MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State softball team had risen its team batting average to the highest it has been in 12 years, posted double figure hits in three of its last five games, all as part of a resurgence that saw the Eagles win three of their last four games. However, on Saturday at Tiger Field in Nashville, it was Tennessee State whose offense was the explosive one as it captured a pair of 8-0, five-inning victories.
The Eagles were out-hit 20-5 and committed seven errors, falling in back-to-back shutouts for the first time this season.
"Maddy (Christopher) was a bright spot in the first game," said MSU head coach
Megan Griffith. "It is hard to find a lot of other positives."
Christopher, a sophomore left fielder, finished 2-for-2.
Tennessee State (17-9/7-3) gradually pecked away as the game wore on. It scored once in the second, three times in both the third and fourth, and then once again in the fifth. It had hits in every inning and even finished the opening contest by leaving eight runners on base.
Morehead State (4-28/2-9) picked up its first hit in the third inning, a Christopher single to right field. Two batters later, junior right fielder
Taikibrea Campbell doubled to center field.
In the fourth, freshman second baseman
Victoria Spencer singled up the middle to lead off the frame.
The Eagles most productive inning came in the fifth, when they got a one-out single up the middle from Christopher, junior first baseman
Jordan Donato walked and sophomore shortstop
Sela Pickford collected an infield single. However, the inning ended with an out at third base off a fielder's choice.
Junior
Rylie Burney suffered the defeat to fall to 2-14. She pitched 2.1 innings, surrendered four runs (three earned) on seven hits, with a strikeout and a walk. Redshirt freshman
Delaney Overstreet made her second collegiate pitching appearance and lasted 2.1 innings, giving up just one earned run (four total) on five hits, with three walks and no strikeouts.
Reina Castillo improved to 13-3 going the distance for the win. She allowed five hits and a walk, while striking out one, in the shutout.
In addition to Christopher's two hits, Pickford, Spencer and Campbell each had one apiece.
Alexis Woods led TSU with a 3-for-3 performance, adding a run and an RBI. Jace Jackson and JaKeyla McDaniel also had two hits apiece. McDaniel and Onnika Spencer both scored twice.
In the second game, Tennessee State scored twice in the second, once in the third, three times in the fourth and twice in the fifth.
Freshman designated player
Nyla Doiron was hit by a pitch in the second and Campbell was hit by a pitch in the third. Neither runner advanced past first base.
The Tigers finished with eight hits. Hailey Hunt went 3-fpr-3, with an RBI and a run scored. Woods added a pair of hits and scored twice. Seven of the team's batters had one hit.
Junior
Emma Solis fell to 2-10 with the loss. She pitched three innings and allowed just one earned run (three total) on five hits. She had one strikeout, one walk and hit one batter. Pickford pitched the rest of the way, recording 1.1 innings, with five runs (four earned) on three hits, with one walk, a hit batsman and no strikeouts.
Tianna Salcido (2-4) earned the complete-game no-hit, shutout win. She had one strikeout and did not record a walk, although she did hit two batters.
"We're going to learn from our mistakes and then file this game away, and come back tomorrow refocused and ready to play," said Griffith.
TSU improved to 7-2 at home this spring. While MSU fell to 1-12 in true road games and has now dropped its last 16 away contests. Morehead State continues to lead the all-time series 70-25, but Tennessee State has won 11 of the last 14 outings.
The teams will meet once more tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET for a single game.
MSU will open a five-game home stand this week, beginning with a Wednesday doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky. The first pitch is expected to be 1 p.m. for the first contest at 3:30 p.m. for the second. Then the Eagles will entertain UT Martin this weekend with a Saturday twin bill at noon and 2:30 p.m., and then a single game on Sunday at noon.
