By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
BATON ROUGE, La.—A six-run fifth inning and a one-hit shutout against Liberty (7-10) highlighted day one of the LSU Invitational for the Tennessee Tech softball team (4-11, 0-0 OVC). The Golden Eagles kicked things in the tournament with a 7-0 victory over the Lady Flames, but then fell in the nightcap to No. 5 LSU (16-2) 8-0.
Tech started things off in the top of the fifth when Sabrie Neeb hit an RBI single to left center to drive in Madison Taylor leaving bases loaded with one out. Next, Thomas came to the plate and crushed a two-RBI single to right field, giving the Golden Eagles the 3-0 lead. After a quick Lady Flame pitching change, Bayli Cruse continued the Tech scoring run hitting a single to the shortstop advancing Thomas and driving in Neeb. Alyssa Richards then walked to reload the bases and bring Olivia Bennett up to the plate. Once again, Liberty made a pitching change back to their original starter, Chase Cassady, and Bennett hit a pop-fly to center field to drive in Thomas and leave two on with two down.
With LaSala up to bat, a fielding error by the Lady Flame's second baseman allowed another Tech runner to score, however, the Golden Eagles scoring run was then brought to an end when Amity Brown attempted to steal third but was picked-off and the Golden Eagles headed into the bottom of the fifth with a 6-0 advantage over Liberty. Tech added one more in the top of the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Neeb to center field to complete the Golden Eagle's 7-0 shutout.
Danielle Liberatore (2-5) pitched the shutout for Tech going for all seven innings while allowing only one hit and striking out 13 and walking four. Cassady (4-4) suffered the loss for the Lady Flames, going six innings while allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out three and walking three.
Against LSU, the Tigers wasted no time starting things off in the bottom of the first when Sahvanna Jaquish hit an RBI double to left center. LSU notched four more in the bottom of the second when Sydney Bourg hit an RBI-triple to right center and then the Tiger's Sandra Simmons hit a single to center field to knock in Bourg. LSU continued its scoring run when a Tiger RBI-single to the shortstop drove in Simmons and a fielder's choice to get a runner out at third brought in another LSU runner leaving one on with two down. A walk followed by a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, however, Tech's defense held on and a LSU pop-fly to right field helped get the Golden Eagles out of the second inning, the Tigers leading 5-0. LSU added one more in the bottom of the fourth and two in the bottom of the fifth to round out an 8-0 Tiger victory.
Hannah Weaver (1-2) suffered the loss going for 4.2 innings and giving up 8 runs on 13 hits while walking three. Sydney Smith (4-0) saw victory on the mound for the Tigers going all five innings and allowing no hits while striking out six.
The Golden Eagles will continue action on day two of the LSU Invitational on Saturday when they compete against Memphis at noon followed by a 2:30 p.m. contest against Louisiana Tech.
