By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

KENNESAW, Ga. – Hallie Davis and Alyssa Richards provided the firepower on Friday as the Tennessee Tech softball team defeated East Tennessee State 8-6 in eight innings to open up the Owl Challenge at Kennesaw State.

Davis and Richards each went yard for the Golden Eagles (5-15) with the sophomore transfer Davis knocking two out of the park. The duo combined for seven RBI in the contest, Richards with four and Davis with three.

The Bucs (8-11) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh at five runs apiece, but the Golden Eagles staked their claim on the win with three runs in the eighth.

With Gabby LaSala on second for the international tiebreaker, Richards hit a one-out double to left to swap places, scoring LaSala. With Demi Coleman taking Richards' place at second as a pinch runner, Davis stood in and dueled with ETSU pitcher Kelly Schmidt, working her way to a 2-2 count and fouling off 10 pitches.

On the 13th, however, Davis was able to watch the ball fly over the center field of the wall for a two-run blast to put the Golden Eagles up 8-5.

ETSU took advantage of the tiebreaker rule as well, moving Taylor Carter to third on a double to left, then Taylor Wright hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Carter. But Leigh Ellen Thomas was able to close out the contest with no further damage as she coaxed a pop-up to second, then a grounder to short to end the game.

Thomas picked up the victory, her second of the year, throwing the final 2 1/3 innings of the contest. She allowed two runs – one earned – on three hits as she walked none and struck out one.

Danielle Liberatore went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits as she walked four and struck out eight.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday with two games in the Owl Challenge, starting with another matchup with East Tennessee State at 9 a.m., followed by a contest against Michigan State at 11:30 a.m.

Photo by A.J. Henderson, Georgia Southern