Rager pitches gem as Eagles down Tennessee Tech, 2-1

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MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State softball scored two first inning runs and freshman Allison Rager pitched seven strong innings as they downed No. 6 Tennessee Tech 2-1 in an OVC Tournament elimination game.

The Eagles improve their record to 26-26 on the year and move on to play the loser of No. 4 SIU-Edwardsville and No. 1 Jacksonville State at 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday morning.

"We had a solid approach at the plate and we got the runs we needed. Allison (Rager) threw a fantastic game and the defense made solid plays behind her," said head coach David Williams. "This was a big win for our program."

After failing to score in the OVC Tournament opener, the Eagles wasted no time getting on the board against TTU. Tressa Watson led the game off with a single up the middle and Kayla McGuffey then reached on a throwing error, putting runners at first and third. McGuffey then stole second and pinch runner Aubrey Bennett scored as the catcher's throw sailed into center field. Dana Hutchins followed by doubling down the right field line, scoring McGuffey and giving the Eagles an early 2-0 lead.

The score remained at 2-0 until TTU's Sarah Freels led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to right-center field to trim the lead to 2-1. Following the home run, Rager settled in and shut down the Golden Eagles in order to close out the fifth.

Rager allowed a leadoff single in the sixth, but retired the next three batters. In the seventh, Tennessee Tech recorded a two-out single to right, but Rager induced a groundout to second base to end the game.

The win ends an 11-game losing streak in the OVC Tournament for Morehead State and marks their first tournament win since they knocked off Eastern Illinois in 2009.

Rager (14-6) picked up the first postseason win of her career and recorded her ninth complete game of the season. She allowed six hits and one run, while walking one and striking out three.

After scoring two runs off of two hits in the first inning, the Eagles managed just two more hits off of All-OVC Second Teamer Danielle Liberatore the rest of the way, but it was enough as Rager kept TTU at bay.

Hutchins and Lizzy Margagliotti both recorded doubles for the Eagles.