By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Without question, the 2023 season for the Tennessee Tech softball team has been a learning experience. Through a lot of ups and downs, the Golden Eagles have faced a tough road with one of the most difficult non-conference slates they've faced, while working around a lineup with young players and injuries.
As the Tech softball team closes out the season this weekend at Southern Indiana, the Golden Eagles may not have a spot to play for in next week's Ohio Valley Conference tournament in Oxford, Ala., but Tech does have a lot to play for in itself.
With just three departing seniors, the Golden Eagles look to build a solid foundation for the next year, building momentum to get back to its footing.
It's been a rough year, but they want to end the year on a high note.
That begins on Saturday as Tech heads to OVC newcomer Southern Indiana for a three-game slate starting with a noon doubleheader, followed by a single game on Sunday also starting at noon. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
USI comes into the weekend series with an 18-21 record, 11-9 in the Ohio Valley. As a team, the Screaming Eagles are batting .249 with 112 RBI and 13 home runs. USI has been outscored 154-123, while posting a team ERA of 3.41 with 135 walks and 202 strikeouts.
Allie Goodin has been a big bat for the Screaming Eagles, knocking in 34 runs with 15 doubles and five home runs with a .417 batting average. Mackenzie Bedrick (.305) has been the biggest beneficiary with 27 runs scored, while Kennedy Nalley (15), Goodin (11), Carolina Stapleton (11), Olivia Howard (11) and Lexi Fair (10) have also come home to score across the decade mark.
Fair (.212) also has 22 RBI and four home runs, while Rachel Martinez (.245) has driven in 11 with two dingers.
In the circle, the bulk of the work has come from Josie Newman, who has a 14-10 record in 25 appearances with a 2.40 ERA. With five shutouts on the season, she has 50 walks and 135 strikeouts to her credit with opponents hitting .208 against her across 140 innings – almost three times as many innings as the next pitcher in the lineup.
Kylie Eads (0-2, 2.81 ERA), Hailey Gotshall (3-4, 4.46 ERA), Raegan Gibson (1-1, 5.53 ERA) and Gooding (0-4, 6.89 ERA) could also see action this weekend in the three-game set.
USI was idle last weekend and took two of three from Tennessee State – winning 3-2 and 5-1 after losing the opener 3-0. The Screaming Eagles dropped an 8-0 run-rule defeat in a midweek contest against Austin Peay on Tuesday. USI is 3-3 in its last six OVC contests.
Tech comes into the game with a 6-42 record, 2-19 in the Ohio Valley. The Golden Eagles have won three of their last seven games with a midweek victory over ETSU on April 18, as well as scratching out a 3-0 victory at SIUE and a 7-1 victory at home against Tennessee State last Saturday.
As a team, Tech is hitting .235 with 123 RBI and 12 home runs. Tech has been outscored 388 to 141, posting a team ERA of 8.09 with 260 walks to 105 strikeouts with opponents hitting .359 against.
Haeli Bryson leads the team in batting with a .317 mark, driving in 25 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 20 runs scored. Abby Shoulders (.281) has a team-best 24 runs scored with 39 hits, collecting 13 RBI and nine stolen bases. Carmen Betts (.261) also has 19 RBI, while Nicolle Nysted (.247) has driven in 12.
In the circle, Callie Piper has a team-best 7.52 ERA with a 2-18 record across 111 2/3 innings as she has walked 86 and struck out 38. Kaylan Cole has the best record with a 4-14 mark with a 7.72 ERA, walking 81 and striking out 31 after picking up the Golden Eagles' last three victories.
