By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.—The Tennessee Tech softball team (14-24, 5-9 OVC) rounded out weekend play splitting games with Southeast Missouri (12-22, 6-8 OVC) in Sunday doubleheader action. The Golden Eagles defeated the Redhawks in game one 3-2, but fell in game two 5-2.
Alyssa Richards came out swinging in game one, launching a two-run homerun to left center to start the day off strong. Danielle Liberatore (9-11) made things difficult for Southeast Missouri, not allowing the first hit of the game until the bottom of the fourth, when the Redhawk's Wheeler doubled to left center. Later on in the inning, SEMO took advantage of a Tech fielding error to drive in Wheeler and close in on the Golden Eagle lead 2-1.
The Redhawks continued to keep the game interesting into the bottom of the sixth when SEMO's Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 2-2. However, Tech remained confident and came back in the top of the seventh to score one more run and take the 3-2 lead off of a Redhawk wild pitch.
Liberatore saw victory for the Golden Eagles pitching all seven innings and tying her season-high 13 strikeouts. She allowed two runs (only one earned) off of three hits and walked just one. Madeline Krumrey (5-9) suffered the loss pitching 6.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) off of five hits, while striking out five and walking two.
Game two, didn't go as Tech had hoped. The Golden Eagles again got on the board right away off of a Richards solo-homerun to left center, however, the Redhawks came back right away in the bottom of the first taking the 3-1 lead off of a Carpenter three-run homerun to center field. SEMO added one more in the top of the third to extend its lead to 4-1, before a Sarah Freels solo-homerun to left field cut the Redhawk lead to 4-2. SEMO rounded out their 5-2 victory by taking advantage of Golden Eagle fielding error to drive in another runner.
Taylor Waldrop (0-2) suffered the loss for Tech pitching three innings and allowing five runs (four earned) off of six hits and striking out one while walking none. Haley Thogmartin (7-8) was victorious in the circle for the Redhawks pitching all seven innings and allowing two runs off of nine hits and striking out four while walking none.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Wednesday at 6 p.m. when they continue their road-stand at Western Kentucky.
