By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech offense put runs on the scoreboard early on Saturday, then it was solid efforts in the circle on Saturday as the Golden Eagles pulled together a doubleheader sweep over Southeast Missouri.
Tech earned a pair of 3-2 victories over the Redhawks on Saturday, starting off its Ohio Valley Conference slate on a high note with a 2-0 record.
"That's a big boost," said Tech head coach Bonnie Bynum Graham. "We've been talking about how when we stepped on the field today that our record was 0-0. We were looking at it as a fresh start and a clean slate. We came out here and took care of business."
The Golden Eagles (9-17, 2-0 OVC) continue their homestand on Sunday, hosting UT Martin in a twinbill, starting at noon, weather permitting.
In game one, it was a three-run home run in the bottom of the first Inning from Bayli Cruse that put Tech on top, with SEMO's Abby Tillotson hitting a two-run blast in the second – and that was it for the scoring.
But that was due to a duel in the circle between Tech starter Danielle Liberatore and SEMO reliever Mackenzie Hoelting. After starter Alexis Estes went just a third of an inning after giving up the Cruse blast, Hoelting kept the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard, allowing just two hits and striking out four over the course of 5 2/3 innings.
Liberatore (3-6), on the other hand, was in control of the strike zone, recording 16 strikeouts in the contest. She was one strikeout short of her own Tech and career record at 17. In her complete game effort, she allowed two runs on five hits and walked five.
"We got all the runs we needed right there (with Cruse's homer)," Graham said. "Thankfully, Danielle came in and just kept shutting them down."
Liberatore also came up big in a clutch situation in the second game, preserving the victory for Leigh Ellen Thomas, as she recorded her first save of the season. Thomas saw runners on first and second before Graham brought the game one starter back in, then Liberatore struck out Sarah Messex and coaxed a fly out to center field from Tillotson to end the contest.
"When she's on, she can face just about anybody," Graham said. "Hopefully, we can continue to see outings like that from her."
Thomas had a shaky start, giving up two runs on five hits in the opening inning, but Tech countered in the bottom of the second, tying the game on a two-run double from Kelly Kennedy.
The Golden Eagles took the lead as Aalia Bivens hit a solo home run in the fifth inning.
"Aalia had struggled at the plate a little bit in the last couple of weeks," Graham said, "so I was excited to see her bust out and get a big timely hit when we needed it."
Thomas kept her composure after the first inning, keeping SEMO off of the scoreboard the rest of the way. She worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on 12 hits as she walked one and struck out eight.
"She did great," Graham said, "and even in that first inning, we were getting ground balls on pitches where we needed to get ground balls, but they were just finding holes. Thankfully, she kind of settled in."
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
