If the Golden Eagles don’t make the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, it could be because of one-run games. A walk-off bases-loaded double gave Tennessee State a 4-3 OVC win over the Tennessee Tech softball team on Thursday.
The Golden Eagles (23-27, 9-10 OVC) struck first in the fourth and, after TSU tied the game in the bottom of the inning, added a pair of runs in the fifth to regain the lead.
Sophomore Lacie Coquerille led the offense for Tech, going 1-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Freshman pitcher Holly Thomas (11-13) took the loss, striking out three while walking three and allowing four runs on four hits.
Tech sparked the scoring in the fourth with two outs. After a single by sophomore Katie Betry, freshman Whitney Cummings struck out, but reached first on a throwing error by the catcher.
The error allowed Cummings to reach third and scored Betry from first, putting Tech up 1-0.
Two walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter allowed the Tigers (18-28, 8-12 OVC) to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, freshman Brooke Basten led off the inning with a single up the middle and was followed by a bunt single by fellow freshman Jordan Leff.
Junior Kimmie White came in to pinch-hit and grounded a ball straight back to pitcher Caitlin Eaton, but beat out the throw to load the bases.
Coquerille then singled into left-center, scoring Basten and Leff, giving Tech the 3-1 advantage.
That score held until the bottom of the seventh with one out.
Three consecutive singles by State loaded the bases for Brittany Webb, who drove a double into right-center, clearing the bases to give the Tigers the 4-3 victory.
Tech managed five hits while striking out five times and leaving three on base.
This marks the fifth time this season that Tech has lost by just one run.
The Golden Eagles look to keep their Ohio Valley Conference tournament dreams alive as they travel to UT-Martin for a three-game series this weekend, beginning Saturday at 1 p.m.
