By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information

JACKSONVILLE, Ala.—The Tennessee Tech softball team (8-17, 0-2 OVC) had a rough first day against Jacksonville State (11-12, 2-0 OVC). The Gamecocks topped the Golden Eagles in day one doubleheader action, first defeating Tech 2-1 and then closing out the day with a 5-4 victory.

In game one of the doubleheader, senior Cortney Fry notched Tech's only run in the top of the second inning when she launched a solo homerun to left field. Jacksonville State came back and took the lead at 2-1 when the Gamecocks' Emily Woodruff hit an RBI-triple down the right field line followed by an Ella Denes single to left field to score Woodruff in the bottom of the third and close out a 2-1 victory over Tech.

Danielle Liberatore (5-8) suffered the loss pitching all six innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out five and walking two.

Jacksonville struck first in game two in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to center field. The Gamecocks notched another run in the bottom of the third when Denes hit an RBI-single to center field to drive in a JSU runner. The Golden Eagles scored their first run in the top of the fourth when Alyssa Richards hit an RBI-single to right center.

JSU went on to add three more runs off of two homeruns in the bottom of the fourth to stretch the JSU lead to 5-1. Tech added one more run in the top of the fifth when Ashley McGowan grounded out to first base to advance the runners and drive in a Golden Eagle runner to cut the Gamecock lead to 5-2.

The Golden Eagles continued their scoring drive into the top of the sixth when Richards launched a two-run homerun to center field to close out a Jacksonville State victory 5-4.

Hannah Weaver (1-3) suffered the loss going for three innings and allowing three runs off of five hits. 

The Golden Eagles close out the series against the Gamecocks on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the University Field in Jacksonville, Ala.