By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Though not the way they would have drawn it up, the Tennessee Tech softball team (28-26, 15-11) clinched the No. 4 seed in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Sunday afternoon, despite falling in the regular season finale to Morehead State (22-22, 11-11), 5-3.

A day after making Tech history with a program-high 17 strikeouts, sophomore ace Danielle Liberatore enjoyed some success in game three against the Eagles, fanning nine and walking just one in six innings of work. Unfortunately for the left-hander hurler, her five runs allowed (just three earned) was enough for the home team to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Golden Eagles.

Morehead State got on the board first in the match-up, plating two in the bottom of the second inning. The Eagles took advantage of a Golden Eagle miscue that allowed a base runner, connecting on a two-home run for the lead.

Tech answered immediately in the top of the third, using an RBI, bases-loaded walk by Alyssa Richards and an RBI single through the left side by Kelly Kennedy to even things at 2-2. The Golden Eagles went on to actually take the lead in the top of the fourth, scratching one across for a 3-2 advantage.

Angi Sakamoto provided the go-ahead marker for the visitors, ripping an RBI double to right center field to drive in Hannah Eldridge. But the Eagles were not about to let the Golden Eagles steal a third straight game from their clutches.

In the bottom of the fourth, Morehead State used four hits, including one double, to plate three runs and take a 5-3 lead it would never relinquish.

Despite the loss, the Tech squad took home the No. 4 seed in the upcoming OVC Tournament thanks to a loss by Eastern Kentucky at the hands of Jacksonville State. The Golden Eagles will now take on the Colonels in the first round of the tournament, meeting with EKU in a 3 p.m. CT tilt on Wednesday, May 6 in Edwardsville, Ill.

Photo by Jim Dillon