The Morehead State softball team collected 21 hits and took advantage of 10 errors to register a doubleheader sweep of Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field. The Eagles posted a 4-3 win in the opener and 12-1 victory in a six-inning nightcap.
The Eagles, who have rolled to eight wins in their last nine contests, improve to 21-19 overall, 10-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 7-9 on the road. The Tigers, who have dropped 18 straight affairs, fall to 9-34 on the campaign, 2-20 in league action and 4-12 at home.
MSU has matched its best stretch in four seasons under Head Coach David Williams. The Eagles started the day eighth in the OVC, but could easily elevate their position as six teams were separated by just 3 1/2 games. The league tournament, which begins May 6, will be hosted by the No. 1 seed.
Six Eagles notched multiple hits in Saturday's twinbill. Junior first baseman Dana Hutchins finished 4-for-5 with one run, while sophomore center fielder Kayla McGuffey went 4-for-9 with four runs and one RBI and senior third baseman Katie Raile managed a 3-for-5 effort with one run and two RBI.
Freshman right-hander Mackenzie Grossmann improved to 12-7 with the game-one victory, while senior righty Tanna Seuferer improved to 9-5 with the game-two win. Grossmann allowed just two earned runs and two hits, while Seuferer yielded only one unearned score and six base knocks.
Grossmann, who fired 102 pitches in her 14th complete game at the collegiate level, walked four and struck out five while inducing 13 groundouts. Seuferer, who only needed 86 tosses to go the distance for the fifth time this season, issued two walks and fanned four while getting nine flyouts.
Morehead State picked up a come-from-behind win in the opener with two runs in the sixth. The Eagles controlled game two with three scores in the first, three in the fourth and six more in their final at-bat. MSU pounded out a season-high 15 hits in the nightcap, while TSU committed eight miscues.
Tennessee State's pitchers allowed 16 runs, but just four earned. The Tiger hurlers combined for nine walks and just four punchouts in 13 innings. Junior right-hander Taylor Green dipped to 5-16 in the opener, while freshman righty Amber Gaylon dropped to 2-14 in the second affair.
Senior Kate Morris, who started one game for Tennessee State in right field and the other behind the plate, belted the day's only home run and finished 3-for-6 in the two contests combined.
Morehead State's regular-season road finale is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET when the clubs wrap up their three-game series at Tiger Field.
