By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Freshman Danielle Liberatore came within four outs of a no-hitter and sophomore Madison Taylor homered in the bottom of the first to provide the Tennessee Tech offense all it needed, as the Golden Eagles won 1-0 over Radford University in the finale of the 2014 Frost Classic hosted by UT Chattanooga.
TTU (5-8) has now won five of its last six, including taking four of five in the Frost Classic after victories against Toledo and Ohio on Friday, and Campbell on Saturday.
Taylor, who had already been responsible for three clutch go-ahead hits in the sixth inning or later over the weekend, did her damage early in the contest, going yard for the second time this season to give Tech the 1-0 edge.
The slim lead was in good hands as Liberatore (3-3) was nearly unhittable in tossing her first career complete game shutout. The 5-10 southpaw from Peotone, Ill. surrendered only two hits in the affair, walking just one and striking out five Highlanders for her third consecutive victory.
In fact, Radford didn't even have its first knock until two outs in the sixth inning, when sophomore Becky Mantel reached on a bunt single.
A day earlier, Liberatore struck out 13 in a complete game win against Campbell, the fourth highest total in Tech history.
Offensively, aside from Taylor's heroics, the Golden Eagles received a stellar showing from senior Chelsea Burgess, who went a perfect 3-for-3 on the afternoon including picking up Tech's only other extra-base hit, a one-out sixth inning double.
Radford's Rachael Walters (2-1) was handed the loss, despite a solid effort of four innings pitched, giving up one earned run on five hits, while walking none and striking out two.
TTU will now set its sights on its second series of the season, traveling to East Carolina for a three-game set beginning on Saturday, Mar. 1. The Golden Eagles will play a doubleheader with the Pirates on Saturday with scheduled start times of 12 and 2 p.m. CT, before closing out the series on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.