By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Eleven home games so far for the Tennessee Tech softball team and all of them have resulted in victories for the Golden Eagles. It's the longest home winning streak since the 2007 season as that Tech squad won 15 straight home outings en route to a 20-2 record at Tech Softball Field before claiming the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
That streak stands on the line Friday and Saturday as Belmont comes to down for a three-game set, a crucial one in the OVC standings.
First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is set for a 5 p.m. start, while the single game on Saturday will begin at 1 p.m. Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field is free. Dylan Vazzano will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Friday is also Youth Night at the Tech Softball Field as youth softball teams are invited to attend with contests, as well as an opportunity to run the bases and get autographs following the second game.
Midway through the OVC schedule and it's a pretty close race. Murray State, who the Golden Eagles will host April 30 and May 1 for the final regular-season home contests, currently lead the conference chase with an 11-3 mark. Southeast Missouri stands in second at 9-3 – all three losses at the hands of the Golden Eagles. Belmont comes into Cookeville at 10-4, dropping two of three games to the Racers last weekend. Tech is currently in fourth at 9-5 following a sweep over SIUE last week. UT Martin, who took two of three from Tech in the opening weekend of league play, is in fifth at 7-4, while Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay are both tied at 6-8 for sixth place. SIUE currently holds the eighth and final spot in the tournament field at 5-9, two games ahead of Tennessee State (3-11) and four over Morehead State (1-12).
The Bruins, 19-11 on the season overall, have put up some good numbers. They lead the OVC in hitting with a .312 batting average, in on-base percentage with a .389 mark and in stolen bases, averaging 2.47 swipes per game. Kristen Green is the conference RBI per game leader, averaging 1.1 per game, while Christine Cavanaugh is the league leader in stolen bases with 23, averaging 0.77 per game.
Belmont, as a team, has driven in 151 runs and scored 174 times, collecting 39 doubles, six triples and 17 home runs as well as 74 stolen bases. Against them, opponents are hitting .267 with 41 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 105 RBI and 22 stolen bases on 23 attempts. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, are hitting .296 and have driven in 200 runs and scored 230 times, collecting 41 doubles, six triples and 38 home runs with 40 stolen bases on 44 tries. Against Tech, opponents are hitting .258 with 29 doubles, five triples, 26 home runs, 110 RBI and 39 stolen bases on 45 tries.
Cavanaugh leads Belmont with a .408 average and a team-best 25 runs scored. Green has driven in 30 runs, while also hitting a Bruin-best five home runs. Belmont has eight players with double-digit RBI totals.
In the circle, Emma Summers leads the team with a 7-6 record and a 2.08 earned run average, walking nine and striking out 75 with opponents hitting .231. Alex Clesi (4-1, 4.76 ERA) and Alicia Veltri (5-4, 5.61 ERA) have started a combined 17 games.
After going on an 11-game winning streak from March 11 to 29, Belmont has won just two of its last six games, falling twice to UT Martin and Murray State.
The Golden Eagles, 26-11 overall on the year, currently leads the OVC in home runs per game (1.03), scoring (6.22) and fielding percentage (0.966). Mackenzie Fitzgerald is 12th nationally in runs per game (1.14), Haeli Bryson 13th in toughest to strike out and Alyssa Arden 40th in pitching victories (13) – all currently the top performer in the OVC.
Bryson leads the Golden Eagles in batting average (.392), home runs (8), RBI (35) and tied with Fitzgerald for total bases (78). Fitzgerald leads the team in runs scored (42) and triples (3), while the team has nine players with double-digit RBI totals, six with 20 or more.
Arden has a 3.33 ERA and a 13-7 record in the circle, walking 30 and striking out 79 across 119 2/3 innings. Tyler Erwin (9-1, 2.57 ERA) and Haeli Bryson (4-3, 3.21 ERA) have combined for 19 starts, walking 32 and striking out 72.
Photo | Emily Armstrong
