By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—A six-run sixth inning highlighted by a three-run double and two home runs gave the Tennessee Tech softball team (12-19, 3-4 OVC) a thrilling, 12-8 victory over Lipscomb (18-17) in the Golden Eagles' mid-week game.
Tech got off to a promising start with Danielle Liberatore in the circle, opening the game by retiring the first four batters at the dish. However, momentum quickly shifted in favor of the Lady Bisons who scored first in the top of the second off of a Golden Eagle error to take a 1-0 lead.
Tech came back in the bottom of the second to notch its first runs of the game off a Gabby LaSala RBI double to right center, followed by an Olivia Bennett two-run home run to now give Tech a 3-1 advantage.
Into the top of the fourth, the Lady Bisons again got their bats going, adding four runs on a two-run single, an RBI triple, and a successful delayed double steal to retake a 5-3 lead.
Bennett opened up the bottom of the fourth to put one more on the board for the Golden Eagles with a solo home run to left center and cut the Lady Bisons lead to 5-4.
Tech and Lipscomb continued to battle into the top of the fifth with the Lady Bisons tallying one more run off of a Khayla Green RBI double to left center. The Golden Eagles kept the faith alive in the bottom of the fifth when Bennett hit a two-run single to tie the game up at 6-6.
Lipscomb then headed into the top of the sixth determined to silence the Golden Eagles attempt at a comeback. The Lady Bisons added two more runs off of a Sarah Higgins two-run home run to right center to give Lipscomb the 8-6 cushion heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Tech soon showed the Lady Bisons that their efforts were not enough to put away the Golden Eagles. With two down in the inning and bases loaded, junior Alyssa Richards stepped up to the dish to perfectly place a ball in the corner of right field by the foul post driving in all three Tech runners with a three-run double that put the Golden Eagles in the lead at 9-8. Neeb followed with a two-run home run to left field, and Bennett then followed suit with a solo home run to center field to round out a strong 12-8 Golden Eagle victory.
Leigh Thomas (3-5) saw victory in the circle, coming in for Hannah Weaver in the top of the fifth, who had initially relieved Liberatore in the top of the fourth. Thomas went for 2 2/3 innings allowing two runs off of two hits, while striking out one and walking one. Tanner Sanders suffered the loss for the Lady Bisons, going for one inning and allowing five runs off of five hits, while walking one and striking out one.
Tech softball will now hit the road for an eight-game road strtch, first traveling to Nashville where they will face OVC opponent Belmont in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday.
