By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech softball team took care of business in its Ohio Valley Conference Tournament opener, putting together all the components that have made the No. 4 Golden Eagles (29-26) successful during the 2015 season en route to an 11-3 win over No.5 Eastern Kentucky (23-27).
Sophomore Danielle Liberatore (16-11) was once again lights out in the circle. The Tech offense, which was tied for tops in the OVC in home runs, showed its ability to bash the ball out of the park with three more long balls. And of course, the Golden Eagles yet again displayed its uncanny knack to string together a comeback regardless of the circumstances.
Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, TTU had managed just one hit over the first three innings. Junior Sabrie Neeb socked a solo home run in the bottom of the first to jump Tech out to an early 1-0 advantage, but following the Front Royal, Va. native's seventh round tripper of the year, the Golden Eagles had been kept in check by EKU senior right-hander Leanna Pittsenbarger (10-13).
The Urbana, Ohio native had just set down the last seven Tech hitters, but in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Sophomore Kelly Kennedy started off the fourth with a high towering drive into left that was misplayed for an error that put the 6-foot-2 catcher to second. Sophomore Alyssa Richards followed the defensive miscue with a two-run home run to left, squaring the playoff tilt at 3-3.
Junior Olivia Bennett then wacked a single up the middle, before moving to second on a Hannah Eldridge sacrifice bunt. Now with an opportunity to push the Golden Eagles ahead, freshman Bayli Cruse did not disappoint with an RBI single to center to give Tech a 4-3 edge.
The fourth-inning barrage was far from over, as two of the next three Tech hitters doubled in runs, with junior Madison Taylor and senior Angi Sakamoto doing the honors to pad the TTU advantage to 6-3.
An inning later, it was déjà vu all over again.
It began with a one-out solo home run for Alyssa Richards to bump the margin to 7-3, the Italy, Texas native's second of the game and ninth of the season. Just like the fourth, Olivia Bennett followed the round tripper with a single to center, before once again moving to second on a Hannah Eldridge grounder.
Right on cue, Bayli Cruse singled to center to bring home Bennett to extend the lead to 8-3, and then exactly like the fourth, Madison Taylor scorched a double into right center field to plate Cruse with Tech's ninth run. Two batters later, senior Angi Sakamoto drove home Taylor on a run-scoring single to pad the TTU edge to 10-3.
When it was all said and done, 19 Golden Eagles stepped to the dish in the two innings, scoring nine runs on 11 hits, five of which were of the extra-base variety. Sakamoto, Richards, Bennett, Cruse, and Taylor all collected a hit in each of the two frames.
Tech wrapped up the game in the bottom of the sixth, walking off the win on an RBI ground out off the bat of Hannah Eldridge that scored sophomore Amity Brown with the final Golden Eagle run.
Not to be lost in all the action, was truly another dominant effort by Danielle Liberatore. Outside of a three-run third, in which she charged with just one earned run on three hits, Liberatore did not allow a hit in any other inning. The 5-foot-10 southpaw also struck out 13 for her ninth double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and walked just two.
Tech will await the winner of No. 1 SIU Edwardsville and No. 8 Morehead State, playing Thursday at 3 p.m. CT for the right to go to the winner's bracket semifinal. Previewing a potential matchup with either club, the Golden Eagles swept SIUE in a doubleheader in Edwardsville on Apr. 5, and also took two out of three at Morehead State on May 4-5.
First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CT. Live video will be available, free of charge, on the OVC Digital Network. CLICK HERE TO WATCH. A Radio broadcast will also be available via the Golden Eagle Sports Network through FM 106.1 The Eagle and on the internet. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
