MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead State pounded out 16 hits, including a pair of three-run homers and a grand slam, but it was not enough for the Eagle softball team to get past Tennessee Tech on Saturday at the University Field at Prefontaine Park in Morehead, as the Golden Eagles put up 18 hits of their own in a 15-10 victory between teams meeting for the final time as Ohio Valley Conference rivals.
Junior first baseman
Noemye Letendre tied a school record by hitting two home runs and junior shortstop
Sela Pickford added a grand slam as the pair accounted for all 10 of MSU's run.
"We're very proud of the offense today. They did a great job making adjustments on each pitcher we faced," MSU head coach
Megan Griffith said. "Timely hitting was a big success for us with runners on for all 3 of our long shots. It was great to see Noemye with 2 home runs and Sela with a grand slam."
Tennessee Tech (10-19/7-3) jumped out to a 9-0 lead after scoring four times in the second and five times in the third. The visitors did all of their damage with two outs in the second, collecting six hits, and still managed to leave the bases loaded when the inning ended.
The same was true of the third, although the Golden Eagles started the frame by getting their first two batters on base due to walks. From there, Morehead State (2-22/1-9) got the next two batters out, but a trio of errors sunk the Blue and Gold, allowing TTU to score five times on just one hit.
The Eagles picked up their first hit of the afternoon as redshirt sophomore right fielder
Marie Perdew singled to right-center field to start the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore third baseman
Victoria Spencer followed with a single to center field, before Letendre hit her third home run of the season, this time clearing the fence in left-center field.
MSU continued to chip away at the deficit in the fourth inning. With one out, Perdew was hit by a pitch. Spencer then doubled to right field and Letendre hit her second homer, this time over the fence in left field. It was the 18th time in school history one player hit two home runs in the same game.
The hosts held the visitors at bay in the fifth, but they were able to add five more runs in the sixth, courtesy of five more hits, including a leadoff home run from Makayli Harris.
The Eagles came right back in the bottom of the stanza and staved off an early end due to the eight-run rule. Letendre had a one-out single, junior center fielder
Maddy Christopher reached on an infield hit and junior second baseman
Sage VanDemark walked, setting up Pickford's blast over the fence in right field.
The Eagles continued to put runners on base as junior catcher
Sydney Farmer singled and sophomore designated player
Sophie Collins reached on a fielding error, but a ground out ended the inning.
Tennessee Tech added another run on three hits in the top of the seventh.
Morehead State made one last gasp in the bottom of the frame. Spencer led off with a single up the middle, then Letendre singled through the left side and VanDemark singled to center field to load the bases. However, Pickford was called out after being hit with the ball outside of the batter's box and Farmer's deep shot to right field was caught to end the game.
Tech finished with 18 hits, one error and left 11 runners on base. The 18 hits were the second most the Eagles have allowed this spring. MSU had 16 hits, which fell one shy of its season high, four errors and nine left on base.
Eight of the nine Eagle batters had at least one hit, with Letendre leading the way at 4-for-4. Christopher and Spencer had three apiece. Farmer contributed two; and VanDemark, Pickford, senior left fielder
Jordan Donato and Perdew each with one. Letendre tallied six RBI, the most since sophomore
Nyla Doiron had eight in a game last year. Pickford finished with six. Letendre had three runs. Perdew and Spencer were responsible for two apiece. Christopher, VanDemark and Pickford all crossed home plate once.
Sophia Carroll had the best outing for the Golden Eagles, finishing the game 2-for-6, with three RBI and three runs.
MSU used three pitchers. Freshman
Allicen Harris (0-10) got the start and went one and two-thirds innings. She allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits. She had two strikeouts and one walk. Senior
Emma Solis threw one inning and surrendered four runs, three of which were earned, on two hits. She had three walks and did not strike out a batter. Senior
Rylie Burney finished the day by pitching four and a third innings. She yielded six earned runs, seven total, on nine hits. She had one strikeout and four walks.
TTU used four pitchers. Reigning OVC Pitcher of the Week Addison Abell got the start and went two innings. She allowed three runs on three hits, without a strikeout or walk. Emily York earned the victory after throwing three and a third innings. She gave up nine hits, seven runs (all earned) and had one strikeout and one walk. Hannah Lange went two-thirds of an inning surrendering three hits, but did not allow a run or walk, and did not strike out a batter. Faith Rush pitched the final inning. Her only stat was allowing a hit.
The two teams will meet again for a doubleheader on Sunday starting at noon. Morehead State will go on the road for its next four games, beginning with Southern Indiana on Friday and Saturday. The Eagles will be back at home to host Tennessee State on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 11.
