By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team lost a heartbreaker on Sunday afternoon to close out the Chattanooga Challenge as the Golden Eagles took the lead in the top of the seventh inning, only to see Radford dash their hopes for the win with a walkoff home run to fall to the Highlanders 5-4.

Tech (7-3) will return home to take on Northern Iowa for a midweek contest to open the season's action at Tech Softball Field on Wednesday, weather permitting. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. and admission is free.

Mackenzie Fitzgerald went 3-for-4 to lead the Golden Eagles, collecting one of the team's two RBI in the contest. Carmen Betts and Abby Buettner had the other two hits for the Tech nine.

Starting pitcher Haeli Bryson pitched three scoreless innings before the Highlanders were able to strike. Radford hit three home runs in the contest – the first two in the home half of the fourth as Madison Canady and Jordan Moss went yard to end Bryson's day.

The Tech hurler allowed two runs on three hits, walking none and striking out three. Tyler Erwin came on in relief, throwing the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Tech got one of those runs back in the sixth as Betts hit a two-out single up the middle to drive in Fitzgerald, but Radford got another run in the home half of the frame with Cassi Barbato picking up an RBI single.

In the seventh, Fitzgerald drove in Brooklin Richardson on a single to center field, then a wild pitch and a throwing error allowed Shelby Penning and Fitzgerald to score to take a 4-3 lead going to the bottom of the seventh.

Erwin coaxed a flyout for the first out then yielded a walk. Cori McMillan ended the game though, hitting a two-run home run to left field.

Jessie Marvin claimed the victory for Radford, giving up four runs – three earned – on five hits, while walking two and striking out six.