Tech tops Pitt, Cleveland State in second day of Wings Etc. Classic
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A win over a Power Five team and 24 total hits – including five home runs – in two games? Sounds like a solid day of work for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Saturday as the Golden Eagles topped Pitt 10-7, then defeated Cleveland State 8-3 on Saturday on the second day of the Wings Etc. Classic. Tech (9-5) closes out play in the tournament on Sunday at noon against tournament host USC Upstate.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
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2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | X | 10 | 14 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A win over a Power Five team and 24 total hits – including five home runs – in two games? Sounds like a solid day of work for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Saturday as the Golden Eagles topped Pitt 10-7, then defeated Cleveland State 8-3 on Saturday on the second day of the Wings Etc. Classic.
Tech (9-5) closes out play in the tournament on Sunday at noon against tournament host USC Upstate.
Against the Panthers, Haeli Bryson drove in four runs and scored twice on a 2-for-4 effort, while Sydney Dukes drove in three runs as she went 2-for-4 at the plate. Sydney Love-Baker was 3-for-3, driving in two runs and coming home to score three times. The trio each hit a home run in the game.
Tyler Erwin won the game in relief, throwing one inning without allowing a hit or a run, walking three and striking out one. Bryson pitched the first three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with three walks, while Alyssa Arden allowed one run on one hit in three innings of work, walking one and striking out two.
Tech struck first in a back-and-forth contest. Following a Mackenzie Fitzgerald leadoff single, Love-Baker hit a double to drive her in. Bryson put a single to right center for an RBI to make the game 2-0, but the Panthers scored three runs in the top of the second with a two-run double and an RBI single.
The Golden Eagles got those three runs back in the bottom of the second as Bryson hit a three-run home run down the left field line, bringing Love-Baker and Shelby Penning home to lead 5-3. Pitt retook the lead in the top of the third with a two-run single and a two-out RBI single.
Tech took the lead for good in the fourth inning as the Golden Eagles got two home runs – a Love-Baker blast and a two-run Dukes bomb, both to center field. Tech added single runs in the fifth and sixth as Fitzgerald had an RBI double to center field, then Dukes drove in a run on a grounder to second, allowing Bryson to score.
Pitt scored its seventh run on a solo leadoff home run, but the Golden Eagles were able to close out the contest with no further damage.
In the second game against Cleveland State, Betts led Tech at the plate with three RBI on a 2-for-4 effort, while Bryson was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Fitzgerald also ended the game with two runs driven in.
Arden picked up her fourth win of the season as she went the distance, allowing three runs on seven hits as she walked one and struck out six.
Tech got the second game off in a hurry as Fitzgerald led the top of the first off with a solo home run. That was the only scoring in the game until the top of the fourth as Abby Buettner collected an RBI on a single up the middle to drive in Bryson. Two more runs crossed in the fifth as Fitzgerald drove in KaDedra Temple on a sacrifice fly, then Betts had a single up the middle to drive in Love-Baker.
Cleveland State added a single run in the sixth with a leadoff solo home run, but Tech added insurance in the top of the seventh, adding four runs. Bryson had a two-run double, then Betts hit a two-run home run. The Vikings scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough to catch up to the Golden Eagles.
Photo | Pitt Athletics
