Golden Eagles fall in doubleheader home run derby to Western Illinois
MACOMB, Ill. – It was a home run derby in Macomb on Saturday, but the Tennessee Tech softball team found itself on the short end as Western Illinois took both ends of the doubleheader, ending the Golden Eagles’ nine-game Ohio Valley Conference winning streak. The Leathernecks took game one 7-6, then topped Tech 9-6 – both in come-from-behind fashion. The Golden Eagles (12-21, 9-5 OVC) led game one 6-4 in the sixth, then 6-3 in the sixth in game two only to see victory snatched from their talons.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
|
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1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 7 | 12 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 |
|
|
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | X | 9 | 13 | 0 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
MACOMB, Ill. – It was a home run derby in Macomb on Saturday, but the Tennessee Tech softball team found itself on the short end as Western Illinois took both ends of the doubleheader, ending the Golden Eagles' nine-game Ohio Valley Conference winning streak.
The Leathernecks took game one 7-6, then topped Tech 9-6 – both in come-from-behind fashion. The Golden Eagles (12-21, 9-5 OVC) led game one 6-4 in the sixth, then 6-3 in the sixth in game two only to see victory snatched from their talons.
Payton Brown was the hero for WIU (10-20, 5-8 OVC) as she hit three of the round-trippers, driving in four in game one and three in game two. Tech had five home runs in the twinbill as Makayli Harris and Abbee Klinefelter rounded the bases in game one, then Sofia Carroll, Jailynn Paderez and Ashley Capelouto hit homers in the second matchup.
Klinefelter led the Golden Eagles with a 3-for-4 performance in the opener, while Harris drove in two. Paderez drove in four in the second game as she – along with Carroll and Olivia Evans – each had two hits.
Emily York was tagged with the losses in both games. The first game was in relief as Addison Abell went the first five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with two strikeouts. With a fresh start in the sixth, York started off well, but the Leathernecks were able to get two on, then Brown hit her second home run of the game – a three-run shot to left after hitting a solo home run to center in the first inning – to put Western on top.
The Golden Eagles threatened in the seventh, getting Ella Bishop and Faith Rush on, but the Leathernecks were able to get out of the jam to end the contest.
Western Illinois led 4-1 through three after Harris drove in Paderez on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to put Tech on the board. Klinefelter hit a leadoff homer in the fourth, then Carroll drove in Evans with a single to make it a 4-3 game, then Harris tied the affair with a solo home run in the fifth.
The Golden Eagles took the lead as Evans scored on a passed ball in the sixth, then Capelouto drove in Carroll with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-4. That was until Brown's second homer of the game.
In game two, Tech struck first as Paderez drove in Evans with a single to left in the opening frame, but Western answered with a Sophia Sanchez single to right to drive in Kam Utendorf.
Brown hit her third homer of the day in the third inning – a two-run shot as she brought Utendorf along for the ride – to take a 3-1 lead. Tech overcame that as Paderez and Capelouto went back-to-back over the fence – the former a three-run shot to center, the latter a solo homer to left center – to retake a 5-3 lead. Carroll then added a home run in the top of the sixth to extend the Golden Eagle advantage to 6-3.
However, the Leathernecks battled like their namesakes and piled on for six runs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Brown was hit by a pitch to send Raegan Boone across, then Ruby Tarr walked on five pitches, pushing Alijah Williams across the plate.
Sanchez hit a two-run single to center field, scoring Utendorf and Brown, ending York's day as she allowed nine runs on 10 hits, walking four and striking out six. Rush came in to close out the effort, but WIU was not finished yet. Maria Luna hit a bunt single to plate Tarr, then Angie Ortiz singled to center field to drive in Sanchez.
Tech was able to get a runner on in the top of the seventh as Ella Wampler singled, but WIU ended the contest without allowing another run.
Lillie Wools picked up the wins in both games, both in relief. She pitched the final two innings of game one, allowing two runs – one earned – on two hits, walking two and striking out two. She pitched 5 1/3 innings in the second game, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out four.
The series concludes Sunday at Noon.
