By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
Complete Tournament Bracket Game Notes
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—It's postseason time! The Tennessee Tech softball team (23-31, 14-13 OVC) will open up the 2016 OVC Tournament on Wednesday versus Eastern Kentucky (35-15, 17-8 OVC) at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. The Golden Eagles and Colonels will be the first game of the tourney playing at 10 a.m. This year marks the first time in OVC history that the tournament has been played at a neutral site.
It'll be déjà vu for both Tech and Eastern Kentucky as they faced each other on the opening day of the 2015 OVC tournament, with the Golden Eagles coming out on top with the 11-3 win in six innings. Tech currently lead the series over the Colonels 56-36, however, Eastern Kentucky recently claimed the three-game series over the Golden Eagles this past weekend. Tech won game one of the series with a four-hit, 6-0 shutout, but then Eastern Kentucky won the next two games 7-1 and then 10-3.
Golden Eagles return to the OVC Tournament as reigning 2015 Champions, with this trip to marking the 22nd OVC Tournament appearance for Tech. The Golden Eagles possess seven tourney titles (1995, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015), and seven regular season titles (1994, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007).
Danielle Liberatore recently took home adidas® OVC Pitcher of the Week honors on May 9th, while Callen Griffin was the only other Tech player to take home OVC player of the week accolades (named player of the week on Apr. 25).
Liberatore is Tech's leading player from the circle. The junior southpaw holds a 15-12 record on the season with a 2.79 ERA. Over her 155.2 innings pitched, she has thrown 16 complete games including 5/1 shutouts with three saves. Liberatore has tallied 220 strikeouts on the season with just 71 walks, while holding her opponents to a .231 batting average. Strictly in OVC matchups, Liberatore holds a 10-5 record with a 1.46 ERA. She has seen action over 100.2 innings, notching 12 complete games, including 3/1 shutouts and three saves. The Peotone, Ill., native has retired 134 batters at the dish, while walking just 29 and holding her opponents to a .217 batting average. Liberatore's 15-12 overall record ranks her fifth in the conference, while her 220 strikeouts on the season rank her second (13th in the NCAA), and her saves rank her tied at third.
Senior Sabrie Neeb leads the Golden Eagles from the dish with a .306 batting average on the season and a .341 batting average in conference play. Thus far this year, she has notched 26 RBI, seven homeruns, one triple, and eight doubles with a .500 slugging percentage. Primarily at the DP position, Neeb has reached on 6-of-8 stolen base attempts while maintaining a .383 on-base percentage this year. In the series versus Eastern Kentucky, the Front Royal, Va., native scored twice and hit one homerun over the three games.
Another key power hitter on the Golden Eagle lineup is junior catcher Alyssa Richards. Richards leads Tech with 31 RBI on the season. She has a .238 batting average with a .476 slugging percentage. The Italy, Texas native has notched 14 extra bases this year, including 10 homeruns and four doubles, with seven of her 10 homeruns occurring during OVC contests. Richard's 10 homeruns rank her second in the conference, while her 24 walks this year mark her tied at fourth in the OVC.
You can follow the Golden Eagles online on the TTU Sports Facebook page or on Twitter at @TTU_Softball and @TTUGoldenEagles.
