COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Brittney Spalding shined brighter than the softball diamond in Sunday's game against the Belmont Bruins. The senior drilled a two-run dinger over the left field fence in the bottom of the third inning to give Tech its final lead of the game breaking a 4-4 stalemate.
The Golden Eagles turned in 12 hits, the team's fifth double-digit performance of the season. Sophomore Hannah Eldridge led the charge with three hits and three RBI while sisters Brittney and Chanelle Spalding connected for two hits apiece. Both of Brittney's hits were extra base hits as she knocked a homerun and a double.
Senior Claudia Harke (5-6) got the win in five innings of work after relieving Taylor Ketchum in the second inning. The Bruins scored all four of their runs in the top of the second inning. Tech helped the Bruins effort committing back-to-back errors loading the bases in the first three batters. Jessica Wilson drove in two runs on a double, before the Golden Eagles got their first out. Another run scored two batters later before the bases were loaded again when a Bruin was hit by a pitch. Heather Turner singled up the middle, to score Belmont's final run of the inning when Harke took the circle.
Down 4-0, the Golden Eagles put on their rally caps. In the bottom of the second, the first two batters for Tech were putout, but just as the inning appeared to end, Brittany Spalding fended off four pitches and sparked a rally on a hard hit double through the right side. Chanelle Spalding singled sending Brittney home and advanced to third on a throwing error. The Bruins' Brittany Albright threw an illegal pitch sending Chanelle across the plate. Cutting the lead in half, Cortney Fry singled, followed by Angi Sakamoto and Christian Gibbs on free bases to load the bases for a second time. Following a Belmont pitching change, Hannah Eldridge singled through the left side, driving in two more runs.
In a 4-4 stalemate, the Golden Eagles fended off a Bruin run when Brittney Spalding sent another spark through the Purple and Gold drilling a two-run homer over the left field fence. Tech scored again in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to another single by Eldridge, sealing the 7-4 victory.
The Golden Eagles return to the dirt Tuesday when they make-up a doubleheader against Austin Peay. The double header will kick-off at 1 p.m.
