By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a game that featured its fair share of rain and stormy weather conditions, the Tennessee Tech softball team fell 7-2 to Lipscomb in Tech's final non-conference game of the 2015 season.
The contest took nearly five hours to complete thanks to a lengthy rain delay before the start of the fourth inning, with the Golden Eagles (24-21, 11-6) already trailing 4-0.
The Bisons (22-22) scored in each of the first three frames, highlighted by a two-run second inning that featured a pair of Lipscomb long balls. Senior Laura Dukes led off the frame with a solo home run to push the Bisons lead to 2-0, before fellow senior Brianne Welch touched them all two batters later to jump the advantage to 3-0.
After a two-out Baylee Williams RBI single in the last of the third extended the lead to 4-0, Lipscomb padded its advantage right after the delay with a three-spot in the fourth inning. Consecutive two-out singles took care of business for the Bisons, as sophomore Mimi Cartwright's RBI knock made it 5-0, before freshman Abby Fenichel's two-run single capped the Lipscomb scoring at seven.
Tech avoided the shutout with a two-run Sabrie Neeb home run in the top of the sixth, the Front Royal, Va. native's fourth round tripper of the season. The blast continues an impressive trend for Neeb, who is now hitting .500 (9-18) with seven extra-base hits over the last six games.
Freshman right-hander Taylor Waldrop (1-3) suffered the loss after tossing the tilt's first 3 2/3 innings, while junior Kelly Young (12-12) secured the win with a complete-game showing.
Winners of four of the last five conference games, the Golden Eagles dive back into OVC play with a full slate of weekend action. On Saturday, Tech will welcome in Austin Peay for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. CT. The Golden Eagles will play their final home games of the year with a Sunday twin bill against Murray State, also starting at noon.
Admission to all Golden Eagle home regular season games is free.
