Tennessee Tech completes its run to OVC softball title

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech got another strong pitching performance from Lori Bayless as the Eaglettes concluded a romp through the Ohio Valley Conference softball tournament.

Host Tech, the regular-season champion and No. 1 seed, rolled past second-seeded Eastern Kentucky 7-1 Saturday to claim the title and earn an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

The Eaglettes (41-14) went 3-0 in the tournament and outscored their opponents 20-1.

After pitching a two-hitter Thursday and a no-hitter Friday, Bayless limited EKU to four hits through six innings Saturday.

Bayless was the tournament MVP and one of six Tech players picked for the 12-player all-tournament team.

Southeast Missouri State University, which went 3-2 in the six-team tournament to finish third, had two all-tournament selections in senior Brooke Nett and junior Alana Bagby-Leonard.