By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – An in-state battle takes center stage Tuesday evening as the Tennessee Tech softball team travels to UT Chattanooga to lock up with the Mocs. Please note the change in the schedule with game time now slated for 5 p.m. CT, as oppose to the originally-slated 4 p.m. start time.
The Golden Eagles (19-15, 6-4) head into the non-conference matchup after capturing two out of three in what was a wild OVC series over the weekend against another in-state nemesis, Belmont. Tech's offense surged late behind six runs in the last two frames in Saturday's opening game of the set en route to a 7-0 victory, before the two teams split Sunday's doubleheader that featured no shortage of late-inning dramatics.
Trailing 7-1 going into the top of the seventh in Sunday's opener, Belmont plated seven runs to take a one-run edge heading into the bottom half of the inning. The chaotic frame didn't rattle the Golden Eagles whatsoever, with Tech finding a way to strike right back in its turn in the seventh.
With two on and two out, sophomore Alyssa Richards stepped to the dish with a chance to erase the preceding Bruin inning and give the game's story a different ending. The Italy, Texas native came through in sterling fashion, sending a double down the left field line that brought around senior Angi Sakamoto with the tilt's tying run, and junior Olivia Bennett with the winning run to send the Golden Eagles to the thrilling walk-off victory.
Richards would finish the contest as the only player on either side with at least three-hits after a 3-for-5 showing that bumped her average to a team-best .375. The 5-foot-8 catcher is also tied with senior Hannah Eldridge for second most home runs on the club with five, while her 21 RBI rank second as well.
Despite a loss in Sunday's second affair, TTU flexed its offensive muscles to the tune of three more home runs to wrap up a weekend that featured six Tech taters. In fact, the weekend continued an impressive trend for the Golden Eagles, who lead the Ohio Valley Conference with 34 home runs. Olivia Bennett leads the charge with an OVC-leading 11, while the 5-foot-4 outfielder's 30 RBI rank second in the conference.
From inside the circle, the conversation starts with sophomore Danielle Liberatore, who tossed yet another shutout over the weekend after blanking Belmont in Saturday's tilt. The effort was already her fourth shutout in six OVC starts this year, lowering the Peotone, Ill. native's ERA to 2.23. Liberatore has also won eight-straight decisions, boasting a club-leading 132 strikeouts in 113 innings of work, a mark that is good enough for second in the conference.
UT Chattanooga (23-8) will welcome the Golden Eagles into Frost Stadium having won six in a row and eight of the last nine. The Mocs are currently sitting atop the Southern Conference as the league's lone undefeated team with a 6-0 record.
Offensively, the squad is highlighted by five players that are hitting at least .345, led by senior Sarah Beth Roberts, who is hitting a cool .392. Just like Tech, UTC also has a player that leads the conference in home runs, with senior Nicole Osterman posting a SoCon-best 11 round trippers on the year.
Inside the circle, senior Taylor Deason leads the conference with a 2.11 ERA, while the Clarksville, Tenn. native is third in the league with 92 strikeouts in 89 and two-thirds innings on the slab.
The Mocs have controlled the all-time series with the Golden Eagles, having won 10-of-14 previous matchups.
