By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—Classes are coming to a close, and so is the Tennessee Tech softball regular season as the Golden Eagles (22-29, 13-11 OVC) close out conference-play versus Eastern Kentucky (33-14, 15-7 OVC) with a three-game series on Saturday-Sunday.
The Colonels travel to Cookeville, tied for second in the OVC. Eastern Kentucky most recently fell to undefeated Jacksonville State in a two-day, two-game series. As a team, the Colonels are second in the OVC in team batting with a .295 batting average and second in team pitching with a 2.49 ERA.
Individually, sophomore Paige Murphy is leading Eastern Kentucky with a .394 batting average (ranked second amongst OVC players). Thus far this season, Murphy has totaled 16 RBI, one homerun, and eight doubles, while also notching 40 runs, which ranks her first in the conference. The sophomore is also quick on her feet, as she has successfully completed 21-of her-24 stolen base attempts.
Another key offensive player on the Colonel lineup is senior Kayla Joyce. Joyce is the second leading batter on the EKU team with a .363 batting average. This year, she has posted 19 RBI, two homeruns, one triple, and 10 doubles. Joyce also leads the team in stolen bases, reaching on 25-of her-29 attempts. In the OVC, the senior is ranked second in hits (57), fourth in batting average, and first in stolen bases.
In the circle, the Colonels look to senior Hayley Flynn to get the job done. Flynn maintains a 23-7 record on the season with a 1.98 ERA. Over her 180.2 innings pitched, the right-handed pitcher has thrown seven complete games, including one shutout, while also notching one save. Flynn has tallied an OVC-high 229 strikeouts on the season, while walking just 63 batters. In conference play, Flynn holds a 10-3 record from the circle with a 1.43 ERA.
As a team, Tech is ranked ninth in the conference in both batting (.248) and pitching (4.50). Senior Sabrie Neeb continues to lead the Golden Eagles with a .309 batting average. Neeb has totaled 25 RBI, six homeruns, one triple, and eight doubles on the season. Power-hitter Alyssa Richards is ranked fourth on the team in batting average (.246), however, she leads the team with a .500 slugging percentage. Richards leads Tech with 31 RBI and 10 homeruns on the season, while also notching four doubles for extra bases. In conference, the junior is tied for first in homeruns and tied for sixth in RBI.
Junior Danielle Liberatore continues to impress from the circle with her 14-12 record and 2.92 ERA on the season. Over her 148.2 innings, the southpaw has thrown 15 complete games, including four shutouts, while also notching three saves on the year. Liberatore has retired 210 batters at the dish, while walking 70 and holding her opponents to a .234 batting average. Liberatore's 210 strikeouts this season rank her second in conference and 14th in the NCAA. In conference play alone, Liberatore holds a 9-5 record from the circle, while maintaining a 1.57 ERA.
Currently, the Golden Eagles lead the series over the Colonels 55-34. Tech also most recently defeated Eastern Kentucky in the 2015 OVC Tournament, when the Golden Eagles topped the Colonels 11-3.
Tech and Eastern Kentucky will kick off the series on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and then round out play on Sunday with a rubber-game at 1 p.m. at the Tech Softball Field. This weekend is also Senior Weekend for the five Golden Eagle seniors on the team. They will be honored in between games on Saturday for their contributions to the team while representing the Purple and Gold.
You can follow the Tech softball team online on the TTU Sports Facebook page, or on Twitter at @TTU_Softball and @TTUGoldenEagles.
