By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CLINTON, S.C. – It's a new year for the Tennessee Tech softball team. With a few key returnees and a lot of new faces, the Golden Eagles look to revitalize the program's storied tradition.
As head coach Danielle Penner enters her second season at the helm, the veteran coach is ready to take the Golden Eagles back to its rightful place atop the Ohio Valley Conference.
It all starts this weekend as Tech Softball heads down to Clinton, S.C., to take on Norfolk State and host Presbyterian in the Blue Hose Invitational. The Golden Eagles will see both teams on Friday and Saturday, starting with an 11 a.m. contest on Friday against Norfolk State before taking on the hosts at 1:30 p.m.
Friday's game vs. Presbyterian will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). Due to home events on Presbyterian's campus on Saturday, live stats will not be available for Saturday morning's game against Norfolk State.
Weather down in Clinton, S.C., is expected to be cloudy on Friday with a high of 63 degrees, while remaining cloudy on Saturday as the temperatures increase to a high of 69 degrees. There is currently a 24-percent chance of rain on Saturday.
Norfolk State finished the 2023-24 season with a 24-23 record and a solid 14-6 finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Spartans lost its top power producers in Gabby Vaughn, who drove in 33 runs with eight home runs and a .287 average last season, and Kenna Higa, who had seven home runs. However, NSU still has some production in the lineup with Rylie Gilbreath, who collected 25 RBI with a .295 average.
The Spartans also lost their top two pitchers from last season with the departures of Cam Andersen (10-6, 2.94 ERA) and Alexis Robinson (11-9, 3.29 ERA). They will have the services of Lauren Sheehan (2-3, 4.67 ERA) and Brierra Tyler (1-5, 5.08 ERA) for another campaign.
The squad has nine freshmen entering the new season.
Presbyterian finished 25-22 last season, finishing 6-14 in the Big South Conference. The Blue Hose return just two of their top six hitters from last year, including Kendall Owens (20 RBI, three HR, team-best .315 batting average with 40 hits) and Kaitlyn Tucker (.281, 36 hits, 11 RBI). A major loss in their lineup is Morgan Hess, who led the team in home runs (13) and RBI (29).
The Blue Hose do return its top two hurlers from last season with Peyton Duncan (2.66 ERA, 6-2, 39 K) and Jenna Greene (2.75 ERA, 11-11, 141 K).
Tech, meanwhile, comes into the 2024 campaign with eight newcomers to bolster the lineup. The Golden Eagles will see the return of infielder Mac Fitzgerald, who missed the entire 2023 season to injury. Fitzgerald, named Tech's Player to Watch by the Ohio Valley Conference, posted a .321 batting average in the 2022 campaign, driving in 28 runs with seven home runs, seven doubles and three triples, while also stealing 26 bases on 28 attempts.
The Golden Eagles return four of their top five offensive producers from last season with outfielder Abby Shoulders (.276, 25 runs scored, 40 hits, 13 RBI, nine stolen bases), outfielder Jordan Key (.272, 31 hits, nine RBI), infielder Carmen Betts (.250, 31 hits, two HR, 19 RBI) and infielder Ella Bishop (.219, 23 hits, 14 runs scored, eight RBI).
Tech will see a completely different set of personnel in the circle. Bringing in transfer pitchers Lennon Spicer (Morehead State) and Payton Wagner (Fairleigh Dickinson) who have already seen collegiate competition, as well as freshmen Emily York and Faith Rush, the Golden Eagles look to improve on 2023 and start the season on a high note.
