By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

 

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A tough non-conference schedule and an always-tough Ohio Valley Conference slate awaits the Tennessee Tech softball team as the Golden Eagles get set to open play on Feb. 10.

 

"It feels like it gets here quicker every year," said TTU head coach Bonnie Bynum Graham, "but we're excited to get going."

 

Included on the preliminary 50-game schedule are five tournaments before the conference slate begins, including games against Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga, UConn, Oklahoma State and Michigan State.

 

"It's always challenging, but I feel like we do ourselves a justice when we go out and play tougher teams," Graham said. "We set ourselves up for what's going to come ahead in conference play, so I'm excited about the preseason."

 

The tournaments include events at Georgia Southern, Chattanooga, South Alabama, Oklahoma State and Kennesaw State.

 

Tech will also have a two-game away series at East Tennessee State, as well as a single game against Lipscomb in non-conference action.

 

The Golden Eagles open the season at the Eagle Round Robin tournament at Georgia Southern, facing UNC Greensboro and Tennessee on the first day, then taking on Middle Tennessee and the host Eagles

 

The OVC schedule will be different this season as the league has abandoned the previous format and gone to doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. This new setup will give the Golden Eagles home matches against Southeast Missouri (March 25), UT Martin (March 26), Austin Peay (April 1), Eastern Illinois (April 22), SIU Edwardsville (April 23) and Jacksonville State (May 5).

 

"I think that will be good, honestly," Graham said. "It will make for some shorter weekends. It will give us a chance to have an actual day off instead of a Monday day off like we usually take where the kids are in class all day. I think actually being able to take a day off to recover will be good for us."

 

The Golden Eagles open league play at home with the SEMO, UTM and APSU series, then travel to Tennessee State (April 8), Belmont (April 9) and Murray State (April 14). After a homestand with EIU and SIUE, Tech will then take the swing through Eastern Kentucky (April 29) and Morehead State (April 30) before returning home to close out the OVC slate with JSU.

 

"I look for us to be at the top this year," Graham said. "Last year, I feel like we stumbled a little bit, but we're ready to get back on top this year."

 

The conference tournament will be held on May 10-13 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.

 

Admission to all home games is free. For more information, visit www.ttusports.com.