Tech softball hosts EIU, SIUE in OVC twinbills

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team is back in action at home this weekend with a pair of Ohio Valley Conference doubleheaders. On Saturday, Tech hosts Eastern Illinois, while the Golden Eagles will entertain SIU Edwardsville on Sunday.

 

Both dates are doubleheaders, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. With inclement weather expected in the Cookeville area this weekend, the schedule could be subject to change.

 

Coming into this weekend, Tech (15-25, 7-5 OVC) finds itself in fifth place, two games back of Eastern Illinois (25-17, 9-3 OVC) and three back of SIUE (35-8, 10-2 OVC). Jacksonville State maintains a slim lead for the conference crown at 32-9, 11-1. The top eight in the league advance to the conference tournament in May, with Belmont (29-14, 5-7 OVC) holding the last spot at the moment.

 

As a team, EIU is batting .283, driving in 164 runs and hitting 22 home runs. The Panthers have four batters hitting over .300 and one hovering near that mark. Taylor Monahan is leading the team with a .372 average, while Haley Mitchell and Amber Toenyes each have a team-high 27 RBI. Toenyes also leads the team with eight home runs.

 

In the circle, Jessica Wireman has pulled together a 14-9 record with a 2.15 ERA, walking 56 and striking out 139. Opponents are hitting .234 against her. Michelle Rogers also brings a solid No. 2 option as she has a 2.67 ERA with a 9-8 record, 34 walks and 74 strikeouts.

 

The Panthers split last weekend against UT Martin, then defeated Fort Wayne 1-0 in a midweek contest.

 

For SIUE, the Cougars are hitting .280 as a team and have outscored its opponents 204-93. They have driven in 182 runs and hit 23 home runs.

 

Zoe Schafer leads the team in batting average with a .354 clip, with Allison Smiley just behind at .353. The pair also leads the team in RBI as Smiley has driven in 34 runs, Schafer 27, while Schafer also has 70 total bases on the season, with 67 for Alyssa Heren.

 

In the circle, Haley Chambers-Book has continued to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the conference, posting a 21-5 record with a 1.23 ERA in 28 appearances. She has 20 complete games and eight shutouts to go along with her 165 innings of work. She has walked 35 and struck out 212 with opponents hitting .187 against her.

 

The No. 2 option, Emily Ingles, also has incredible numbers. Ingles has an 8-3 record with a 2.41 ERA, throwing three shutouts with 16 walks and 112 strikeouts. Batters are hitting .205 against her.

 

The Cougars dropped decisions to Belmont and UT Martin in league play and have won eight of their last 10 games.

 

Tech is 5-5 in its last five games, dropping a twinbill to Samford, splitting against Murray State and earning a run-rule win over Chattanooga on Wednesday.

 

As a team, Tech is hitting .235, driving in 125 runs and hitting 40 home runs. The Golden Eagles have been outscored 189-139 this season.

 

Leading the way is Aalia Bivens, who has a .310 average with 14 RBI. Alyssa Richards (.274) has a team-high 20 RBI, while Bivens and Kelly Kennedy lead the team in home runs hit with seven each.

 

In the circle, Danielle Liberatore (7-8, 3.24 ERA) leads Tech as she has recorded 54 walks and 140 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .252 against her. Leigh Ellen Thomas (6-11, 4.23 ERA), Kayla Hughes (1-3, 3.00 ERA) and Taylor Waldrop (1-3, 5.11 ERA) are also options for this weekend.

 

All games at the Tech Softball Field are free to the public. Fans can follow along with live stats on TTUsports.com and can also follow along with the action on the team's Twitter feed -- @TTU_Softball.