By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will hit the road this weekend to take on SIUE in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday.
First pitch on both days is set for 12 p.m. The series will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live stats available at TTUsports.com.
Tech (7-15, 1-2 OVC) is on a three-game slide after winning the middle game of the series against Tennessee State this past Saturday to open conference play, then took two on the chin on Tuesday in a pair of non-conference losses to North Dakota.
The Golden Eagles started well in the twinbill's opener, scoring the first four runs of the game, but the Fighting Hawks rallied back to win the game 7-4, then took the nightcap 8-2. Tech is 1-9 in its last 10 games after starting the season 6-6.
The Cougars enter the weekend with an 11-9 record overall and a 3-0 mark in league play after sweeping Morehead State on the road. SIUE also defeated Missouri State 9-5 on Tuesday to extend its winning streak to six games since falling to Alabama 7-4 on March 1.
SIUE is batting .290 so far this season, led by Kaylynn Salyars with a .371 batting average and tied for the most hits on the team with Lauryn Yslava with 23. Yslava has 23 runs scored, six doubles, seven stolen bases, 46 total bases and five home runs – all the most on the team, with Emma Henderson also slugging five round-trippers. Anna Henderson leads the team in RBI with 20.
As a team, the Cougars have 22 home runs over 20 games played with 95 RBI, 107 runs scored and 28 stolen bases. They have drawn 48 walks and struck out 105 times.
In the circle, SIUE has a 5.06 earned run average. Across 126 innings, the Cougars have allowed 117 runs – 91 earned – with 66 walks and 64 strikeouts and opponents hitting .325. Avery Arwood (4.31 ERA, 34 Ks) has the most wins with a 4-4 record in 10 starts with five complete games over 52 frames of work.
Tech has a 3.52 ERA for the staff, allowing 98 runs – 72 earned – with 73 walks and 97 strikeouts with opponents hitting .310. Lainey Fitzgerald (3.06 ERA, 37 Ks) and Emily York (3.31 ERA, 22 Ks) each have three wins.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles are batting .243 with 52 RBI, four home runs, 68 runs scored and 25 stolen bases. Abby Shoulders leads the team with a .358 average, 10 runs scored, 19 hits and eight stolen bases. Sydney Kirby (.246) has the most RBI with 11 and total hits with 57. Abbee Klinefelter (.275) has two of Tech's four round-trippers.
Following the SIUE series, Tech will have a midweek contest on the road Tuesday at North Alabama, while they return home next Saturday and Sunday for a three-game conference set against Western Illinois.
Photo | Jim Dillon
