By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. – After a quick jaunt up to Macomb, Ill., the Tennessee Tech softball team is back out on the road again as the Golden Eagles head down to Georgia to take on Kennesaw State for a single game on Wednesday.
The game will be streamed on the KSU Owl Network.
Tech (12-9) had another great weekend in Ohio Valley Conference play, taking its second-straight conference series with two wins out of three games against Southern Indiana and Western Illinois.
Kennesaw State (9-18) took two of three from Stetson to open Atlantic Sun Conference play, falling 1-0 in the opener, then winning 10-7 and 2-1 in the final two games. A win over Mercer last Wednesday broke a four-game losing streak.
As a team, the Owls are hitting .228 with 78 RBI and 38 extra-base hits – including 10 home runs – in 709 at-bats. Kassidy Amerson-Fox leads the team in average with a .310 mark, while Ava Guzowski (.284), Kiera Cooper (.224) and Caroline Shumeyko (.209) each have a team-best 11 RBI. Amerson-Fox, Guzowski, Shumeyko and Macie Howes each have hit two home runs for the squad lead.
Stella Henry has been the player to get on the bases as she has scored a team-high 18 times and has stolen 14 bases on 16 tries.
In the circle, KSU has a 3.62 earned run average with 140 strikeouts and 98 earned runs across 189 2/3 innings with opponents hitting .261 against. Kenley Hilleary leads the team in ERA (3.02) with two complete games and a shutout among 16 appearances and six starts. Over 48 2/3 innings, she has allowed 29 runs – 21 earned – on 44 hits, walking 14 and striking out 41.
Lindsey Kyte (0-6, 3.60 ERA) and Melanie Bennett (3-6, 3.66 ERA) have thrown a similar number of innings with Kyte walking 19 and striking out 35 and Bennett walking nine and striking out 32.
Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles are batting .302 as a team with five home runs and 42 extra-base hits. Tech has 97 RBI combined while scoring 105 runs over 589 at-bats. Carmen Betts leads the way with a .394 batting average, leading the team in hits (26), doubles (eight), triples (one) and RBI (19).
Sydney Kirby has been a tremendous addition to the Golden Eagle lineup this season with a .314 average and 16 RBI, while the return of Mac Fitzgerald from injury has also been a boon as she is hitting .284 with 16 runs scored – tied with Abby Shoulders for the team-high – with nine RBI and 14-for-14 on stolen bases. Shoulders (.290) also has 14 RBI on the season.
In the circle, the Golden Eagles have a combined 3.92 earned run average with opponents hitting .301 and allowing 107 runs – 77 earned – on 137 1/3 innings of work. Emily York, who has seen 13 of her 14 appearances in relief, has a team-best 4-0 record and 1.60 ERA in 43 2/3 innings of work, walking eight and striking out 33. Payton Wagner (4-1, 2.97) and Lennon Spicer (3-5, 5.35) have the most starts with eight each.
Tech continues its road trip as it heads to Morehead State this weekend, then a midweek contest at East Tennessee State next Wednesday before returning home next Friday for a three-game set with Lindenwood.
Photo | Jim Dillon
