BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A fifth-place preseason projection in the Ohio Valley Conference softball poll will present itself as a challenge for the Tennessee Tech team in the 2017 season.

 

But with a program that has won seven OVC tournaments and five regular-season titles since the conference started sponsoring the sport in 1994, the Golden Eagles aren't backing down.

 

Jacksonville State, who finished 43-17 last season, including a 26-0 mark in league play, claimed 22 of the 24 first-place votes in the poll, voted on by the league's coaches and sports information contacts. SIU Edwardsville claimed the other two first-place votes cast.

 

Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois and Tech rounded out the top five, while UT Martin, Murray State, Morehead State, Southeast Missouri, Belmont, Austin Peay and Tennessee State completed the projected order.

 

The Golden Eagles completed the 2016 campaign with a 23-33 record, 14-13 in Ohio Valley competition. Tech was 13-7 at home – which could play to the Golden Eagles' advantage in 2017 as they host Southeast Missouri, UT Martin, Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, SIUE and JSU at the friendly confines of the Tech Softball Field this season.

 

Tech last won the OVC tournament crown and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2015, just two seasons ago.

 

The regular-season slate kicks off for Tech on Feb. 10 as the Golden Eagles face UNC Greensboro, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and host Georgia Southern at the Eagle Round Robin in Statesboro, Ga.

 

Tech opens OVC play at home against SEMO on March 25.

 

Eight different OVC teams have won a regular-season championship with JSU, SEMO and Tech leading with five crowns each. The regular-season champ has won the conference tournament 14 times out of 23.

 

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