Western Kentucky tops Golden Eagles in ninth inning
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For eight innings, the game was clearly in control of the pitchers. It wasn’t until the ninth inning that either team was able to dent the scoreboard, but Western Kentucky had all the runs it needed with a two-run home run in the top of the second extra frame. WKU added two more in the frame before the Golden Eagles had their chance, taking a 4-1 victory on Wednesday to pick up its 30th win of the season.
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For eight innings, the game was clearly in control of the pitchers.
It wasn't until the ninth inning that either team was able to dent the scoreboard, but Western Kentucky had all the runs it needed with a two-run home run in the top of the second extra frame.
WKU added two more in the frame before the Golden Eagles had their chance, taking a 4-1 victory on Wednesday to pick up its 30th win of the season.
Tech (18-21) would have been no-hit had the game stayed in regulation as Raleigh Lewis broke up Kelsey Aikey's no-no in the bottom of the ninth. With that start, Jessie Lowery picked up a single as she beat out the throw from the catcher. Sydney Love-Baker took a walk on four straight pitches to load the bases, then Raegan Sparks took a five-pitch walk to force Lewis home and pick up Tech's lone RBI.
Still, it was the pitcher's duel between Alyssa Arden and Aikey that was the story of the game. Arden yielded four hits and no runs in the first eight frames, walking one and struck out four. But it was the four runs – two earned – on two hits in a third of the ninth inning that was the difference in the contest.
Haeli Bryson came on to pitch the final two-thirds and allowed no further damage.
Aikey ended the contest with a career-high 13 strikeouts, fanning every spot in the Tech lineup except the seven-spot with Alexis Trimiar. Aikey allowed one run on two hits as she also walked four.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Friday with a doubleheader at home against Austin Peay, starting at 4 p.m., weather permitting.
