By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech softball team was limited to just one run in two games in Friday's opening day of the Georgia Southern Invitational, as the Golden Eagles dropped both contests with a 7-1 loss to Boston College and a 3-0 defeat to Campbell University.
Senior Angi Sakamoto proved to be Tech's hitting star throughout the twin bill, as the lefty-swinging outfielder recorded a pair of multi-hit games, going 2-for-4 in each contest.
A five-run sixth doomed the Golden Eagles (1-5) in the opener with Boston College (4-2), as Tech was right in the thick of things heading into the bottom of the inning, trailing just 2-1 before an Eagle five-spot essentially put the game on ice.
BC began the offensive onslaught with a Jordan Chimento single through the left side, which was followed by a Taylor Coroneos double to put runners on second and third with no one out.
Tech would show reliance to the precarious position after junior third baseman Cortney Fry gunned down Chimento at the plate for the first out of the inning on a ball hit by freshman Chloe Sharabba. The fielder's choice moved Coroneos to third, before the Sewell N.J. native came around to score one batter later on a Jordan Weed RBI sacrifice bunt for the second out of the inning that pushed the BC lead to 3-1 and also scooted Sharabba to second.
With the Golden Eagles just an out away from limiting the damage, senior Chelsea Dimon was hit with a Hannah Weaver (1-2) offering that put runners on first and second, before three consecutive singles plated four more Boston College runs to put the game out of reach. Junior Megan Cooley's knock up the middle drove in Sharabba, which was promptly followed by an Annie Murphy single to left that brought around Dimon and Cooley, before a Jessie Daulton hit plated Murphy to cap off the five-run inning and extend the Eagle lead to 7-1.
The damage was done off Weaver, who ended up going the distance for the Golden Eagles, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on eight hits. BC used a pair of hurlers to pick up its fourth win of the season, with sophomore Jordan Weed (1-0) allowing one run over the first four innings of the contest and freshman Allyson Frei blanking Tech in the final three frames, while striking out six to record her first collegiate save.
The Golden Eagles christened the scoring in the top of the third behind a Kelly Kennedy RBI single through the left side that plated junior Madison Taylor, who began the frame with a single to right, before she was moved to second on Angi Sakamoto's second hit of the tilt.
Sophomore Danielle Liberatore (0-3) struck out nine against Campbell (3-1) in the second game as part of a complete game effort that saw the Peotone, Ill. native give up three runs (one earned), scattering eight hits as well.
The Camels broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third, plating two in the frame on a Tech error and a bases loaded hit by pitch to freshman Chandler Patterson that brought around sophomore Katie Baker with the second unearned run of the inning.
Leading 2-0, Campbell tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth, using a Bailey Bjorson RBI single up that middle that allowed freshman Lia Batchelor to score after Batchelor began the frame with a walk, before advancing to second on a Maggie Christopher sacrifice bunt.
The three-run advantage was in good hands for the aforementioned Katie Baker (3-0), as the 5-foot-8 righty came on in the third inning and proceeded to shutout the Golden Eagles for the remainder of the contest to remain undefeated on the young season.
Day two of the Georgia Southern Invitational continues on Saturday, with the Golden Eagles slated to take on the host GSU at 3 p.m. CT.
