By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—On a warm sunny day in Cookeville, the Tennessee Tech softball team (11-19, 3-4 OVC) brought home two victories that were sweeter than the weather. The Golden Eagles swept the Eastern Illinois Panthers 5-1 and then 1-0 in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
Alyssa Richards started off the game strong for Tech with a solo homerun to right field to lead off the bottom of the second. Eastern Illinois made an attempt at a comeback in the top of the fifth when a throwing error on a Panther steal allowed an EIU runner to score and tie the game at 1-1.
However, the Golden Eagles quickly answered the Panther threat in the bottom of the fifth adding two more runs in the bottom of the fifth when freshman Leigh Thomas singled through the right side and Lowery followed up with a sacrifice ground out to the shortstop to score another Tech runner and take the 3-1 lead. Tech continued to tack on more runs in the bottom of the sixth with an Olivia Bennett RBI single up the middle followed by a Bayli Cruse sacrifice fly to right field to round out a 5-1 Golden Eagle victory.
Danielle Liberatore (7-9) was victorious from the circle for Tech pitching the complete seven innings and allowing just one unearned run off of five hits while striking out five and walking one. Jessica Wireman suffered the loss pitching the complete six innings and allowing five runs on six hits and striking out and walking three.
Game two was quieter for both teams with numerous one-two-three innings. Tech's only run of the game from a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Amity Brown.
Hannah Weaver (2-4) pitched the shutout for the Golden Eagles pitching six innings and allowing no runs on three hits while striking out one and walking one, while Liberatore came in the seventh inning with the threat of an EIU runner on first to get the save and strikeout out two runners. Michelle Rogers (2-6) suffered the loss pitching all six innings and allowing just one run on three hits and striking out three while walking two.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Wednesday when they host Lipscomb at 2 p.m. at the Tech softball field.
