Fitzgerald homers three times as Tech splits DH with Austin Peay
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After Austin Peay rallied to take the first game 9-4 on Saturday, the Tennessee Tech softball team bounced back in a big way, run-ruling the Governors 11-1 in the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split. The Golden Eagles (23-10, 6-4 Ohio Valley Conference) hit five home runs on the day. Mackenzie Fitzgerald hit three of them, posting five RBI in total during both games, while Savannah Talley hit Tech’s fourth grand slam of the season in game two, giving the Golden Eagles 35 total home runs thus far.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | X | 9 | 14 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 1 |
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After Austin Peay rallied to take the first game 9-4 on Saturday, the Tennessee Tech softball team bounced back in a big way, run-ruling the Governors 11-1 in the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split.
The Golden Eagles (23-10, 6-4 Ohio Valley Conference) hit five home runs on the day. Mackenzie Fitzgerald hit three of them, posting five RBI in total during both games, while Savannah Talley hit Tech's fourth grand slam of the season in game two, giving the Golden Eagles 35 total home runs thus far.
Austin Peay (16-18, 3-7 OVC) used a three-run third inning and a five-run fourth inning in the opener to take the lead and held on. Tyler Erwin allowed three runs on five hits in the 2 1/3-inning start, then Alyssa Arden came on in relief to close out the third. The Govs jumped on her for five runs on eight hits across 2 2/3 frames. Callie Piper shut the door in the contest, allowing one run on one hit.
Lexi Osowski was 4-for-4 in game one with a home run and two RBI, but Tech was able to hold her hitless in the second game.
Fitzgerald took the game's first pitch for a ball, then took the second one for a ride, knocking it out of the park down the left field line for a 1-0 lead. Tech doubled its advantage in the second as Sydney Dukes hit a solo home run to center field.
A leadoff homer, followed by a single, a sacrifice grounder, a triple and an Osowski RBI single led to three runs to put APSU on top, but the Golden Eagles reclaimed the lead as Fitzgerald hit her second homer of the day – a two-run shot with Shelby Penning on first – to lead 4-3.
The lead was short-lived as the Governors scored five runs on seven hits as a sacrifice fly, a two-run home run and two RBI singles led to players crossing home. Osowski extended the Peay lead with a solo dinger in the sixth.
Unfazed by the game one defeat, the Golden Eagles made a statement in the second game, collecting 11 runs on 14 hits as Fitzgerald and Abby Buettner both went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Arden collected the win to improve to 11-7 on the season, allowing one unearned run on five hits, walking one in the abbreviated five innings. Harley Mullins took the loss for the Governors, allowing five runs on five hits with a walk in one inning of work before Samantha Meiner come on in relief, allowing six runs – three earned – on nine hits, striking out one.
The five-run outburst in the first came as Fitzgerald singled to third base, then stole second. Carmen Betts drew a walk, then Haeli Bryson's fly ball to center moved Fitzgerald to third. Buettner drilled a single through the middle of the infield to plate the Tech leadoff, then Sydney Love-Baker hit a grounder to short and beat out the throw, loading the bases. Talley swung at the first pitch, fouled off the second, took a ball for the third, then launched the fourth to center field, collecting the grand slam for her fourth homer of the campaign.
Tech added two runs in the second, third and fifth innings. In the second, Buettner had an RBI single to drive in Fitzgerald, then Love-Baker's sacrifice grounder allowed Bryson to score. The third inning saw Penning score on Fitzgerald's grounder to second, then Betts' fly ball to right allowed Dukes to score. Fitzgerald hit a solo home run in the fifth, followed by Betts scoring on an error in left field on Bryson's batted ball.
The Golden Eagles close out the three-game series with the Governors on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
Photo | Jim Dillon
