By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—After day one back home in Cookeville, the Tennessee Tech softball team (15-26, 6-10 OVC) split games with in-state rival Tennessee State (10-33, 3-13 OVC) in Saturday doubleheader action. The Golden Eagles kicked off the day with a 3-0 victory over the Tigers, however, game two fell in favor of TSU who defeated Tech in the afternoon matchup by the same margin.
Danielle Liberatore (10-11) opened up day one in the circle, beginning play striking out five of the first nine batters. In the bottom of the second, the Golden Eagles took the 2-0 lead when freshman Gabby LaSala hit an RBI single to left center. Later, Jessie Lowery followed up with a single up the middle to drive in another Tech runner.
The Golden Eagles drove in their third and final run in the bottom of the fifth when Bayli Cruse hit an RBI single up the middle to round out a 3-0 Tech victory.
Liberatore one again proved to be a fierce competitor in the circle, notching her 10th win and her fourth complete game shutout of the season. Liberatore allowed just five hits and three walks in the game, while again tying her season high with 13 strikeouts. Lauren Powell (4-10) suffered the loss for the Tigers, going for four innings and allowing two runs off of four hits and striking out one while walking two.
One-two-three was the theme of game two. Tech and TSU quickly ran through five innings with batters coming up to the plate and swiftly retiring at the dish. Neither team notched a hit until the bottom of the third, when the Golden Eagles broke the chain when LaSala singled through the left side. Tennessee State did not record a hit until the top of the fifth when Cariona Hassell doubled to left center, however, both teams remained scoreless through the first five innings.
Finally, in the top of the sixth, the Tigers made moves when Courtney Gearlds singled to left center and then two wild pitches followed by a sacrifice fly allowed her to score the first TSU run. The Tigers went on to add two more in the top of the seventh when Gearlds singled to second base and a Tech throwing error drove in two TSU runners.
Hannah Weaver (2-7) suffered the loss for the Golden Eagles, pitching 6.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) off of seven hits and striking out and walking one. Lauren Woodard (4-18) saw victory in the circle for the Tigers, pitching all seven innings and allowing no runs on two hits to notch her second shutout of the season.
Tech and TSU will close out its three-game series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at the Tech Softball Field.