By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Alyssa Arden was just two outs away from her fourth career no-hitter, leading Belmont 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning during Friday's second game. However, the Bruins spoiled that and more, going on to sweep the Golden Eagles in the twinbill.
Elison Ollinger hit a solo home run to break up the no-hit bid, then drove in two more in the eighth inning as the Bruins earned a 5-1 victory in eight innings in game one. She finished the night with five RBI as she also had a two-run home run in the first inning of game two.
After the Golden Eagles tied the game in the second inning, the Bruins struck for nine runs in the top of the fifth inning as Belmont collected seven straight hits and tallied nine total in the frame to force the run rule in the nightcap, topping Tech 13-4.
Arden took the tough-luck loss in game one. Despite issuing six walks through the first six frames, she didn't allow a hit until the top of the seventh – the first being the Ollinger solo shot. Then Arden saw six more hits create four runs in the eighth inning as Ollinger and Kathryn Flowers each had a two-run single.
The Tech starter fell to 13-6 on the season, allowing five earned runs on seven hits, walking and striking out seven each.
Tech's lone run came in the bottom of the fourth as Haeli Bryson led off the frame with a solo home run to left. The Golden Eagles had a chance in the bottom of the seventh as Sydney Dukes was hit by a pitch, Kaylan Cole doubled and Mackenzie Fitzgerald was walked to load the bases, but Tech was unable to get the walk-off run across.
Emma Summers improved to 8-6 on the year, allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out eight.
An Abi Ledbetter sacrifice fly put Belmont up 1-0 in the first, then Ollinger's two-run homer made it 3-0. Tech answered with two runs in the home half as Abby Buettner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, then Sydney Love-Baker's grounder led to a fielder's choice as Belmont erased Bryson heading to third as Carmen Betts came home to score.
Belmont (21-11, 12-4 OVC) added a single run in the second as Cheyenne Cavanaugh had an RBI single up the middle to plate Emily Cockrill, then Tech tied the game at four as Betts hit a two-run home run.
After back-to-back singles for Kristen Green and Alicia Veltri, Tyler Erwin saw her first outing in the game come to a close in favor of Bryson. In relief, Bryson faced the next four batters, allowing four runs on four hits without coaxing an out. Erwin was brought back in and immediately saw an Audrey Lyle RBI double, then back-to-back home runs by Cavanaugh and Kristen Green.
When the dust settled, Belmont plated nine runs on nine hits in the inning, stranding one.
Erwin took the loss, allowing nine runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings of work, walking one and striking out another. Callie Piper closed out the contest, walking one and striking out one in two-thirds of a frame.
The Golden Eagles (26-13, 9-7 OVC) return to action on Saturday to close out the series with Belmont with a single game slated for 2 p.m., weather permitting.
