GAME 9: Tennessee Tech 4, Tennessee State 3
RECORDS: TSU (4-5, 0-1), TTU (6-7, 1-0)
FIELD: Tiger Field
LOCATION: Nashville, Tenn.
WEATHER: Cloudy, 48

NASHVILLE --- Tennessee State fell short in its home opener, falling to Tennessee Tech at Tiger Field on Friday afternoon. TSU dropped a 4-3 decision to the Golden Eagles as both teams began their Ohio Valley Conference slate.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 4-5 on the season, 0-1 in OVC play, while Tech improved to 6-7 and 1-0 in conference.

TTU built a 2-0 advantage heading to the bottom of the fifth inning. Kayli Mothershed opened the frame with a single before Head Coach Andrea Browning went to the bench. Pinch hitter Analeigh Coursey followed with a walk to advance pinch runner M'Lei Woodard to second base. The Tigers loaded the bases as Anayah Baker-Rowell earned a one-out walk. Woodard would score two batters later as Ivory Jones was hit by a pitch, making the score 2-1.

Tech added two runs in the seventh off starter Lauren Powell to extend the lead to 4-1. The redshirt-senior held the Golden Eagles at bay allowing just five hits and a walk through the first six innings. TTU was able to get to the veteran hurler with three hits in the final inning.

Bri Vire would try to get things started for the Tigers with a one-out walk in the seventh. Jones reached a batter later as she was plunked for the second consecutive plate appearance. The duo would advance a base as Renae Spears flew out to right field. Savanah Wallace would keep the Big Blue's hopes alive as her double down the left field line chased home Vire and Jones to move with in one at 4-3. The game would end a batter later as Lowery tracked down a Marisa Mauroschadt fly in left.

Powell would suffer the loss falling to 2-2 despite striking out eight batters.


vs. TENNESSEE TECH

• The Golden Eagles would strike first with  run in the third inning.
• Starter Lauren Powell issued a one-out walk and was tagged with two wild pitches, allowing the runner to move to third base.
• TTU received a two-out single from Jessie Lowery to take the early 1-0 lead.
• Tech would add another run in the fourth to extend its lead to 2-0.
• The Tigers would cut into the lead with a run in the fifth.
• Kayli Mothershed opened the frame with a single up the middle and was lifted in favor of pinch runner M'Lei Woodard.
• TSU loaded the bases with walked to Analeigh Coursey and Anayah Baker-Rowell.
• Ivory Jones produced the first run as she was plunked by a pitch moving everyone 60-feet.
• The Big Blue threatened to even the score an inning later as Savanah Wallace and Marisa Mauroschadt led off with a hit by pitch and single, respectively. 
• The Tigers would eventually leave the two stranded, leaving the score 2-1.
• TTU responded with a pair of runs in the seventh, the second coming off a double by Lowery.
• In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers would attempt a comeback as Bri Vire earned a one-out walk and Jones reached a batter later as she was hit by a pitch.
• Two batters later, Wallace delivered a two-out double down the left field line to drive in Vire and Jones to cut the lead to 5-4.
• The comeback would come to an end as Mauroschadt flew out to left field to end the game.

UP NEXT:
The Tigers conclude their Ohio Valley Conference series with a double header on Saturday against Tennessee Tech. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. at Tiger Field.

NOTES:

• The Tigers wore all blue on Friday.
• The contest was the first at Tiger Field this season.
• Anayah Baker-Rowell extended her hit streak to eight with a third inning single.
• Renae Spears has reached base in all nine games this season as she walked in the first.
• Lauren Powell has worked 427.3 innings in her career at TSU and is now five innings behind Amanda Vaught's (2007-08) third ranked total of 432.6.
• Powell also started the 69th game of her career which puts her fourth by herself at TSU.