Cummings goes long, Leff scores a pair
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech softball team split its
pair of games against Morehead State (20-14,4-7 OVC) on Saturday,
shutting out the Eagles 4-0, before falling to them 3-1.
In the first game, Tech (20-19, 8-2 OVC) struck early. Freshman
Jordan Leff led off the bottom of the first with a walk and, after
being bunted over to second, scored on a double by sophomore Katie
Betry, putting the Golden Eagles up 1-0.
That score held until the third when Cummings hit her sixth home
run of the season into the parking lot, just inside the foul pole,
driving in sophomore Lacie Coquerille, who reached on a single to
open the inning.
Morehead State threatened in the fifth when, after three
consecutive singles, the Eagles has runners at second and third
with just one out. Freshman pitcher Holly Thomas was able to get
herself out of the jam, shutting down the next two batters on a
groundout and strikeout.
With the bases loaded in the fifth for the Golden Eagles, freshman
Cassidy Skeen was patient at the plate, drawing a walk to score
sophomore pinch-runner Taylor Horseman and put Tech up 4-0, a score
that held throughout the remainder of the game.
Thomas picked up her ninth win and second shutout of the year,
allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out three.
The second game of the day began in the same fashion when Leff
reached on a lead-off single and was again bunted over by
Coquerille. With two outs, Betry lined a single to center field and
a throwing error by Courtney Seiler allowed Leff to score the first
run of the game.
In the top of the third, an error by Betry put Bianca Cardenas on
base with nobody out. Carrie Himmelhaver was put in to run for
Cardenas, and advanced to second on an illegal pitch by sophomore
Maddie Schmissrauter.A two-out single by Seiler drove in
Himmelhaver, tying the game at one apiece.
That score held until the fifth, when a double and single by
Morehead drove in a run, putting them on top 2-1.
The Eagles tacked on one more run in the sixth after a walk and
back-to-back singles setup Bethany Ellis for a sacrifice fly to
score Becca Butler from third.
Morehead pitcher Alex Gjevre and the Eagle defense retired 11
straight Tech batters, allowing zero earned runs. Gjevre struck out
nine and gave up just four hits.
Schmissrauter took the loss, also striking out nine. She allowed
six hits and one earned run while walking a pair.
Betry went 4-7 on the day with two RBIs. Cummings drove in a pair
while Leff scored twice.
Tech will face Morehead in the final game of the series Sunday at
11 a.m. The start time has been moved up due to possible rain in
the area.
