By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Long-time rivals in the Ohio Valley Conference, it's always interesting to see what happens when Southeast Missouri and Tennessee Tech square off.
And – in recent years – it seems like the Redhawks and the Golden Eagles have faced each other in Cookeville with the last regular-season meeting away from the Tech Softball Field coming in 2018 with the last eight regular-season contests being played in Cookeville, as is the next three.
First pitch for the three-game series is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday as the first game of a doubleheader, while Sunday's single game is slated for noon. Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field is free.
The series will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Tech holds a 51-49 lead over the Redhawks in the all-time history after the Golden Eagles swept Southeast Missouri last season, winning 5-3, 5-4 in 10 innings and 2-0, but fell to SEMO in the conference tournament in Choccolocco Park 6-5.
SEMO enters this weekend's series with a 14-9 overall record and a 7-1 mark in league play – the lone blemish being a loss to Tennessee State.
As a team, the Redhawks are hitting .279 with 82 RBI and 11 home runs, outscoring opponents 90-76.
Alyson Tucker leads SEMO (14-9, 7-1 OVC) with a .351 average with 18 RBI and seven runs scored. Paige Halliwill (.319) has a team-best 15 runs scored and 6-of-7 on stolen bases with eight RBI. Jillian Anderson (.308) has come home to score 12 times. Aubrie Shore (.273) has 13 RBI and four home runs.
In the circle, Marisa Davis has the team's best ERA with a 1.89 to go with her 6-1 record, while Delaney Kell has a team-best seven victories with a 2.48 ERA.
After sweeping Southern Indiana over the weekend, SEMO dropped a 7-6 midweek nailbiter to Southern Illinois.
The Golden Eagles (3-27, 0-6 OVC) are looking to break a seven-game slide with Morehead State and Lindenwood taking the two conference series and Bellarmine scoring seven unanswered to take an 8-3 victory on Wednesday.
Tech, as a team, is batting .244 with 79 RBI and seven home runs, but have been outscored 161-89. In the circle, the staff ERA stands at 8.54 with 164 walks and 69 strikeouts.
Haeli Bryson leads the team in batting with a .315 clip, collecting a team-best 21 RBI with seven doubles and a home run. Abby Shoulders (.293) has seven RBI and a team-high 16 runs scored, while Carmen Betts (.264) has 11 RBI.
In the circle, Callie Piper (7.24 ERA, 21 Ks) has two of Tech's three wins, with Kaylan Cole (10.25 ERA, 15 Ks) earning the third. The pitching numbers have drastically improved in conference play as the staff has a 5.74 OVC ERA, with Gracelyn Woollen posting a 5.17 over 21 2/3 innings and Piper a 6.12 in 16 frames.
Tech hits the road next week with a midweek contest at Lipscomb and a three-game set at UT Martin for the Easter holiday.
Photo | Madeline Topping
