Cookeville, Tenn. --- The Tennessee State University
softball team dropped both games of the OVC opener to Tennessee Tech Saturday
afternoon at Tech Softball Field.
The Tigers fell to 6-17 (0-2 OVC) while the Golden Eagles
improved to 9-7 (2-0 OVC) on the season.
Game One
Errors hurt Tennessee State in the opening game as the
Tigers dropped a, 5-3, decision. Four Tigers recorded hits in contest and
Jasmine Dunston registered her second double of the season.
Despite the loss, Caitlin Eaton (3-6) only gave up one
earned run in the contest. She recorded three strikeouts and yielded one walk.
Tedra Alford was the first runner to reach base after
walking on the opening at bat. Caitlin Eaton also walked before both runners
advanced to second and third on a groundout by Brittany Webb.
TSU grabbed a, 1-0, lead when Alford raced home after a wild
pitch. In the meantime, Eaton moved over to third and later scored on an RBI by
Jasmine Dunston.
Eaton kept the Tech offense in check in the first inning but
a walk and a couple of untimely errors by the defense led to the Golden Eagles
getting on the board in the bottom of the second. TTU took the lead, 3-2,
behind three consecutive hits before another costly TSU error allowed the
Golden Eagles to post two more runs, 5-2.
Other than a double to centerfield from Jasmine Dunston the
Tigers were fairly quiet through the second, third and fourth innings.
TSU was able to get runners in scoring position in both the
fifth and the sixth innings but could not capitalize.
In the top of the seventh a walk and a TTU error led to
Shanika Johnson reaching second base. Tedra Alford reached on a walk before
Caitlin Eaton stepped up and singled down the right field line to pull TSU to
within two, 5-3.
The rally, however, was cut short as the inning ended before
TSU could score any more runs. The ensuing base running error and strikeout
proved detrimental to the Tigers' attempted comeback.
Tennessee State finished the game with four hits and four
errors while Tennessee Tech tallied seven hits and one error.
Game Two
The Tigers were once again plagued by miscues in a, 2-1,
loss to the Golden Eagles in game two.
Kelly Troglin (2-5) was charged with the loss. Troglin only
allowed three hits and did not give up any earned runs in six innings pitched.
Tedra Alford christened the second game with a single up the
middle. She moved to second on a wild pitch before Caitlin Eaton reached first
base on a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Jill Gardner advanced both runners, which
set up Tedra Alford to score on a passed ball and give TSU a, 1-0, lead. The Tiger defense was solid in the first and second innings
to keep the Golden Eagles scoreless.
TSU had a chance to add to its lead in the third inning
after Jill Gardner was hit by a pitch following consecutive hits from Tedra
Alfrod and Jasmine Duston to load the bases. All three runners, unfortunately,
would be left stranded on base.
Tech finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth.
An error, a walk and a two-out double led to the Golden Eagles posting two runs
to take a, 2-1, lead.
In the top of the seventh, TSU managed to get the tying run
in scoring position but The Tigers could not complete the comeback.
Both teams registered three hits each but TSU committed four
errors in the contest. Tedra Alford went 2-for-3 at the plate for TSU while
Jasmine Dunston also recorded a hit.
TSU and TTU will conclude the series tomorrow at Tech
Softball Field. Game time has been changed to 11 a.m.
