By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
MURRAY, Ky.—The Tennessee Tech softball team (18-27, 9-10 OVC) opened their doubleheader filled weekend downing Murray State (18-26, 8-11 OVC) in both games on Saturday. The Golden Eagles defeated the Racers in game one 3-1, and then came back in game two to rout Murray State 9-7.
In game one, the Golden Eagles and Racers went back-and-forth until Murray State put a run on the board in the bottom of the fifth with Cayla Levins singled down the right field line to drive in Brenna Finick.
Then in the top of the sixth, Tech came back to tie the game at 1-1 when bases loaded with two down brought freshman Gabby Lasala to the plate. LaSala drew a walk to drive in the first Golden Eagle run of the game, which then brought Callen Griffin to the dish. Griffin continued the Tech Scoring drive with a single to right field to drive in two more Golden Eagle runners and give Tech the 3-1 lead over Murray State.
Junior Danielle Liberatore (12-11) was victorious in the circle, pitching the complete game and allowing just one run on seven hits, and striking out eight at the dish while walking three. Mason Robinson (13-13) suffered the loss for the Racers pitching the complete game and allowing three runs off of six hits, and striking out eight while walking three.
In game two, Murray State struck first again when Leah Kesel hit an RBI-single down the third base line in the bottom of the second. The Racers continued to add two more in the inning when Murray State took advantage of a Tech fielding error with bases loaded and two down to score one run, and then Levins came up to the dish and hit an RBI single to the pitcher to round out a Racer 3-0 lead.
Murray State went on to add one more in the bottom of the third when Jessica Twaddle opened the inning with a solo homerun to left center to extend its lead to 4-0. The Golden Eagles got on the board in the top of the fourth with power-hitter Alyssa Richards stepped up to the plate and hit a 2-RBI homerun down the left field line to cut the Racer lead to 4-2.
Tech continued to keep its bats going into the top of the fifth when junior Sarah Freels hit a two-RBI double to left field to tie the game at 4-4. Later in the inning, senior Sabrie Neeb followed up with an RBI-single up the middle and Bayli Cruse hit an RBI-single to center field to give the Golden Eagles the 6-4 lead.
Murray State added one more in the bottom of the fifth when Maggie Glass hit a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the Tech lead to 6-5. Tech continued to add cushion to their lead in the top of the sixth when Neeb hit an RBI single through the right side to put the Golden Eagles up by two again at 7-5. Tech did not stop there, Cruse came up to the dish and hit a two-RBI double to center field to push the Golden Eagle lead to 9-5.
Murray State continued to battle with Tech and added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Jocelynn Rodgers hit an RBI-single up the middle to cut the Golden Eagle lead to 9-6. Again the Racers tried to stage a comeback when Glass hit a solo-homerun down the right field line to cut the Tech lead to 9-7, however, their efforts were not enough to steal victory from the Golden Eagles.
Taylor Waldrop (1-2) saw victory for Tech, going for 3 innings and allowing two runs off of five hits, while Liberatore notched her second save of the season throwing for 1.2 innings and allowing one run off of three hits. Haven Campbell (5-7) suffered the loss for Murray State pitching four innings and allowing five runs off of six hits.
The Golden Eagles will continue play on Sunday when they face OVC-opponent Austin Peay in a doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.