By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – By virtue of a Sunday split, the Tennessee Tech softball team captured its first Ohio Valley Conference series of the year, taking two out of three from Tennessee State in Nashville. The Golden Eagles (13-11, 2-1) showed resiliency in Sunday's twin bill, bouncing back with a 10-0 victory in the day's second game after being upended 6-1 in the afternoon's opener.
Tech's offense struck early and often in the second tilt, scoring three runs in the first two innings of the nightcap to erase any doubts of a Tiger (8-12, 1-2) sweep. A bases loaded hit by pitch to freshman Callen Griffin put TTU on the board in the top of the first, before an error and an RBI single off the bat of senior Hannah Eldridge pushed the Golden Eagle advantage to 3-0 in the top half of the second.
Eldridge reached base twice in the first two innings behind a walk and a single, helping pave the way to a stellar day at the dish for the Fayetteville, Tenn. native that saw Eldridge go a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI.
The senior second baseman helped pad the Tech advantage in the top of the fourth, singling into right field to bring around both senior Angi Sakamoto and junior Madison Taylor to give the Golden Eagles a 5-0 lead. Eldridge was credited with one RBI on the play after an error allowed Taylor to score, before she would touch up home one batter later thanks to an Olivia Bennett RBI single.
Bennett advanced to second on the knock, before coming around two score on a pair of wild pitches to cap a four-run fourth inning that gave Tech a 7-0 advantage.
The Golden Eagles added to their offensive onslaught with a three-run sixth inning, starting the frame off with a bang thanks to a Hannah Eldridge solo home run that pushed the TTU margin to 8-0. Tech built off the momentum of Eldridge's third round tripper of the season after three of the next four Golden Eagles reached behind an error and a pair of singles by junior Cortney Fry and freshman Rachel Karlan.
Karlan's shot scored Olivia Bennett, who reached on the TSU defensive miscue, for Tech's ninth run of the tilt, before a Mekenzie Weems sacrifice fly wrapped up the Tech scoring at 10-0.
Sophomore Danielle Liberatore (8-5) continued her superb stretch from inside the circle, winning her fifth consecutive start behind a second-straight complete game shutout. The Peotone, Ill. native scattered five hits, walked just one, and struck out eight Tigers to cap off a weekend in which Liberatore tossed 13 scoreless innings with 15 punch outs.
On the opposite side of the equation, junior Taylor Green (5-5) lost her second consecutive start against the Golden Eagles after lasting just an inning and two-thirds, giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks.
Despite a promising start in the opener that saw Tech jump on the board in the top of the first thanks to an RBI single by sophomore Alyssa Richards, the Golden Eagles were unable to hold on for the club's first loss in their OVC campaign.
TSU came back with runs in five of the next six innings, putting up solo spot in the first, second, and third frames, before putting up two in the bottom of the fifth.
Tiger sophomore Courtney Geralds contributed in big fashion at the top of the order, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI from the leadoff spot. Fellow sophomore Joselynn Yates had two hits and drove in two as well to help pave the way offensively for TSU.
Tennessee State freshman Amber Galyon (1-4) notched her first win of her collegiate career behind a complete game showing in which the Aqua, Tenn. native allowed just one run on seven hits.
Junior Hannah Weaver (5-4) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits.
Tech will jump out of conference on Wednesday, Mar. 18, traveling to Samford for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. CT.
