By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will hit the road for one last time on its current road trip, heading eastward to Johnson City to take on ETSU.
First pitch Wednesday is slated for 5 p.m. Central time at Betty Basler Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
ETSU entered Tuesday with a 4-17 record and was scheduled to take on Winthrop in a doubleheader, weather permitting. The Bucs' last victory came on March 3, winning the first game of a twinbill against Robert Morris.
Since then, ETSU has lost eight straight games, including a sweep from UNCG, who won the Southern Conference-opening series 9-0, 8-1 and 5-1.
As a team, the Bucs are batting .254 with 52 RBI and 58 runs scored. Sara Muir (.396) has driven in a team-best 12 runs, while Cameron Young (.455) leads the team in hits with 25, while driving in 11 and coming home to score 10 times. Muir also has four of ETSU's six home runs on the year. Brylee Mesusan leads the team in runs scored with 15 and has stolen eight of the team's nine stolen bases.
Muir also stands with the team's best record in the circle, collecting a 3-4 mark on the season. She has a 4.97 ERA in eight appearances, walking 12 and striking out 21 across 38 innings of work. Taylor Suchy (0-6, 4.36 ERA) has seen the most innings in the circle, throwing 45 frames with 16 walks and 24 strikeouts.
The Golden Eagles have played their last seven games on the road, going 4-3 in the current road trip. Tech returns home for a three-game set against Lindenwood on Friday and Saturday.
Through the first three weekends of Ohio Valley Conference play, the Golden Eagles (14-11, 6-3 OVC) are currently in a three-way tie for second with Tennessee State and Southern Indiana, standing two games back from defending tournament champion Eastern Illinois.
It's a solid start for a Tech team that won six total games last season and just two in the OVC, but it's just that – a start.
The Golden Eagles are hitting .299 as a team, collecting 113 RBI and 125 runs scored. Carmen Betts holds the team lead in batting with a .364 effort, posting the team lead in doubles (8) and RBI (23). Abby Shoulders (.309) has 17 RBI and 19 runs scored with 15 stolen bases, while Mac Fitzgerald (.296) has 21 steals, 23 runs scored and 10 RBI. Sydney Kirby (.289) has 16 RBI, while Meaghan Houk (.286) has 10 RBI.
In the circle, Emily York picked up a victory on Sunday to improve her season record to 5-0, while posting a 1.55 ERA for the season. Payton Wagner (4-2, 3.05 ERA) and Lennon Spicer (4-6, 5.48 ERA) each have four victories. As a staff, Tech has a 3.86 ERA with 108 strikeouts to 70 walks.
