Golden Eagles take twinbill with ETSU
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech softball team got a taste of normal weekend action on Saturday with a doubleheader against East Tennessee State, the first two portions of a three-game series, the Golden Eagles struck often, claiming a late-inning 4-3 victory in the opener, then opening the floodgates in game two for a 9-4 victory. The Golden Eagles (11-6) return to action on Sunday for the final game of the series, starting at 12 p.m. Central. Haeli Bryson and Mackenzie Fitzgerald both went yard for the Golden Eagles. Fitzgerald’s blast came as a solo shot in the top of the fifth inning, then Bryson knocked out two in the nightcap, leading off the fourth and fifth innings with solo shots.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 2 |
|
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech softball team got a taste of normal weekend action on Saturday with a doubleheader against East Tennessee State, the first two portions of a three-game series, the Golden Eagles struck often, claiming a late-inning 4-3 victory in the opener, then opening the floodgates in game two for a 9-4 victory.
The Golden Eagles (11-6) return to action on Sunday for the final game of the series, starting at 12 p.m. Central.
Haeli Bryson and Mackenzie Fitzgerald both went yard for the Golden Eagles. Fitzgerald's blast came as a solo shot in the top of the fifth inning, then Bryson knocked out two in the nightcap, leading off the fourth and fifth innings with solo shots.
Alyssa Arden picked up the wins in both games. In the opener, she came on in relief, throwing the final four frames, striking out three as she struck out one. Bryson had the start, throwing the first three innings as she allowed three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out two.
In the second game, Arden went 6 2/3, allowing three runs – two earned – on six hits, walking one and five strikeouts. Kaylan Cole pitched the final one-third, allowing one run on two hits and two walks.
Tech started the day with two runs in the top of the first as Sydney Love-Baker drew a one-out walk, then stole second. Bryson singled through short to put runners at the corners, then stole second to put two in scoring position. Carmen Betts took advantage of that, dropping a hit ball into left field to send the runners home.
ETSU took a 3-2 lead in the home half of the frame, collecting a two-run single and a one-run single among five total hits.
The Golden Eagles knotted the game at 3 in the top of the fifth on Fitzgerald's homer, then took the lead in the seventh as Shelby Penning knocked in pinch-runner Brooklin Richardson on a grounder that turned into a fielder's choice.
In the second game, Tech took a 1-0 lead as Betts drove in Fitzgerald for her third RBI of the day, hitting a single to short with enough room to drive in the run. The Bucs took a 2-1 lead as a triple coupled with a throwing error plated one, then a fielding error led to another score.
The Golden Eagles broke the game wide open in the fourth with four runs, then three more in the fifth. Following Bryson's leadoff homer, Betts drew a walk, Sydney Dukes reached on an error and Nicolle Nysted singled to load the bases. Abby Buettner hit a two-run double to right center, then Fitzgerald picked up an RBI, driving in Nysted on a sacrifice fly to left.
Bryson led off the fifth with a home run, then Savannah Talley hit a two-run double along the left field line to make it an 8-2 game. ETSU added a single run in the sixth, before Tech got it back in the top of the seventh as Cole hit a single into center field, driving in Richardson. ETSU scored one run in the bottom of the seventh, but the damage was done.
