COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Danielle Liberatore recorded 17 strikeouts, picked up a win and was credited with a save in a dominating pitching performance to lead Tennessee Tech (9-17, 2-0) to a pair of 3-2 victories over Southeast Missouri (15-12, 0-2) Saturday.
 
Liberatore recorded a season-high 16 strikeouts in a complete game gem during the first contest. She tossed six shutout innings in that game. Liberatore then came on to get the final two outs in the nightcap after SEMO threatened with runners on first and second.
 
The Golden Eagles put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning and that was all Liberatore needed.
 
Gabby Perez reached on an error and advanced to second on an ensuing single by Gabby LaSala. On the next play, Bayli Cruz hit Alexis Estes' offering over the left field wall to grab TTU a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Redhawks answered with a home run of their own, a two-run shot by Abby Tillotson. Tillotson's third homer of the season cleared the center field fence to narrow TTU's lead to 3-2.
 
That was the only scoring for both teams, as SEMO left eight runners on base.
 
Estes (5-3) had a rocky start, giving up three runs on two hits in just one-third of an inning. Mackenzie Hoelting threw 5.2 scoreless innings, struck out four and allowed only two hits in relief.
 
Liberatore (3-6) scattered five hits and faced 31 hitters. She walked five, as well.
 
Cruz went 2-for-3 to lead TTU, while Rachel Anderson led the Redhawks paced the Redhawks with two hits.
 
In game two, SEMO struck first when Brooke Rheinecker scored on a wild pitch and Anderson singled through the right side to score Mykaela Arellanes, putting the Redhawks ahead, 2-0, in the top of the first.
 
Kelly Kennedy tied the game with a one-out, two-RBI double in the bottom of the second inning. Alyssa Richards and Hallie Davis both scored on the play.
 
A leadoff solo home run by Aalia Bivens proved to be the decisive score in the bottom of the fifth.
 
SEMO brought the heart of its order to the plate in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Anderson reached on an infield single and Parker Bandy followed with a flair that fell for a single in left field. Liberatore then entered the game and struck out Sarah Messex and got Tillotson to fly out to center to shut down the Redhawks.
 
Leigh Thomas (4-8) struck out eight, gave up 12 hits and allowed two runs to get the win. Liberatore nailed down her first save of the season.
 
Madeline Krumrey (9-3) suffered the loss. Krumrey went the distance, giving up three runs on seven hits. She also struck out five and walked one.
 
SEMO outhit TTU, 12-7, in the nightcap with Rheinecker, Arellanes, Anderson, Bandy and Riley Hayes all contributing two hits.
 
The Redhawks struck out a total of 25 times and left 18 runners on base in their doubleheader against the Golden Eagles.
 
SEMO, which has lost five in a row, heads to preseason-Ohio Valley Conference favorite Jacksonville State for a doubleheader Sunday.