UPDATE 2 (1:31 p.m. 3/16/18) -- With rain continuing in the Memphis area on Friday, Tech's game against Memphis has been cancelled. Schedule updates will be provided when available.
UPDATE (8:00 a.m. 3/16/18) -- The scheduled game against Southeast Missouri has been postponed to Sunday at 2:45 p.m. Tech will only face host Memphis at 11 a.m. on Friday.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – With a five-game winning streak in tow, the Tennessee Tech softball team is starting to feel a lot more confident, and that gives the Golden Eagles an opportunity to show what they're capable this weekend as they head to Memphis to compete in the Memphis Tiger Classic.
Weather for this weekend's five-game set does appear favorable, with a slight chance of scattered thunderstorms on Friday morning and late evening, but fairly clear for most of the weekend.
Tech opens up play with a familiar foe on Friday morning, taking on Southeast Missouri at 9 a.m., just over a week before the Golden Eagles will face them in Cape Girardeau to open Ohio Valley Conference play.
The Golden Eagles follow that up with the first of two games against host Memphis, approximately 11:15 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The early game on Saturday pits Tech against South Dakota, then the Golden Eagles wrap up tournament play against Eastern Michigan on Sunday at 11:15 a.m.
SEMO comes into the weekend with an 11-9 record, with four players racking up double-digit numbers in RBI. Abby Tillotson leads the way with 17, while Rachel Anderson has 12, Sarah Messex 11 and Ashley Ellis 10. Mykaela Arellanes leads the team in average with a .411 clip.
In the circle, Madeline Krumrey (5-3, 4.28 ERA) has seen the most action with 52 1/3 innings of work, but Haley Thogmartin lead the team in ERA with a 2.26 mark to go along with a 3-3 record. Alexis Estes (4.07 ERA), however, is undefeated in nine appearances and four starts with an unblemished 3-0 record.
The host Tigers saw a nine-game winning streak snapped by Mississippi State on Wednesday, but come into Friday's game with a 16-6 record. As a team, Memphis is hitting .350 with an astounding 124 RBI to open the season, led by Kyler Trosclair with 22, along with a .487 average. Baylee Smith has the top average, striking at a .509 clip.
Memphis has two pitchers with an identical 1.04 ERA as Mariah Nichols tows along a 6-2 record, Molly Smith 9-3.
South Dakota enters the weekend with an 8-19 record, with seven players with double-digit RBI totals, led by Emily Winckler with 20 RBI and seven home runs. Taylor Steinfeldt leads the team in hitting with a .356 average, four homers and 13 RBI.
Dustie Durham leads South Dakota in the circle with a 4.20 ERA and a 5-6 record, while Sarah Lisko has a 3-6 record and a 6.47 ERA.
Eastern Michigan enters the weekend with a 4-15 record. Amanda Akles leads the Eagles with a .382 batting average with two home runs and 14 RBI. Olivia Logan (.296) is the only other player with double-digit RBI totals with 11.
In the circle, Nicolle Miranda and Trisha Trujillo each have two wins on the season with Miranda recording a 3.14 ERA and Trujillo a 4.82.
Tech (8-14) currently has a team batting average of .274, with 17 home runs and 89 RBI. Raegan Sparks (.400) and Bayli Cruse (.319) both have a team-high 19 RBI, with Hallie Davis (.359) and Callen Griffin (.232) each posting 10.
In the circle, Taylor Waldrop has a 5-6 record with a 5.11 ERA, while Kayla Hughes is 2-2 with a 9.43 ERA.
Photo by Jim Dillon
