By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team wrapped up its road slate on Sunday, taking away a split at Belmont.
The Golden Eagles fell 4-3 in the first game, then held on to take a 7-5 victory in the nightcap.
The Bruins (26-17, 8-8 OVC) pulled out the victory in the bottom of the seventh in game one as Audrey Lyle hit an RBI single to right center, driving in Cameryn Strother for the walk-off win.
Beth McCulley and Raegan Sparks both went 2-for-3 as the Golden Eagles collected three runs on eight hits.
Tech scored two runs in the third as Jessie Lowery scored on a throwing error at third, then Sydney Love-Baker drove in Beth McCulley on a single to left.
Belmont tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, then Tech retook a slim advantage in the sixth as Raegan Sparks hit a solo home run to left. The Bruins knotted the game once more in the bottom of the sixth as Elison Ollinger hit an RBI triple to right center.
Alyssa Arden (11-9) took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking five and striking out five.
Alicia Veltri (12-7) earned the win, allowing three runs – two earned – on eight hits, while walking one and striking out six.
In game two, the Golden Eagles led 6-1 and held off a late rally to earn the victory. Gabby LaSala was 4-for-4 in the contest with three RBI and two runs scored, while Love-Baker also collected multiple hits as she went 2-for-4.
Kayla Hughes (4-5) earned the complete-game victory, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out eight.
LaSala drove in Tech's first run in the second as she hit a single up the middle to drive in Ashley McGowan. Belmont tied the game with a single run in the third.
The Golden Eagles then scored two runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth. LaSala drove the two in the fourth with a two-run home run to right, while Love-Baker and Sparks hit back-to-back homers in the fifth, then Hallie Davis collected an RBI single to left, driving in Alexis Trimiar.
Belmont scored two in the sixth to make it a 6-3 Tech lead, then the Golden Eagles added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with Lowery's RBI single up the middle to drive in LaSala.
The Bruins attempted to rally in the seventh, driving in two, but was held there as Hughes finished off the contest with a strikeout.
Tech returns home for its final non-conference games of the regular season with a doubleheader visit from Western Kentucky on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.
