By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MACON, Ga. – Friday marks the start of a brand new season for the Tennessee Tech softball team, as well as the beginning of a new era as Michelle DePolo leads the Golden Eagles onto the field for the first time. Tech heads to Macon, Ga., this weekend to compete in the Mercer Invitational.
The Golden Eagles open up their slate at Mercer's Sikes Field at 8 a.m. on Friday as they take on Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes finished their 2019 season with a 37-20 record, including a 16-5 mark in the American Athletic Conference. Despite a short run in the AAC championship tournament, Tulsa earned a berth in the NCAA Stillwater Regional, knocking off Arkansas (5-0) and Brigham Young (6-4), but dropped two games to regional host Oklahoma State 13-10 and 2-1.
The Golden Hurricanes return their top pitcher in sophomore Chenise Delce, who ended the 2019 season with a 15-6 record and a 1.63 earned run average. Batters hit .209 against her, while Delce struck out 124 and walked 43. But she isn't the only pitching threat as junior Samantha Pochop, who had a 12-8 record with a 2.91 ERA. Pochop struck out 115 and walked 45 as batters hit .219 against.
One thing Tulsa will be missing is four of its top five hitters from last season. Delce is the only returning batter from that group, hitting .282 with 22 runs batted in and 12 runs scored. The other four accounted for 109 of their runs scored, 104 of the team's 238 RBI and 19 of the team's 45 stolen bases. Mikayla Whitten (.243, 16 RBI, 28 runs scored) stands as the next best returning hitter.
The Golden Eagles are 1-2 all-time against Tulsa, winning the last meeting 3-2 in 2007 in Auburn, Ala. Tech fell twice to the Golden Hurricanes at Starkville, Miss., in 2005.
Tech will then set its focus on host Mercer in the 5 p.m. contest on Friday. The Bears finished 27-29 last season, including a 10-7 record in the Southern Conference.
In a reversal of Tulsa, the Bears return four of their top five hitters, led by redshirt junior Danielle Castleberry, who hit .376 a year ago with 32 RBI and 35 runs scored. Micayla Rood is also a threat on the basepaths as well, stealing 17 of Mercer's 69 bases a year ago. The top four returning hitters combined for 101 of Mercer's 279 runs scored, 212 of its 413 hits, nine of its home runs and 101 of its 232 RBI.
Mercer also returns Bailey Pattison in the circle after she posted an 11-9 record last season with a 3.91 ERA, walking 39 and striking out 54, while opponents hit.279 against her. However, Mercer faces Wright State immediately before playing the Golden Eagles, which could put the ball in the hands of Stella Preston (4.67, 4-6 in 2019), Lauren O'Dell (6.20, 2-1 in 2019) or Sydney Tucker (11.67, 0-1 in 2019, or newcomers Amber Byrd and Riley Hickok.
Tech holds an 8-5 record all-time against the Bears, winning the last meeting 3-1 in 2013 in Kennesaw, Ga. The series between the two teams dates back to 1992, with the Golden Eagles winning the first four meetings.
Up next for the Golden Eagles is the first of two meetings against Wright State at 8 a.m. on Saturday, then a follow-up on Sunday at 8 a.m. WSU finished 22-33 last season, including a 9-15 record in the Horizon League.
The Raiders return the top 12 batters on their roster, including two players – Rebekah Lenos and Madison Hartman – who had 50 or more hits a year ago, including a team-high 12 doubles each. Madison Whitaker had a team-high 30 RBI with five home runs. Lenos, Meredith Keel, Jordyn Poulson and Macy McCall each had double-digit totals in stolen bases with 51 of the team's 65 stolen bases – and every player who stole a base in 2019 return for 2020.
The team returns its three winningest pitchers from last season with Olivia Otani (8-14, 4.03 ERA), Lexie Hilling (6-1, 4.01 ERA) and Makenna Durieux (6-14, 4.10 ERA) coming back into the circle for another season. Durieux and Otani were the staff's workhorses, combining for 177 1/3 of the team's 356 2/3 innings of work. Durieux struck out 110 batters and walked 41 and had the best opposing batting average at .287.
The Golden Eagles are 1-5 against Wright State all-time, dropping two decisions 5-1 and 9-3 in 2016 in Birmingham, Ala., in the last meeting.
Tech's final opponent in the tournament is Dayton, taking on the Flyers at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday morning. Dayton finished 24-27 last season, including an 11-7 mark in the Atlantic 10.
The Flyers have a tremendous bat in the lineup in junior Abby Ehrenborg, who collected a team-high 49 RBI – nearly double of the next teammate, senior Ellie Ziegler with 26 – and 13 home runs. The team's top run scorers and base stealers, Lisa Tassi (31 runs, 16 SB) and Kyle Davidson (36 runs, 19 SB), both wrapped up their careers last season, leaving a spot for the Dayton squad to fill.
Dayton also lost top pitcher Jessica Gilliam, but return Jessica Weaver (10-9, 4.43 ERA), Catherine Jensen (3-3, 6.61) and Olivia Lessmann (0-4, 8.51) with Sarah Bailitz added to the staff.
Tech is 1-2 against the Flyers, falling 8-3 in 2015 at Kennesaw, Ga., in the last meeting.
For the Golden Eagles, the team is looking to come back from an 18-27 record, 8-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference and missing the postseason tournament after losing a coin-toss tiebreaker. Tech returns five of its top six hitters, including senior Beth McCulley (.338), who had a team-high 50 hits and tied with Chandler Caldwell for the team lead in stolen bases. Junior Sydney Love-Baker had 26 RBI and a team-high 10 home runs a season ago.
In the circle, Alyssa Arden returns for her sophomore campaign after an impressive start, posting an 11-14 record with a Tech single-season record three no-hitters, including two in conference play against Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State. Arden walked 77 and struck out 119 with opponents hitting .229 against her. Haeli Bryson (3-8, 5.78 ERA) and Callie Piper (0-0, 5.38) return from last season as well to provide pitching depth.
Times listed are subject to change. Follow along on Twitter at @TTU_Softball or online at TTUsports.com for updates.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
