By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team is building up its roster with the addition of two signees in recent weeks and more to come.
The Golden Eagles added outfielder Alina Schlageter and pitcher/infielder Faith Rush to the lineup for the 2024 campaign.
"These are two fantastic additions to our roster that will help us grow and build for the future," said head coach Danielle Penner. "They have tremendous backgrounds and they will both be really exciting to watch wearing the Purple and Gold."
Rush has played four seasons for Eagles Landing Christian in McDonough, Ga., and comes in highly decorated, receiving four first-team all-region honors, two Area Pitcher of the Year honors, a GACA Junior and Senior All-Star nod, as well as a second-team All-State pick in 2020 and two first-team All-State selections in 2021 and 2022.
Her numbers certainly back it up – in her prep career, she has thrown over 900 strikeouts with 77 victories, while also hitting well with a .480 batting average, a .600 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
"Faith is a versatile two-way player who will bring a lot to Cookeville and can make an immediate impact with the program," Penner said. "Not only is she an incredible pitcher, Faith can also create a lot of offense."
In her senior campaign, she batted .613 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI, complete with a .723 on-base percentage. In the circle, she hurled her way to a 1.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts as she was named the Area 5 Player of the Year and leading her team to a region championship and an Elite Eight spot in the state tournament.
Her team also reached the Elite Eight in 2019, the Sweet 16 in 2020 and finished third in 2021.
Rush's softball skills run in the family as her sister – Hope Rush-Songalia – played four seasons at Georgia Tech between 2010 and 2013 and earned All-America honors, while her father – Bo Rush – was also her prep coach.
Rush also played club softball with GA Power Tuñón.
Schlageter also has a family athletic connection as her father, Steve, played baseball at Kentucky. It doesn't stop there as her sister Ava is committed to become a collegiate swimmer at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her brother T.J. is committed to play baseball at Louisville as the Schlageter triplets all enter Division I athletic programs this fall.
Schlageter is still in her senior campaign at Joliet Catholic Academy, but, as a junior, she batted .442 with a .534 on-base percentage, combined with 14 RBI and 19 runs scored. In her sophomore season, she hit .320 with a .534 OBP as Joliet Catholic finished second in the state.
"Alina is an athletic, speedy outfielder capable of tracking down a lot of balls in the outfield," Penner said. "She also has a lot of offensive potential that can lead to scoring opportunities."
While the current season is still in progress, Schlageter currently has a .474 batting average with 18 hits, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored with six doubles, a triple and a home run.
She was named ESCC all-conference and to the all-area team. Schlageter has also excelled in the classroom, being named an NFCA All-American Scholar.
A two-sport athlete, Schlageter also played girls basketball for three seasons. In the club circuit, Schlageter competed with National Premier.
