Belmont sweeps Tech softball in doubleheader
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team had an early lead against Belmont on Saturday, but after the Bruins put together a six-run inning in the bottom of the fourth, it snowballed against the Golden Eagles as Belmont swept the Saturday twinbill. Belmont (14-23, 10-17 Ohio Valley Conference) run-ruled Tech 10-2 in six innings in game one, then topped the Golden Eagles (18-26, 12-17 OVC) 5-1 in the nightcap for Tech’s sixth straight loss. The two teams meet again on Sunday to close out the series at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 5 | 6 | 0 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team had an early lead against Belmont on Saturday, but after the Bruins put together a six-run inning in the bottom of the fourth, it snowballed against the Golden Eagles as Belmont swept the Saturday twinbill.
Belmont (14-23, 10-17 Ohio Valley Conference) run-ruled Tech 10-2 in six innings in game one, then topped the Golden Eagles (18-26, 12-17 OVC) 5-1 in the nightcap for Tech's sixth straight loss.
The two teams meet again on Sunday to close out the series at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
In game one, the Golden Eagles scored first in the top of the third as Mackenzie Fitzgerald roped a single through the right side of the field for Tech's first hit of the day, bringing home Paxton Grimes – who reached as she was hit by a pitch.
Tech finished with just three hits in the game. The second Golden Eagle run scored in the fifth inning as Raleigh Lewis led off with a solo home run.
However, the damage was already done at that point. Haeli Bryson had a solid first three frames, yielding just one hit. The Bruins had back-to-back singles to open up the bottom of the fourth, then coaxed a pop up to short for the first out. Belmont hit a single to left, and it appeared the lead runner was out on the play at home with the tag applied, but an obstruction call was made against Tech, allowing the run to score.
A sacrifice fly at second in shallow right allowed a run to score, then Belmont hit five consecutive singles before the Golden Eagle defense was able to get out of the frame. The final line score on the inning read six runs on eight hits with no errors and two left on.
Belmont added a run in the fifth on an RBI grounder, then three more in the sixth to enforce the run rule. A one-out triple, a grounder to second, a double and a single led to the runs.
Bryson took the loss, falling to 8-8 on the year as she allowed six runs on nine hits, striking out three. Mackenzie Fitzgerald came on in relief, throwing the final inning and two-thirds, allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out none.
Alex Clesi improved to 5-9 on the season, allowing two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out four.
In game two, Alicia Veltri held the Golden Eagles scoreless until the seventh inning. Alexis Trimiar drove in Sydney Love-Baker with an RBI single, but was thrown out at second trying to stretch the play.
Tech was held to just two hits before that point, Fitzgerald and Jessie Lowery with the other two safeties. Veltri collected the complete-game victory to improve to 6-11, allowing one run on four hits, walking three and striking out two.
Kendall Durard took the loss for the Golden Eagles, allowing five runs on six hits as she walked four and struck out four. She falls to 1-4 on the season.
