By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will close the book on the home portion of its schedule this weekend as the Golden Eagles entertain Tennessee State for a three-game set with a Saturday doubleheader and a single game on Sunday.
First pitch for both days is set at 1 p.m. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Sunday will also be Senior Day for three members of the Golden Eagle team as Haeli Bryson and Sydney Dukes will be honored, as well as recognition for Callie Piper, who returned for her final season of eligibility after being honored last season.
The Golden Eagles (5-40, 1-17 Ohio Valley Conference) still show some signs of life in the chase for the OVC tournament field, standing four games and percentage points back from Lindenwood (5-12 OVC) for the final spot. The Lions are currently in a seven-game losing streak with Eastern Illinois (15-2 OVC) and SIUE (6-10 OVC) the last opponents for the Division I newcomers this season.
Tech claimed its first OVC win of the season last week with a 3-0 victory over the Cougars, but the numbers last week showed signs of progress for the Golden Eagles' pitching staff. Going 2-3 with wins over ETSU and SIUE, Tech saw its earned run average for the week at 3.03 with Kaylan Cole picking up two victories in the circle to go along with a 1.24 ERA. In the SIUE series alone, Tech had a 1.84 ERA and held the Cougars to a .288 batting average.
In contrast, Tech has a season ERA of 8.18 with opponents hitting .360, the numbers dropping to a 6.46 ERA and a .345 batting average in league play.
Tennessee State comes into the series with a 16-23-1 record overall, 7-10 in the conference. The Tigers had a hot start in league play, winning their first four games with a sweep over Lindenwood and handing Southeast Missouri its only conference loss thus far this season.
Since then, the Tigers have gone 1-2 against the Redhawks, UT Martin, SIUE and Southern Indiana with Eastern Illinois taking the three-game sweep. TSU finishes its regular-season next week at home against Morehead State.
As a team, the Tigers are batting .236 with 135 RBI and 17 home runs, just slightly outscored 161-150. TSU has seven players with double-digit RBI. Onnika Spencer leads the team in production with 24 RBI, 18 runs scored and a .288 average. Ryla Taylor has the team's top average at .301 to go along with 20 RBI and three homers, while Nahtali Simpson (.258) leads the team in runs scored with 23.
In the circle, TSU has a staff ERA of 4.28, walking 75 and striking out 118. Caitlyn Manus (3.83, 12-13) leads the Tigers with 51 walks and 77 strikeouts across 145 2/3 innings, while Holly Ayala has three wins, 24 walks and 41 strikeouts.
Tech, meanwhile, is batting .230 as a team with 109 RBI and 12 home runs, outscored 365-123. Bryson leads the Golden Eagles with a .302 batting average with 25 RBI and 18 runs scored. Abby Shoulders has a .286 average with a team-best 22 runs scored and nine stolen bases. Carmen Betts has 15 RBI, while Shoulders and Nicolle Nysted each have 11 RBI.
In the circle, Tech has a cumulative ERA of 8.18, walking 237 and striking out 102. Piper (2-17) has a 7.42 ERA, while Cole (3-13) has a 7.86 mark.
The Golden Eagles will conclude the regular season next week on the road at OVC newcomer Southern Indiana.
