CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Sophomore Callie Schmidt’s three-run home run was one of 11 hits by Tennessee Tech as the Golden Eagles cruised to a 15-0, five-inning victory over No. 20 Virginia Tech Saturday morning in the UTC Tournament. Schmidt led the team at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Freshman Whitney Cummings also had a huge game as she went 3-for-4 in the game with a pair of doubles, scoring three runs and driving in two more.Defensively, sophomore Maddie Schmissrauter pitched a five-inning shutout, allowing only four hits and three walks while striking out three.
It was the most lopsided loss by the Hokies since Mar. 18, 2007, when they gave up 21 to Georgia Tech.
The game was tied after the first inning, but it was all Tech from there on out. After a leadoff double by Cummings, sophomore Kaleigh Gates reached on an error by the shortstop, putting herself on second and allowing Cummings to score. With two outs and a full count, sophomore Katie Betry singled down the left field line, driving in Gates and putting the Golden Eagles up 2-0.
The offensive display didn’t stop there as Tech proceeded to put up ten more runs in the third and fourth innings. After a two-run double by Cummings that scored sophomore Lacie Coquerille and freshman Cassidy Skeen, Gates drew a walk, setting up Schmidt for a three-run blast to left center.
In the fourth, Tech took advantage of four Virginia Tech errors, scoring five unearned runs after two quick outs. With the bases loaded, Schmidt reached on an error by third baseman Alicia Field, and advanced all the runners up one base, scoring Thomas. In the very next at-bat, Schmissrauter reached on an error by second baseman Kristen Froehlich, driving in Gates and Cummings. Field committed another error at third when she couldn’t handle the ball hit by Betry, allowing Schmidt to cross the plate. After a single by freshman Jordan Leff, the bases were loaded for Skeen who drew a walk to score Schmissrauter, with the score showing 12-0.
The scoring finally came to an end in the fifth as Tech mercy-ruled the Hokies. After walks by Thomas and Gates and singles by Schmidt and Betry, Tech had extended its lead to 14-0. The final run of the contest came when center-fielder Richelle McGarva dropped a ball hit by Leff, scoring Schmidt for the ninth unearned run of the game.
The Golden Eagles (2-2) then defeated the Black Bears of Maine (1-3) by a score of 5-3. Schmissrauter and Betry each drove in runs, as did Leff and Skeen. Tech scored five runs on five hits and no errors were committed in the game.
Freshman Holly Thomas pitched six innings, striking out eight while only allowing two runs. At the plate, Thomas drew her fourth and fifth walks of the season in only 13 plate appearances. Senior Kristina Hortert came in to relieve Thomas in the seventh, giving up one run on one hit, but striking out a pair. The Golden Eagle defense forced Maine to strand seven on base.
The first numbers placed on the scoreboard came in the top of the third inning when Ashley Waters hit a two-run home run for the Black Bears to put them on top 2-0.
In the fourth, Tech responded with a barrage of base runners. After a sacrifice fly by Betry and back-to-back singles by Leff and Skeen, the Golden Eagles had built up a 4-2 lead. Leff added one more when she scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning.
Thomas and Hortert each threw two strikeouts in the sixth and seventh, respectively, sealing the deal for Tech, 5-3.
The Golden Eagles will see their next action on Sunday as they face host UT Chattanooga (3-1) at 2:30
