KENNESAW, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech softball team gets set for its final non-conference tournament of the regular season this weekend as the Golden Eagles head to Georgia to compete in the Owl Challenge, hosted by Kennesaw State.

 

Tech (4-15) faced the Owls earlier this season while competing in the Chattanooga Challenge in February, falling 3-0. Danielle Liberatore was tagged for three runs on eight hits in the contest as she walked none and struck out four. The Golden Eagles were held to two hits.

 

Kennesaw State (16-5) is currently on a six-game winning streak, including a pair of victories against Belmont (5-4 and 7-1) on Wednesday.

 

Senior Courtney Sutter (.439) and junior Noelle Winkles (.393) have each driven in 20 runs, while freshman Olivia Tamewitz (.515) has 19 RBIs. Through 21 games, the Owls have hit 22 home runs, driven in 118 runs and scored 132. As a team, KSU is hitting .334.

 

In the circle, freshman Alley Cutting has been leading the way with a 7-2 record in nine starts with a 1.57 earned run average in 53 1/3 innings of work. She has a team-high 76 strikeouts. Senior Logan Viers (5-2, 1.75) and junior Abigail Green (3-1, 3.13) have also seen a lion's share of the innings so far.

 

But Tech will open up the weekend's action with one of two contests against East Tennessee State this weekend, a team the Golden Eagles will also see twice next weekend in Johnson City.

 

The Buccaneers (8-10) have a trio of players with double-digit RBI tallies, led by Taylor Carter (.373, 38 RBI), Danielle Knoetze (.392, 13 RBI) and Tiffany Laughren (.418, 11 RBI). As a team, ETSU has hit 12 home runs, driven in 76 runs and scored 85. As a team, the Bucs are hitting .269.

 

The Bucs went 0-3 in their home tournament last weekend, falling twice to St. John's (10-2 in five innings and 7-6) and once to Morehead State (7-6 in eight innings).

 

Madison Ogle (3-5, 3.15), Sharlene Godoy (2-1, 3.44) and Lindsey Fadnek (1-1, 3.92) have been the leading pitchers for ETSU.

 

Also on the slate for the Golden Eagles this weekend is a pair of games against Michigan State. The Spartans are 13-4 so far this season, with a game scheduled this afternoon at Georgia State. MSU went 2-2 last week in the Georgia Bulldog Invitational, beating UNC-Wilmington and Central Connecticut but falling to the host Bulldogs twice.

 

Michigan State also collected a 7-3 victory over Georgia Tech on Wednesday.

 

The Spartans have six players with double-digit RBI totals, led by Ebonee Echols (.315) with 20. Lea Foerster, close behind with 18, is hitting a scorching .490 with 26 runs scored and 54 total bases. She also has five home runs on the season.

 

MSU is hitting .336 with 23 home runs and 114 RBI with 118 runs scored.

 

In the circle, Bridgette Rainey (6-3, 2.78), Jordan Watson (5-1, 3.34) and Celeste Wood (2-0, 4.72) have picked up victories for the Spartans.

 

Tech, in the meantime, is coming off of a long road trip to Stillwater, Okla., in the Mizuno Classic, going 0-5 against Oklahoma State, Northern Iowa and Abilene Christian.

 

Gabby LaSala leads the Golden Eagles at the plated with a .244 average and 10 RBI, while Hallie Davis (.241) has a team-high 11 runs scored, 11 RBI and 30 total bases. As a team, Tech is batting .199 with 49 RBI with 20 home runs and 55 runs scored.

 

Danielle Liberatore (2-6, 4.17), Taylor Waldrop (1-2, 4.14) and Leigh Ellen Thomas (1-7, 5.17) have seen the bulk of the action in the circle for the Golden Eagles.

 

Fans can follow along with the action on TTUsports.com or via the team's Twitter feed -- @TTU_Softball.