MOREHEAD, Ky. --Junior Darlene Montoya went 1-for-2 with a home run for Morehead State Softball, but a 12-run scoring outburst by Tennessee State resulted in a 15-3 loss to the Tigers on Monday in game one of an OVC doubleheader.
Freshman Addie Stem (3-6) came out of the bullpen for Morehead State (7-7, 1-1) and took the loss. Stem surrendered six earned runs on five hits in 4.2 innings of relief work. She also had five strikeouts and one walk.
Four different team members got hits and all three runs came from different players.
Despite the setback, coach Megan Griffith found some positives in the team's performance. Hear her talk about them on X (Twitter).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles were trailing 2-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Montoya put Morehead State on the board with a leadoff home run off junior Caitlyn Manus.
The Eagles deficit grew to 3-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the fourth inning. Freshman Sela Pickford came across to score the lone run of the inning for Morehead State, which tightened the Tigers' lead to 3-2.
Morehead State held the Tigers off the board before rallying to tie it up at three in the fifth. Tennessee State then scored 12 times over the remaining two innings to break the tie and grab the 15-3 win. A grand slam and a two-run homer highlighted the seventh inning scoring for TSU.
GAME NOTES
» Pickford stole two bases in Monday's game.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 43 Tennessee State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out six.
» Tennessee State was led offensively by sophomore Onnika Spencer, who went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run (grand slam) and five RBI.
» Manus led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.
