By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Sydney Love-Baker had a four-RBI game for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Saturday, but the Belmont squad completed the three-game sweep with a 14-5 run-rule victory.
Tech fell to 26-14, 9-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Belmont improved to 22-11, 13-4 in the league. The Golden Eagles return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Chattanooga for a 4:30 p.m.
Belmont's offense picked right up where it left off from Friday's doubleheader, collecting 14 runs on 11 hits – including eight runs in the second inning to chase off starter Alyssa Arden. The Tech ace was tagged for eight runs on four hits in an inning and a third, walking five Bruins batters and striking out two to see her season record fall to 13-9.
Tyler Erwin pitched the remaining 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs – five earned – on seven hits, walking four and striking out one.
Emma Barnes and Kaley Varner each led Belmont with 2-for-3 efforts at the plate, both driving in three runs.
Emma Summers claimed her ninth victory of the season, allowing five runs – just two earned – on five hits, walking two and striking out four.
The Bruins scored two runs in the top of the first as Green drove in Cheyenne Cavanaugh with a single to left, then Green came home on an Abi Ledbetter single up the middle. Tech tied the game in the home half of the frame as a throwing error trying to get Haeli Bryson allowed Mackenzie Fitzgerald to score, then Carmen Betts came home on Love-Baker's bunt single back to the circle.
Following two walks, Cavanaugh doubled in Audrey Lyle and put runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly drove in Baie Ensio, Alicia Veltri walked, then Ledbetter reached on a fielder's choice back to Arden as the Tech hurler held Cavanaugh at third, loading the bases.
Emma Barnes hit a single to center field and advanced to second as Tech tried to get the runners, but it gave Cavanaugh and pinch-runner Savannah Halterman enough room to score. Following the pitching switch to Erwin, a sacrifice fly for Emily Cockrill, a Kaley Varner double and a two-run home run for Lyle added four more runs to make it a 10-2 lead midway through the second.
Belmont added four more tallies in the top of the fifth as Barnes and Gabrielle Givers had RBI singles, then Varner drove in two more with a double to left.
Tech got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth as Betts and Bryson came home on Love-Baker's three-run home run. However, the Bruins were able to get out of the inning with no further damage, enacting the run rule for the second straight game.
After the midweek contest against Chattanooga, the Golden Eagles return to conference play next weekend as they hit the road to take on Tennessee State.
Photo | Emily Armstrong
