Tech honors seniors in home finale
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech honored its nine seniors following its games Sunday against UT Martin to close out the 2026 home slate, but two tough outings led to the Skyhawks sweeping the twinbill as UTM rallied with eight runs in the sixth inning of game one to top Tech 10-6, then UTM took game two 7-0. The Golden Eagles (16-31, 11-13 OVC) return to action this weekend as they close out the regular season at Southeast Missouri. Tech falls into sixth place in the OVC standings entering the final week, still within reach of avoiding a first-round elimination game at three games back.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech honored its nine seniors following its games Sunday against UT Martin to close out the 2026 home slate, but two tough outings led to the Skyhawks sweeping the twinbill as UTM rallied with eight runs in the sixth inning of game one to top Tech 10-6, then UTM took game two 7-0.
The Golden Eagles (16-31, 11-13 OVC) return to action this weekend as they close out the regular season at Southeast Missouri. Tech falls into sixth place in the OVC standings entering the final week, still within reach of avoiding a first-round elimination game at three games back.
Tech is assured of a spot in the tournament field regardless as it can not fall under eighth place with a three-game lead on Western Illinois, five-game lead on Morehead State and nine-game lead on Tennessee State. The Golden Eagles can potentially catch Lindenwood (14-10 OVC) with a sweep over SEMO and a Morehead State sweep over the Lions. The head-to-head tiebreaker in that scenario belongs to Tech as the Golden Eagles swept Lindenwood in March.
In game one, Ashley Capelouto drove in four runs in the contest as she was 2-for-3, while Makayli Harris drove in two. Sofia Carroll and Jailynn Paderez both went 3-for-4. Avary Makarewicz drove in four runs for the Skyhawks (31-18, 18-5 OVC), while Karena Recrosio went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Tech starter Emily York took the loss in game one, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs – three earned – on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts. As the situation degraded in the sixth with three Golden Eagle errors, Hannah Lange was tagged for three unearned runs on two hits and a walk, while Ella Wampler stopped the bleeding in her inning and two-thirds, yielding one hit and two walks.
Joleanna Fox earned the victory for UTM in relief, throwing the final three innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out one.
Makarewicz put UTM up early with a two-run home run in the top of the first, but the Golden Eagles countered with a three-run home run from Capelouto – who then gave Tech the lead in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.
However, the Skyhawks flipped the script in the sixth, scoring eight runs on six hits and three errors. Following a leadoff triple, an error in right allowed a run to score. After a foul pop for the first out, the Skyhawks hit back-to-back singles and a double for three runs, then a walk led to a two-run double from Recrosio. After Kyla Harley walked, a wild pitch plated another run, then a groundout put the eighth run on the board.
Tech added two runs in the bottom of the seventh with a Harris single to center field.
In game two, Natalie Kreuziger shut down the Tech offense, holding the Golden Eagles to three hits – allowing the first in the bottom of the fourth. She picked up the complete game shutout, allowing one walk and striking out five.
Addison Abell took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, while Faith Rush worked the final 4 1/3, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out two.
Harris had two of the three hits, while Paderez had the other.
Addie Roberts drove in three runs for the Skyhawks in the second game, while Ava Scott drove in two. Kennedy Brown went 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Recrosio was 3-for-5.
UTM scored two in the second with a sacrifice bunt, then a double down the right field line. The Skyhawks added three in the third with an RBI single and a two-run single to left center.
Kennedy Brown had an RBI single in the fourth, then Teagan Hayes scored in the fifth on a grounder in the infield.
Following the game, Abell, Olivia Evans, Britney Phally, Brooklyn Stewart, Ella Bishop, Sofia Carroll, Bailee Stack, Kyleigh Pitzer and Harris were honored during the Senior Day festivities, which also included catching a ceremonial first pitch from a parent before the game.
Photo | Jim Dillon
