By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech hasn't had much luck on the home turf this season, posting a 1-7 record in Ohio Valley Conference play at the Tech Softball Field. On the road, the Golden Eagles are 8-3.
But you have to look at it this way – Tech's home opponents have included three of the top four teams in the conference this season in Southeast Missouri, Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois. Number five will be Jacksonville State who will come to town for a twinbill on Tuesday and has two of the Golden Eagles' three road OVC losses from the previous meeting.
Tech has an opportunity to reverse that trend this weekend as the Golden Eagles host SIUE for a three-game set, starting with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. Sunday's finale is also slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. Admission to the games is free to the public, though masks are required for all fans in attendance and social distancing is in effect.
Dylan Vazzano will provide the broadcast duties for this weekend's series on ESPN+ (subscription required).
In the current OVC standings, Tech stands in eighth at 9-10 in league play, 15-19 overall. In a normal season, Tech would currently be the last team in the OVC Tournament field with four weeks remaining in the season. However, the COVID-19 affected schedule has just the top four making the OVC Tournament, but the Golden Eagles are still within reach.
Eastern Illinois (11-7 OVC) and Jacksonville State (11-9 OVC) currently stand in fourth and fifth, while Murray State (12-10 OVC) and UT Martin (9-8 OVC) are in sixth and seventh.
The visiting Cougars (8-19, 8-12 OVC) stand just behind Tech in the league standings, making this weekend's set a major series for both teams.
April has seen an upward trend for SIUE with the Cougars winning three of their eight games this month, taking two of three from UT Martin and taking a game away from Southeast Missouri. SIUE also took two of three games from Jacksonville State last month on the road.
As a team, the Cougars are batting .278, scoring 82 runs and driving in 73 with 11 home runs to their credit. They also have some decent speed on the basepaths, stealing 37 bases on 44 attempts with Ava Bieneman (10), Alana Cobb-Adams (11) and Micah Arps (10) each swiping double-digits.
Bieneman leads the team in batting average, collecting a .373 mark to lead five other players over .300, with 16 runs scored. Zoe Schafer (.329) leads the team in RBI with 17, with five players in double digits, and also has a team-best four home runs. Cobb-Adams (.304) has come home the most, collecting a team-best 19 circuits around the bases.
In the circle, freshman Sydney Baalman has seen the most action, posting a 4-7 record and a 3.77 ERA in 78 innings with opponents hitting .284 against her and striking out 54. Emily Ingles, who has been one of the more dominant pitchers in the OVC in recent seasons, returns for a redshirt senior campaign, collecting a 2-5 record and a 4.26 ERA with 53 strikeouts and opponents hitting .236 against her.
Long-time Golden Eagle softball fans will recognize a familiar face as former Tech standout Danielle Liberatore will be in the SIUE dugout, her third season with the Cougar coaching staff.
For Tech, the team is hitting .253, scoring 117 runs and driving in 105 with 15 home runs. The Golden Eagles broke a six-game losing streak last week as they took two of three games at Murray State, but dropped an 8-0 decision on Monday at No. 16 Tennessee.
Nicolle Nysted currently leads or shares the team lead in batting average, home runs and RBI -- .338, six and 17 respectively – but has not played in the last six games after getting injured in the first game of the Austin Peay series. Jessie Lowery and Mackenzie Fitzgerald also have 17 RBI. Beth McCulley is also batting .326 as the other Tech hitter over .300.
Fitzgerald is also a considerable stealing threat, swiping a perfect 13-for-13.
In the circle, Tech has a staff ERA of 3.61, led by Haeli Bryson (2.98) and Alyssa Arden (3.19). Arden has seen the most innings by far, tallying 120 2/3 frames of work to Bryson's 61, and opponents have had trouble hitting her with a .209 opposing average. Arden is 8-11, Bryson 6-4, with the duo compiling a combined 121 strikeouts.
