SHUT DOWN- Senior Hannah Weaver winds up for a pitch during the second game of Tech's double header against EIU March 26. Weaver pitched six innings and gave up zero earned runs. The Panthers managed only three hits against Weaver. The performance resulted in weavers second win of the season. Photo by: Shea Haile
The Tech softball team earned two wins in less than four hours Saturday hosting Eastern Illinois University in a double-header.
When asked how important securing these two victories were for the program, Coach Bonnie Bynum replied, “Big time! We tried to get the momentum back on our side after a little bit of a rough start and I feel like we definitely did that today.”
The first contest against EIU began at noon. It was a slow start for both squads with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Golden Eagles after the first four innings. However, hits started being recorded in the fifth inning. The score increased to a Tech lead of 3-1.
The Golden Eagles picked off a runner attempting to steal second base for the third out at the top of the sixth inning. Tech put up two more runs to close out the sixth.
EIU had one more chance to try to close the gap on what now had become a 5-1 lead in favor of the Golden Eagles. However, with one out already on the board, Tech turned a double play to end the game.
The second game of the double-header began at 2 p.m. It was a game that relied much more on pitching and defense to secure a victory than the first.
The Golden Eagles were only able to put up one run in the second inning. Fortunately for the ladies of Tech, they were able to hold EIU scoreless for the entirety of the game.
Coach Bynum said, “I think it was a mixture of both [pitching and defense]. The pitchers stepped up and made great pitches when they had to, and when they left a little more over the plate, our defense stepped up and made a great play. So, it’s an overall team effort on that for sure.”
Throughout 14 innings of play, Tech was able to hold the EIU Panthers to only eight hits that resulted in only one run scored.
Jim and Debbie Greene moved back to Cookeville 15 years ago. While looking for things to do in the area for entertainment purposes, they began attending Tennessee Tech softball games. When Jim completely retired, they began to fervently follow the program.
“When Bonnie, the coach, was a freshman, we got kind of into the softball family. We know her parents well, met them through softball,” said Jim Greene. “We travel and go to as many games as possible. We are not able to travel quite as much anymore but still do when we can and always go to the regional tournaments.”
Coach Bynum responded to Jim and Debbie and the general fan base in general.
“That [loyal fan base] is awesome! That’s just a testament to how great our program has been over the past 10-15 years,” said Bynum. “We’re always competing. I think we are just a fun group to watch and that’s why the fan base so is amazing.”
With no ties to the team, other than the relationships they have made since beginning to follow the softball program 15 years ago, Jim and Debbie Greene are the epitome of what any sports program would want from their fans.
Securing back to back victories against the EIU Panthers gave the Golden Eagles an 11-19 record for the season.
Tech’s next game is March 30, when they host Lipscomb at 5:00 p.m.
