By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team returns to action on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles welcome in Bellarmine for the second straight season.
First pitch against the Knights is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game is slated to be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field is free to the public.
Bellarmine enters the single contest Wednesday with a 2-26 record overall, 0-6 in the Atlantic Sun and on a four-game losing streak. The Knights' last victory came on March 22 as Bellarmine edged UT Martin 1-0 with a Chloe Collins RBI single in the bottom of the first inning holding steady as Claire Lehmkuhler held the Skyhawks to two hits in the game.
The Knights fell 17-2 to Marshall following that contest, then dropped a three-game set to Jacksonville State by a combined 30-5 tally.
Tech faced Bellarmine for the first time last season with a pair of games in the Golden Eagle Classic in Cookeville. Tech won 10-1 and 11-3 in two run-ruled decisions. Abby Buettner drove in five, including a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth to force the run-rule after a solo shot in the second inning. Sydney Dukes also had a grand slam in the second game.
Collins leads the Knights in RBI with 13 driven in along with five home runs, while Olivia Bricker has driven in 10. Caitlyn Watson has a team-best .375 batting average.
As a team, Bellarmine is hitting .188 with 47 RBI and 10 home runs. The Knights are outscored 203-56 so far this season. In the circle, the team has a 7.16 ERA with 108 strikeouts. Lehmkuhler has a 1-14 record and a 6.16 ERA to lead the staff, striking out 68 in 83 innings of work. Elli Jensen (1-4, 8.85 ERA) has the Knights' other victory.
After breaking a 14-game losing streak with a pair of victories over Western Illinois, Tech has since dropped six straight Ohio Valley Conference matchups with Morehead State and Lindenwood sweeping the Golden Eagles. Morehead State won 7-3, 8-1 and 9-7, then Lindenwood swept the first series between the two teams 4-2, 3-2 and 10-4.
Tech enters the contest with a 3-26 record. Offensively, the Golden Eagles are hitting .246 on the season with seven home runs and 76 RBI. Tech has been outscored 253-86. In the circle, the Golden Eagles have an 8.56 ERA with 64 strikeouts.
Haeli Bryson leads the Golden Eagles on offense with a .318 batting average, driving in 20 runs and scoring 15. Jordan Key (.292) and Abby Shoulders (.291) are hovering around the .300 mark with Shoulder also collecting seven RBI and 15 runs scored. Carmen Betts (.279) has 10 RBI on the season so far.
In the circle, Callie Piper has two of Tech's three wins, posting a 6.86 ERA with 21 strikeouts. Kaylan Cole has the other win with a 10.33 ERA. Gracelyn Woollen is looking for her first victory with a 7.70 ERA.
Photo | Jim Dillon
