By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech softball team (12-21, 3-6 OVC) opened their eight-game road stand falling twice to OVC opponent Belmont (11-23, 4-5 OVC). The Golden Eagles and Bruins opened their three-game series in a dramatic fashion with Belmont notching two runs in the bottom of the seventh to edge out a game one victory over Tech 4-3. Then, a Bruin six-run fourth inning tied the game at 7-7 to keep things interesting in game two of the series, before Belmont notched one more in the bottom of the sixth to squeeze out another victory 8-7.
Tech scored first in game one when Gabby Perez singled to get on base and then senior Sabrie Neeb came up to the dish and doubled to left field, driving in Perez. Olivia Bennett then followed up with a two-run homerun to center field to round out a Tech 3-0 lead after the top of the fourth. Belmont came back in the bottom of the sixth to threaten the Golden Eagle lead when the Bruin's Amy Zeronian singled down the left field line to score two runs and pull within one point at 3-2. In the bottom of the seventh, Belmont put up another threat with runners on second and third with just one out. Danielle Liberatore retired the next batter at the plate, however, a Tech fielding error allowed two more Bruin runs to score and edge out the 4-3 victory over the Golden Eagles.
Liberatore (7-10) suffered the loss, allowing four runs off six hits while striking out 11 and walking two. Carolyn Snodgress (2-6) got the win for Belmont pitching two innings and allowing no runs off of two hits and striking out two while walking one.
Tech started off in game two with a solo homerun by Alyssa Richards in the top of the second. Tech continued their scoring drive in the inning when Thomas singled to left field putting the Golden Eagles ahead 2-0. Belmont go on the board in the bottom of the second when a tech throwing error allowed a Bruin runner to advance home and cut the Golden Eagle lead to 2-1.
Then into the top of the third, senior Cortney Fry kept Tech's scoring run going when she hit a 2-RBI double to left center, extending the Golden Eagle lead to 4-1. Tech then continued to add on runs in the top of the fourth, when freshman Gabby LaSala opened the inning with a solo homerun, the first of her career, to right field. Later on in the inning with one down and two on, Neeb doubled to right field to notch one more Tech run. Richards then came to the dish and hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Perez and round out a 7-1 lead after the top of the fourth.
Belmont came back in the bottom of the fourth to notch six runs and tie the game at 7-7 when Kayla Wells hit a 2-RBI double to right field, and then Hayley Baker followed up with a double down the left field line. Later on Rouse then singled to left field to drive in two Bruin runners and then Zeronian singled down the right field line to round out the inning. Belmont then knocked in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth with a Bruin single up the middle to win game two 8-7.
Weaver (2-5) suffered the loss pitching three innings and allowing five runs off of seven hits. Rouse (3-4) got the win for Belmont, pitching three innings and allowing no runs on no hits.
The Golden Eagles will close out the series versus Belmont on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Nashville.
