By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
FLORENCE, Ala. – After a weekend in Alabama, the Tennessee Tech softball team will venture on from Montgomery and into Florence on Tuesday for a midweek doubleheader against North Alabama.
First pitch in the twinbill is slated for 12 p.m.
The homestanding Lions, who began its Division I reclassification back in the fall, have performed well thus far, opening the 2019 campaign with a 10-3 record. UNA went 2-0 in its tournament at Tennessee State, topping Portland State 2-1 and Marist 9-0. Two games against East Tennessee State and one against host TSU were washed out by rain this weekend.
UNA is 1-1 against the Ohio Valley Conference so far, knocking off UT Martin 3-2 and falling 2-1 at Jacksonville State. The Lions also have five games scheduled against Austin Peay and two against Murray State on their slate.
Offensively, Veronica Westfall is leading UNA in hitting among batters with more than 30 at-bats, posting a .462 average with 18 hits and nine RBI. Harley Stokes (.282) has driven the most runners in with 11, as well as 11 runs scored, while Lexie Harper (.316) and Meleah Hargett (.262) have also been driven home in double-digit numbers, 12 and 10 respectively. Stokes also has a team-high five home runs.
In the circle, however, the Lions are putting up insane numbers. With five pitchers, the staff ERA stands at 1.71 with two hurlers under the 1.00 mark. Megan Garst has a 0.62 ERA to go along with her 4-1 record. In seven appearances and 34 innings of work, she has walked seven and struck out 48. Sidney Revels has a 2-0 record and a 0.65 ERA, walking eight and striking out 30. Teams are hitting .197 against UNA's staff.
Tech enters the matinee with a 6-5 record, its best start since the 2013 season, after a 3-0 performance at the Alabama State Invitational.
Beth McCulley leads the Golden Eagles at the plate with a .351 batting average, collecting 13 hits. Hallie Davis (.222) and Gabby LaSala (.216) both have a team-high eight RBI, while LaSala leads the team in runs scored with nine. Sydney Love-Baker has a team-high three home runs.
In the circle, freshman Alyssa Arden was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Pitcher of the Week on Monday after going 2-0, including a no-hitter against Alabama State. She has a 3-2 record on the year in six appearances with 19 walks and 26 strikeouts. She did not allow an earned run in two contests last week.
Kayla Hughes (2-1, 4.20) and Haeli Bryson (1-2, 6.22) could also see a start in the twinbill.