By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator

COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech softball team (3-2, 0-0 OVC) return to tournament action on Sat.-Sun. when they travel to Troy, Ala. for the Troy Tournament. Besides host Troy University, the Golden Eagles will face opponents of Ole Miss and McNeese State University.

Ole Miss Rebels (4-1)

Head coach Mike Smith returns to the helm of the Ole Miss program for his second season. Though nearly half of the players on the 2016 roster are new to the squad, including five transfers and six true freshmen, the Rebels are coming off an extremely successful 2015 season and look to continue their success into this year. Ole Miss tied a school record last year for winning 30-games in the season and broke every school offensive record.

The Rebels advanced to the SEC Tournament for the first time in seven seasons and fourth time overall, winning league series versus in-state rival Mississippi State and a huge road sweep at Arkansas. The Rebels return 13 players to this year's roster including senior pitcher Madi Osias. Osias appeared in 39 games in the circle, making the start for 25 of them. She turned in a 12-16 record on the season with a 4.97 ERA through 153.2 innings pitched and notched one save on the season against Memphis. Osias pitched six complete games on the year, including a complete-game shutout against Southern Miss.

This will be the fifth time the Golden Eagles and Rebels have faced each other each winning two games in the series. Ole Miss and Tech last met in the 2012 season when the Rebels defeated the Golden Eagles 6-3 at the Florida State Tournament.

Troy Trojans (4-1)

Beth Mullins stands at the head of the Troy program, returning to the Trojans as the reigning Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year for her second season at the helm. Troy returns numerous players to the lineup including seniors Hannah Day and Ashley Rainey.
 
Last season, Day led the Trojans in batting average (.329), hits (57), doubles (13), RBIs (43), slugging percentage (.543) and tied for first in triples (3). Rainey started 20 games in the circle recording 10 wins, striking out 47 batters in 97.2 innings of work. She threw six complete games and tossed a four-hit shutout at Florida A&M.
 
Also returning for the Trojans is junior Becca Hartley. She was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team as an outfielder and led the team with 10 home runs, including two in Troy's win at No. 10 Florida State. She reached base in a team-high 27 consecutive games and had four multi-hit games over a five-game stretch.

The Trojans lead the Golden Eagles in the series 5-2. The last time the two teams faced each other was in the 2012 season when Troy defeated Tech 3-2 at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga.

McNeese State Cowgirls (2-2)

McNeese, under second year head coach Joanna Hardin is coming off a 36-20 overall record in 2015 and a second place finish in the SLC with a 21-5 record. The Cowgirls return eight starters including All-American catcher and recently named ASA/USA Top 50 Player of the Year "Watch List" Erika Piancastelli. Piancastelli had a break out rookie season that saw her earn several postseason honors including Southland player, hitter and freshman of the year.

The Cowgirls' top four pitchers from last season all return and that list includes seniors Emily Vincent and Jamie Allred, junior Rachel Smith and sophomore Jolie Trahan. Vincent received preseason national recognition as Fastpitch News named her one of their Top 50 Pitchers and is coming off a junior campaign where she led the Cowgirls with a 14-6 record, 2.15 ERA, 105 strikeouts, and 117.1 innings pitched. Smith was second on the team with a 12-6 record, 2.97 ERA, and 90 strikeouts. Allred was 6-7 with a 3.13 ERA and 69 strikeouts. Trahan was 2-0 as a freshman with a 3.73 ERA.

This will be the first time that Tech and McNeese State have faced each other.

Golden Eagles

Tech enters its second tournament of the season after a successful first showing at Mississippi State's Bulldog Classic where the Golden Eagles rounded out play with a 3-2 record on the weekend. Tech's first season appearances was highlighted by two wins over Georgia Southern including a five-hit complete game shut out from Hannah Weaver and a huge 20-1 victory over Alabama A&M.

Bayli Cruse led the Golden Eagles offensively with a .353 batting average while knocking in four RBIs on six hits including five doubles and one home run. Danielle Liberatore and Leigh Thomas each went 1-1 on the mound, while Weaver went 1-0 from the circle. Liberatore went 12.1 innings with 18 strikeouts and a 6.24 ERA, while Thomas went 8.1 innings with nine strikeouts and a 4.20 ERA, and Weaver went 10.1 innings with five strikeouts and no earned runs.

Tech kicks off tournament play on Saturday against Ole Miss in a 12 p.m. contest followed by a 2:30 p.m. game against host Troy University. The Golden Eagles will then round out tournament play on Sunday with a 9:30 a.m. match-up against McNeese State followed by a 2:30 p.m. contest against Troy. 

You can follow the Tech softball team online on the TTU Sports Facebook page or on Twitter at @TTU_Softball and @TTUGoldenEagles.