By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – You couldn't have asked for a better beginning to the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference season for the Tennessee Tech softball team. Behind 10 runs, 11 hits, and a dominant showing by sophomore Danielle Liberatore, the Golden Eagles (12-10, 1-0) rolled to a 10-0 victory over Tennessee State (7-11, 0-1) in the conference opener.
The originally scheduled doubleheader was changed to just one game due to weather in the Nashville area, changing Sunday's single game to a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. CT.
The Golden Eagles came out of the gates scorching, posting seven runs in the first two innings to jump out to the early 7-0 advantage. Junior Olivia Bennett set the pace offensively in the first two frames, roping a pair of extra-base hits, while the Mentone, Calif. native also scored two runs and drove in three more over the first two innings.
In the top of the first Bennett christened the scoring with a one-out RBI double to right field, driving in senior Angi Sakamoto who doubled and stole third to kick off the ball game. Bennett would come around with Tech's second run of the inning, denting home plate on an RBI single up the middle by freshman Callen Griffin.
Leading 2-0, the Golden Eagles were far from done in the opening frame, as TTU would score three more behind a pair of Tiger errors and a clutch single by sophomore Kelly Kennedy.
On top 5-0, Tech added two more in the top of the second to take a 7-0 lead, using a two-run home run by Olivia Bennett to distance themselves even further from TSU. Bennett, who entered the twin bill second in the OVC in home runs, clubbed her seventh of the season, while the three-RBI showing gives the 5-foot-4 outfielder 20 on the year.
Bennett would end the game with two hits, one of four Golden Eagles to accomplish the feat along with Callen Griffin, Angi Sakamoto, and sophomore Alyssa Richards.
The early offensive onslaught proved to be more than enough for sophomore Danielle Liberatore (7-5), who won her fourth straight start behind the 5-foot-10 southpaw's second complete-game shutout of the season. Liberatore surrendered just two singles, walked only one, and struck out seven Tigers.
Tennessee State junior Taylor Green suffered the loss after allowing 10 runs (seven earned) in five innings of work.
Tech capped its scoring in the top of the fourth, adding three more runs to notch double digits for the third time this season. With one out and the bases empty, Alyssa Richards smoked a double into left center, before the Italy, Texas native would come around to score one batter later behind Callen Griffin's second RBI single of the game.
Three batters later after a groundout pushed Griffin to third and a walk to Kelly Kennedy gave Tech two on with two out, sophomore Gabby Perez knocked Griffin home on a single up the middle for Perez's second RBI of the contest. The Golden Eagles would plate their 10th and final run of the tilt on a wild pitch that allowed Kennedy to touch up home.
Weather changes Sunday's originally scheduled one contest to a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. CT.
