By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team begins its plans toward success in the spring, with the unveiling of a fall schedule that should help challenge and prepare the Golden Eagles for the 2015 season. Tech will play seven games in its fall slate, kicking things off on Sunday, Sep. 28 with a home doubleheader against Kennesaw State and Motlow State, with the first game set to begin at 10 a.m. CT.
The matchup with KSU is one of three schools that TTU locked up with in 2014, as the Golden Eagles will also clash the University of Tennessee and Western Kentucky on Oct. 18 in Knoxville in the team's final action of the fall. Both the Volunteers and Hilltoppers secured postseason berths a year ago, highlighted by a UT trip to the NCAA Super Regionals where they were upended by Oklahoma, two games to one.
"Our fall schedule features four NCAA Division I teams, so it will definitely challenge our team to compete on a high level," Tech head coach Bonnie Bynum said on the rigors of the schedule. "This schedule will definitely tell us a lot about our team and show us exactly what we will need to work on to prepare for our spring season. We will be facing some tough pitching and hitting, so our team will get tested right away on both sides of the ball."
The tilt with Tennessee is one of two affairs with an SEC school for the Golden Eagles, with Tech also going up against Ole Miss on Oct. 11 as part of a doubleheader that will see TTU first take on Jones Community College before the battle with the Rebels.
"I definitely want to see how all of our newcomers respond to playing at such a high level of competition," Bynum noted as an area of focus during the seven-game slate. "Our goals will be to try people in various positions and get an idea of the lineup we will be using this coming spring. Fall games are always a great way to challenge and develop players and see how the pieces fit."
Tennessee Tech is coming off a strong 2014 campaign in which the Golden Eagles locked down a spot in the OVC Tournament, winning 13 of their final 16 games of the season.
Admission to all home games is free.
TENNESSEE TECH FALL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Saturday, Sept. 28 (HOME)
10 a.m. Tech vs. Kennesaw State
2 p.m. Tech vs. Motlow State
* UPDATED CHANGE* Sunday, Oct. 5 (HOME)
2 p.m. Tech vs. Roane State
Saturday, Oct. 11 (at Ole Miss – Oxford, Miss.)
12 p.m. Tech vs. Jones Community College
2:30 p.m. Tech vs. Ole Miss
Saturday, Oct. 18 (at University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Tenn.)
10 a.m. (CT) Tech vs. Tennessee
3 p.m. (CT) Tech vs. Western Kentucky
