By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – When Tennessee Tech and Chattanooga take the field on Wednesday at the Tech Softball Field, it'll be almost exactly a month since the two teams saw each other. For both teams, it will be an interesting contrast to see how the teams have improved.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Central. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano providing the call.
Chattanooga comes into Cookeville with a 4-14 record – two of its victories come over the Golden Eagles, topping Tech 5-4 and 6-5 in a twinbill on February 25, then haven't won a game since. The Mocs have lost 10 straight contests, including a three-game sweep last weekend at home against Marshall.
Chattanooga opens its Southern Conference slate this weekend with a three-game set at home against Western Carolina, while the Golden Eagles look to continue this weekend's success at Morehead State when Eastern Illinois comes to down.
In the two games against the Mocs earlier this season, Tech had no problem collecting hits, pulling together 20 hits across both contests. But Chattanooga was able to rally late in both games, striking for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-5 win after walking off with two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 win in the opener.
As a team, Chattanooga is hitting .229, fielding three batters at or above .300 with Hayleigh Weissenbach at .326, Emily Coltharp at .320 and Kailey Snell exactly at .300. Snell has a team-high nine RBI, while Weissenbach is at eight. The squad has a combined seven home runs, led by Cameren Swafford with two, while the battery has given up 22. Coltharp and Snell are both a perfect 4-for-4 on stolen bases, while the team is 14-for-16.
In the circle, Hannah Wood has seen the most work, collecting a 2-4 record and a 3.74 ERA across 39 1/3 innings and 12 appearances. Kat Thompson (11-5, 5.04 ERA) has a team-best 18 strikeouts, one more than Wood and three more than Brooke Parrott (1-4, 9.00 ERA). Parrott's lone win came against the Golden Eagles.
Tech evened its overall record at 11-11 on Monday, sweeping Morehead State to improve to 6-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play, currently standing in a three-way tie for fourth with UT Martin and Eastern Kentucky. The Golden Eagles plays second-place Eastern Illinois (7-2) this weekend at the Tech Softball Field in a three-game series beginning Saturday.
Tech is hitting .252 as a team, led by a trio of plus-.300 hitters including Beth McCulley (.321), Sydney Love-Baker (.313) and Nicolle Nysted (.311). Haeli Bryson (.295) and Mackenzie Fitzgerald (.278) are within striking distance of that mile marker. Nysted and Jessie Lowery lead the team in RBI with 12 each, Bryson up next with nine. Nysted has hit a team-best six home runs this season – three in the last five games.
Lowery has also come home to score the most, picking up 10 runs scored, while Nysted and Chandler Caldwell are next with nine. Tech has shown a little more speed on the basepaths, stealing 20 of 22 attempts, as Fitzgerald is a perfect 11-for-11.
In the circle, Bryson has been hot of late, picking up two wins in the Morehead State series to improve to 5-1 on the season with a 2.39 ERA. In 44 innings of work, she's walked four and struck out 32. Alyssa Arden also has five wins on the season, collecting a 3.23 ERA and striking out 45. Opposing batters are hitting a combined .198 between the two pitchers.
Admission to all games at the Tech Softball Field is free to the public. Social distancing guidelines are in place and all fans must wear a mask at all times.
