FRIDAY'S SCORES
Western Carolina 1,
Tennessee Tech 0 (8)
Kennesaw State 16,
Tennessee Tech 5 (5)
Houston Christian 8,
Lindenwood 0 (5)
Western Michigan 7,
Lindenwood 2
Troy 4,
SIUE 0
Grand Canyon 6,
Eastern Illinois 0
Incarnate Word 12,
Eastern Illinois 3 (5)
UT Martin 4, Kennesaw State 1
WESTERN CAROLINA 1, TENNESSEE TECH 0; KENNESAW STATE 16, TENNESSEE TECH 5
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Kaylan Cole made the most of her start in the circle for the Tennessee Tech softball team as she held Western Carolina scoreless until the game went into extra innings.
The Catamounts walked the game off in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 1-0 victory Friday morning in the Alabama State Stinger Classic. Tech (0-2) finished the day with a 16-5 defeat to Kennesaw State in the nightcap.
With rain expected in the forecast on Saturday, the day’s games have been cancelled. The Golden Eagles will play its final game in the tournament on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Cole went the distance in the day’s opener, allowing one run on seven hits as she walked two and struck out two.
WCU shortstop Bailey Huneycutt drove in the game-winning run in the international tiebreaker as she drove in the placed runner on a single to left field. The Golden Eagles had an opportunity in the visitor half of the eighth as Haeli Bryson was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt, but the Catamounts coaxed an Abby Buettner grounder to short to hold Bryson and third, then struck out Meaghan Houk to end the top half.
Huneycutt had two of WCU’s seven hits in the contest.
Tessa Juett earned the victory for Western Carolina, yielding just two hits in the contest as she struck out seven and walked one. Jordynn Shirley and Buettner collected the two hits.
Tech’s defense held strong as the Catamounts stranded nine runners in the contest.
The day’s second outing was a tough one for the Golden Eagles as Kennesaw State came out swinging, collecting 17 hits in the game. Designated hitter Pacy Villa went 3-for-4 with five RBI, while Stacey Deputy and Ty Hardeman each drove in three.
After scoring a single run in the top of the first, Kennesaw State struck for five runs in the second and third innings each before the Golden Eagles put together a rally in the home half of the third fir four runs. Makayli Harris walked and Brooklin Richardson drew back-to-back walks, then Jordan Key looped a single into left to load the bases. Bryson delivered with a single through the right side to bring in the lead two runners, then Carmen Betts followed up with a double to left center.
Tech scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth as Ella Bishop scored on a fielder’s choice off Bryson’s bat – the Owls opting to erase Key on a 6-4 putout at second.
KSU struck for five more runs in the top of the fifth and forced the run rule as Tech was unable to rally in the bottom of the frame.
Gracelyn Woollen allowed six runs on nine hits in two innings as she walked two. Avery Flatford was tagged for 10 runs on eight hits in her first career appearance, walking two and striking out four.
Bryson led Tech at the plate with three RBI as she had two of the Golden Eagles’ four hits in the game, while Key and Betts had the other safeties.
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 8, LINDENWOOD 0; WESTERN MICHIGAN 7, LINDENWOOD 2
MONROE, La. - Recap coming soon.
TROY 4, SIUE 0
TROY, Ala. - Troy scored three times in the first inning Friday and defeated SIUE 4-0 in the opening game of the 2023 softball season.
The Cougars' Piper Montgomery led the team with two hits in game one of the Trojan Classic.
SIUE's Kelsey Ray threw 5 2/3 innings in relief of Lexi King, who took the loss. Ray struck out four batters and walked two while allowing just two hits.
Ray went pitch for pitch with Troy starter Leanna Johnson, who fanned five SIUE batters. It was the senior's 78th career victory after going 20-12 last season for the Trojans.
Troy managed just six hits against SIUE pitching, including two from Sun Belt preseason Player of the Year Kelly Horne.
SIUE has two games scheduled at the Trojan Classic. The Cougars are scheduled to play Belmont at 11 a.m. and Troy at 2 p.m.
GRAND CANYON 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0; INCARNATE WORD 12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - – Eastern Illinois softball opened the 2023 season on Friday afternoon with a 6-0 loss to Grand Canyon in the opening game of the Incarnate Word Classic.
Grand Canyon produced all the offense it would need in the top of the third inning scoring two runs against EIU starter Olivia Price (0-1). Macee Barnes opened the inning with a solo home run before Kristen Fifield added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.
EIU would threaten in the bottom of the fourth putting three runners in scoring position. Amber Cieplinski was out at the plate on fielders choice with bases loaded while Denaed Santini was left at third and Kendall Grover at second when the inning ended.
Cieplinski and Santini led the Panthers offensive attack with both collecting two hits. Santini and Morgan Lewis both had doubles for EIU.
Hailey Hudson (1-0) went the distance for Grand Canyon. GCU tacked on four runs in the top of the seventh on a grand slam by Fifield as she went 2-for-3 with five RBI.
Kaitlyn Riefsteck had 3.1 innings of one run relief for the Panthers.
GAME 2
Incarnate Word opened the first inning with a pair of home runs by Victoria Altamirano and Jasmine Sierra to quickly jump out to 3-0 lead during a 12-3 win over Eastern Illinois.
The Cardinals finished the first inning with a 12-0 lead with several timely hits and taking advantage of an EIU error. Alexa Rehmeier (0-1) took the loss for EIU.
The Panthers opened the game with Morgan Lewis extending her hitting streak to open the game. Two strikeouts and a caught stealing ending the Panthers first.
UIW would explode in the bottom of the frame to improve to 2-0 on the season. EIU fell to 0-2 after an earlier loss in the day to Grand Canyon.
Briana Gonzalez would lead EIU with two hits driving in one run during the Panthers three-run fifth inning. Freshman Avary Makarewicz connected for her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot pinch-hitting in the fifth.
Samantha Portillo (2-0) picked up the win for the Cardinals. Sierra paced the UIW offense with three RBI while Aaliyah White had three hits.
UT MARTIN 4, KENNESAW STATE 1
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Recap coming soon.