COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will put the 2012 season into motion this weekend when it opens play at the Seminole Classic, being hosted by Florida State University.

Coach Tory Acheson’s Golden Eagles get the tournament underway by playing in the first game of the weekend. Tech will face Mississippi at 9 a.m. CT Friday, then close the first day’s action with a 3:30 p.m. contest against Stephen F. Austin.

On Saturday, Tech is scheduled to meet the host Seminoles at 11:15 a.m. CT.  All games after that will be determined by results of the earlier contests.

The Golden Eagles will be facing Ole Miss for the fourth time. Tech owns a 2-1 mark against the Rebels, including a 4-3 victory at the Buzz Classic in 2010, the most recent meeting between the two squads.  Ole Miss went 14-39 overall last year and is tabbed for a sixth place showing this year in the challenging Southeastern Conference Western Division race.

The game with Stephen F. Austin will be the first meeting between the two schools in softball. The Ladyjacks were 14-36 last year, and have been picked to finish ninth this year in the Southland Conference.

Tech trails Florida State, 3-1, in the all-time series. FSU claimed a 9-8 slugfest at the NFCA Lead-Off Classic in Atlanta early in the 2007 season, the last time the two teams tangled. Florida State was 32-28 a year ago and has been picked for a third-place finish this year in the tough Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Golden Eagles were 22-26 overall last year, and will be led by three seniors (shown in photo above, from left outfielder Brooke Basten, pitcher/first baseman Whitney Cummings and pitcher Holly Thomas).

Fans who aren’t lucky enough to be in the Sunshine State this weekend to follow the Golden Eagles can keep up with the action via Live Stats provided by FSU.  Links will be available on TTUsports.com.

Complete stats and reviews of all the games will be posted on TTUsports.com at the end of each day of competition.