By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
TROY, Ala.—A two-run homerun by Alyssa Richards highlighted the second and final day of the Troy Classic for the Tennessee Tech softball team (3-6, 0-0 OVC). The Golden Eagles kicked off day two of the Troy Classic against McNeese State where the Cowgirls defeated Tech 9-1 in six innings. Tech then went on to fall to host Troy University (7-3) 6-2 in their final game of the tournament.
McNeese came out strong off the bat posting three runs in the first inning off of two hits. A Cowgirl single in the top of the second drove in another McNeese runner giving the Cowgirls the 4-0 lead. McNeese extended their lead further in the fourth inning when the Cowgirl's Taunton doubled to left center to drive in a run followed by McNeese's Plancastelli launching a home run to score two more. The Cowgirls rounded out their 9-1 victory over the Golden Eagles adding one run in the top of fifth and sixth.
Tech notched their only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth when Gabby Perez reached on a fielding error by McNeese's third baseman allowing Madison Taylor to score.
Thomas (1-2) suffered the loss going 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs on six hits. Thomas struck out three and walked none in the contest.
Richards kicked things off for Tech against Troy with a two-run home run to left to take the early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Troy came back in the top of the third to hit a Trojan single up the middle with two on and one down to score their first run of the game. Troy then came back to tie the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the fourth. The Trojans continued their hitting streak into the top of the fifth when two, 2-RBI doubles gave Troy the 6-2 lead.
Liberatore (1-3) suffered the loss going all seven innings and allowing six runs on nine innings, while striking out seven and walking five.