By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – More home action lies ahead for the Tennessee Tech softball team, as the Golden Eagles will welcome in-state foe Belmont to Tech Softball Field over the weekend.
Please note the following changes to the schedule. Saturday's originally scheduled doubleheader has been changed to a single game starting at 2 p.m. CT, while Sunday has now been changed to a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Tech (17-14, 4-3) says hello to the Bruins (8-17, 3-3) after a light mid-week slate that featured only one game. On Wednesday the Golden Eagles trekked to Knoxville where they were upended by No. 15 Tennessee, 6-1. Despite the loss, the contest did feature a pair of bright spots.
Senior Angi Sakamoto collected two hits, including a double to kick off the tilt, before the Waipahu, Hawaii native came around to score the lone Golden Eagle run two batters later on an Alyssa Richards sacrifice fly. Senior Taylor Ketchum shined as well, coming out of the bullpen and surrendering just one run in four and one-third scoreless innings in what was the Newcastle, Okla. native's season debut.
Ketchum's stellar showing in the circle continued a promising trend lately for the Golden Eagles, thanks to brilliance of sophomore Danielle Liberatore. The 5-foot-10 southpaw stamped her place in history during her last start, a 2-1 Tech victory, striking out 16 UT Martin Skyhawks to set the Tennessee Tech record from most punch outs in a game.
Liberatore has surrendered just one run in 25 OVC innings this season, allowing only 14 hits and striking out an impressive 38 during that time period as well. In fact, the Peotone, Ill. native's 126 strikeouts on the year rank second in the conference.
Offensively, no club in the OVC has drilled more home runs than Tech's 31. Junior Olivia Bennett won the race to double digits in the conference as the 5-foot-4 outfielder enters the weekend with OVC-leading 10. Sophomore Alyssa Richards has been a key cog in the TTU offense as well, pacing the Golden Eagles with a .360 batting average to go along with five home runs and 18 RBI.
Belmont comes to Cookeville red-hot having won three consecutive games to catapult themselves right back to a .500 conference record. The Bruins swept Austin Peay in a doubleheader at home in the club's last time on the diamond on Sunday, securing an 8-4 victory and a 3-2 win.
Senior Kat Hollingsworth leads the squad in a number of offensive categories including batting average (.338), runs scored (14), doubles (7), triples (4), and RBI (15). Junior Jessica Wilson boasts a team-leading three home runs.
The Golden Eagles have controlled the all-time series between the two schools, coming into the weekend with a 27-6 record against the Bruins.
Admission to all Golden Eagle home regular season games is free.
