WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@Austin Peay 5,
Tennessee Tech 2
@Bradley 5,
Eastern Illinois 4
@Bradley 3,
Eastern Illinois 2
@Saint Louis 4,
SIUE 3
AUSTIN PEAY 5, TENNESSEE TECH 2
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - After taking a 2-0 lead, the Tennessee Tech softball team saw host Austin Peay score five runs in its final three frames to take a 5-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles (19-21) return to action on Saturday and Sunday as they take on SIUE in Tech's final home series of the season.
Tech collected six hits in the contest with Mac Fitzgerald, Abby Shoulders, Carmen Betts, Sydney Kirby, Abbee Klinefelter and Olivia Evans all picking up base knocks, Kirby's the only one for extra bases with a double.
Starting pitcher Peyton Wagner had a strong outing, allowing a single earned run on three hits over four innings of work. Lennon Spicer was tagged for the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in the final two frames.
Tech wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Fitzgerald led off the game with a single up the middle, stole second, then took third on a throwing error from the catcher on the steal attempt. Shoulders picked up the RBI, driving Fitzgerald in with a single to left center.
In the third inning, Olivia Evans started the frame by reaching on an error at short, then stole second. She moved over to third on a Shoulders grounder back to the circle, then Betts brought her in on a single through the right side.
Austin Peay scored its first run in the bottom of the fourth as Kylie Campbell's groundout allowed Megan Hodum to score. The Govs then took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth with a Morgan Zuege grounder driving in pinch-runner Hinton, followed by Hodum's single through the right side of the infield to plate Raylon Roach.
In the bottom of the sixth, APSU collected three straight hits with a Brie Howard single to center field, a Kendyl Weinzapfel single to first base, then a two-run double Mea Clark to left center to plate the lead runners.
Ashley Martin collected the victory in relief to improve to 3-2 on the season, allowing just one Golden Eagle hit over 4 1/3 innings with one strikeout.
BRADLEY 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 4; BRADLEY 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2
PEORIA, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball played its final non-conference games of the season on Wednesday dropping a pair of one-road decisions at Bradley.
The Braves won game one 5-4 and game two 3-2.
EIU falls to 32-15 on the season. Bradley is now 25-23.
Bradley scored four runs over the opening two innings and held on to beat EIU in the opening game, 5-4.
Abbott Badgely had the big hit in the early innings as she drove in two runs in the second with a double to right field to put the Braves up 4-0.
EIU trimmed the lead to 4-3 on a two-run single by Briana Gonzalez in the fourth and a Rachel Kaufman sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Bradley tacked on the crucial insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on a home run by Kierston McCoy.
EIU cut the final margin to one with an RBI single by Karson Davey in the seventh.
McKenzie Oslanzi (19-4) took the loss in the circle for EIU with Jadin Justman collecting two of the Panthers four hits.
Badgely (6-7) picked up the win for Bradley.
In the second game Bradley scored all three of its runs in the third inning and held on for the 3-2 win.
Briana Gonzalez drove in both runs for EIU in the game with an RBI in the first and sixth innings for the Panthers.
EIU was held to four hits in the game with Marama Makea, Kendall Grover and Karson Davey joining Gonzalez with hits.
Olivia Price (8-9) suffered the loss for EIU. Camryn Schaller (3-6) had a complete game win for Bradley.
The Braves did their damage in the third starting with an RBI single by Austin Comstock. Kierston McCoy drove in a run with a ground out and Addison Pettit drew a based loaded walk for the final run.
SAINT LOUIS 4, SIUE 3
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and outlasted SIUE softball 4-3 at the Billiken Sports Center.
The Cougars used their bench effectively in the contest, picking up RBIs from pinch hitters Harley Limberger and Madison Kearns.
SIUE, 15-30, collected nine hits overall, including three from Lauren Yslava. The Cougars left 10 runners on base.
Kelsey Ray struck out six in a losing effort for SIUE. Her season record dropped to 7-8.
Saint Louis used three pitchers in the contest. Reliever Isabel Royle was credited with the win.