas awoke after that frame, not allowing a single hit through the final 4.1 innings of the game.

Following a Brittney Spalding double to lead off the fifth, a downpour set in, forcing a 1:47 delay. The Golden Eagles (10-17, 3-6 OVC) assisted the Tigers in putting the tarp on the field before waiting out the rain.

When play resumed, back-to-back singles by Chanelle Spalding and Samantha Everett scored Brittney. Chanelle also came in to score on an error by TSU, cutting the Tiger lead to just one.

Melody Christian then reached on an error by TSU pitcher Shea Morris, which allowed pinch-runner Kayla Floyd to come in to score from third. Senior Brooke Basten hit a two-out single, scoring Christian with the help of the third TSU error of the inning and making the score 4-3 Tech.

The Golden Eagles tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth, as the Spaldings each reached safely again. Brittney reached on a walk and advanced to third as Chanelle hit a double to left center. Brittney came in to score on a passed ball with two outs, ending the scoring at 5-3.

Thomas earned the victory, allowing just four hits while striking out eight TSU batters in her tenth complete game this year.

Morris was tagged with the loss, but allowed just one earned run and struck out ten.

Brittney Spalding went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored while her sister Chanelle hit 2-for-3 with a run. Basten and Everett each picked up RBI while both Spaldings and newcomer Cassie Garrett hit doubles.