By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A memorable chapter of the 2015 campaign will come to a close over the weekend, as the Tennessee Tech softball team will play its final regular season games at Tech Softball Field. On Saturday, the Golden Eagles (24-21, 11-6) will clash with Austin Peay in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. CT, before Tech will welcome in Murray State for a Sunday twin bill, also starting at noon.
Saturday's double dip promises to be an afternoon to remember, as the Golden Eagles will say goodbye to seniors Hannah Eldridge, Christian Gibbs, Taylor Ketchum, Angi Sakamoto, Erica Tuck, and Mekenzie Weems, with a special Senior Day ceremony in between both games.
All four weekend tilts will be broadcast live on the Golden Eagle Sports Network via the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.
Tech comes into the quartet of contests having won four of its previous five OVC matchups thanks to a twin bill sweep over first-place SIU Edwardsville on Apr. 5, and a series win over Jacksonville State that saw TTU capture two out of three from Apr. 11-12.
The torrid stretch catapulted the Golden Eagles into sole possession of third place in the conference, sitting just a game back of Murray State for second, and three back of SIUE for first.
Junior Sabrie Neeb comes into the crucial conference weekend on a lights out pace at the dish of late, hitting .500 (9-18) with seven extra-base hits over the last six games. Fellow junior Olivia Bennett continues to show off her long ball prowess, leading the OVC with 13 home runs after drilling a pair in Tech's last home game, Apr. 12 against Jacksonville State.
Neeb and Bennett help make up a lineup that currently sits atop the conference with 45 home runs, six ahead of JSU. Sophomore Alyssa Richards, who has hit seven out of the yard, and senior Hannah Eldridge, who has smacked five, are tied for the team lead with a .333 batting average as well.
From inside the circle, sophomore Danielle Liberatore (13-8) highlights the Tech pitching staff, posting a miniscule 1.00 ERA in 69 2/3 conference innings this season. Overall, the 5-foot-10 southpaw sports a 2.11 ERA on the year, and her 183 strikeouts in 149 innings of work rank second in the OVC.
Examining Tech's Weekend Competition:
Austin Peay (8-26, 4-11): Saturday will mark the first road action for the Governors since Apr. 1, having played seven straight games in Clarksville. APSU enters the twin bill on a five-game losing streak, the last three of which came against SIU Edwardsville in the Govs most recent time on the diamond, Apr. 11-12. Junior Niya Sparks leads the club with a .329 batting average, while her seven home runs are tied for tops on the team with sophomore Christiana Gable, who has also paved the APSU way with 28 RBI. Tech has controlled the all-time series with Austin Peay, seizing 68 of the previous 87 matchups.
Murray State (25-14, 12-5): Sunday's double dip features two of the conference's top three teams, with Tech and Murray State separated by just one game for second place. The Racers lead the OVC in team-batting average (.315), slugging percentage (.480), and runs scored (220), while also boasting the conference's leading hitter in sophomore Jessica Twaddle (.434). Murray State leads the all-time series, 8-5.