By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MACOMB, Ill. – Tennessee Tech swept Western Illinois in the meetings between the schools last season. At the time, who knew it was going to be a potential Ohio Valley Conference matchup as the Leathernecks joined the conference just weeks later?
Now the Golden Eagles will be making the return trip to take on Western Illinois with a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday, both starting at noon.
The Leathernecks enter the weekend with an 11-13 record and have played five games over the last six days. WIU saw UT Martin take the OVC-opening series 2-1, sandwiching the Leathernecks with a pair of run-ruled losses. They dropped a 2-0 decision at Kansas City on Tuesday, then topped Saint Louis 3-2 on Wednesday.
The weekend series will be WIU's first games at home this season.
The Leathernecks, as a team, are hitting .253, collecting 71 RBI with seven home runs and 43 extra-base hits. The offense is led by Bella Alvarez, who's driven in 16 runs, scored seven times and knocked out three of the team's dingers. She's batting .318 on the season.
Malia Robertson (.282) has 11 RBI and a team-best 14 runs scored with three doubles, a triple and a homer. She is also a team-high 10-for-12 on stolen bases.
The Leathernecks are aggressive at the plate, drawing 34 walks and 11 hit batters to go along with 122 strikeouts in 645 at-bats.
In the circle, Western is posting a 2.95 team ERA, allowing 92 runs – 65 earned – on 166 hits and 66 walks with 129 strikeouts so far this season. Emily Price has a 5-6 record with a 2.37 ERA, striking out a team-best 62 to 14 walks in 62 complete frames. Opponents are hitting .236 against her. Raven Morrison (4-2, 2.70 ERA) has allowed 18 runs on 44 hits and 26 walks across 46 2/3 innings. Morrison also has three saves on the season.
The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, went 2-1 in their conference opener, sweeping Southern Indiana 2-1 and 5-0 in the doubleheader on Sunday before the Screaming Eagles rallied for a 6-3 victory on Monday. Tech then split with Rhode Island in a Tuesday twinbill, falling 9-7 in the opener and blanking the Rams 4-0 in the nightcap.
Tech currently stands in the five-way tie atop the league standings at 2-1 with no undefeated or winless teams remaining after the first weekend of play.
As a team, the Golden Eagles are hitting .285 with 75 RBI, collecting four home runs among 33 extra-base hits. Tech has walked 53 times, been hit seven times and struck out 60 across 488 at-bats.
Carmen Betts leads the team in average (.333), doubles (six), triples (one), RBI (14) and total bases (26). Abby Shoulders (.276) has 11 RBI and a team-best 13 runs scored with seven stolen bases, while Mac Fitzgerald (.290) has nine RBI, 12 runs scored and a team-best 10 base swipes. Sydney Kirby (.276) is also among the team leaders in run production, driving in 12.
In the circle, Tech has a 3.40 ERA, allowing 81 runs – 57 earned – on 136 hit and 45 walks with 77 strikeouts and opponents hitting .286. Emily York leads the team in ERA with a 1.73, recording her third and fourth saves of the season against Southern Indiana. She also has the team lead in strikeouts with 25.
Payton Wagner collected her fourth win of the season and a complete game shutout over Rhode Island on Tuesday. She has a 4-1 record and a 2.66 ERA to date. Faith Rush (1-3, 4.85 ERA) and Lennon Spicer (2-4, 5.08 ERA) had some tough-luck innings against USI and Rhode Island, but have both been putting together strong performances in the circle.
Following the weekend series in Macomb, Tech will travel to Kennesaw State for a single game on Wednesday, then head to Morehead State next weekend for a three-game set. The Golden Eagles return home on March 29 to take on Lindenwood.
Photo | Jim Dillon
