COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will be back at home in action as the Golden Eagles host an Ohio Valley Conference series against Western Illinois on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Saturday includes a doubleheader against the Leathernecks, while Sunday is a single game. First pitch on both days are scheduled for 12 p.m. starts. The series is slated to be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).

 

Saturday will be Little League Day as area 12U teams are invited to the game and feature in pre-game with the Golden Eagles.

 

For both teams, it'll be an opportunity to start building momentum in the conference race. The Leathernecks enter the weekend set with a 6-18 record overall, 2-4 in the OVC.

 

WIU has lost its last five games, including falling in a sweep to Southeast Missouri last weekend in Macomb. The Leathernecks opened OVC play winning two out of three over Southern Indiana.

 

Midweek losses to Saint Louis and Bradley are the other two blemishes on the current streak.

 

As a team, Western Illinois is batting .273 with 71 RBI and 80 runs scored, collecting 40 extra-base hits with 23 doubles, seven triples and 10 home runs. Malia Robertson and Lillie Wools are both hitting at or above .400 with Robertson at .404 and Wools at .400.

 

Payton Brown leads the team production-wise with 14 runs scored, four doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 18 RBI – all of those team-highs except total hits and doubles. Maria Luna (.292) also has 13 RBI. Robertson has a team-best 10 stolen bases on 14 attempts.

 

In the circle, Western has a cumulative 6.88 ERA, allowing 177 runs – 149 earned – with opponents hitting .341 with 20 home runs allowed, 101 walks and 72 strikeouts. Wools (2-4, 3.89 ERA), Kaitlyn Green (2-4, 6.93 ERA) and Libby Spaulding (2-4, 7.00 ERA) each have a team-best two victories.

 

Tech enters the weekend with a 7-19 record, 1-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. As a team, the Golden Eagles are hitting .249 with 71 RBI and 88 runs scored, collecting 42 extra-base hits, including 32 doubles, five triples and five home runs. Abby Shoulders leads the team in average with a .348 clip, 14 runs scored and 11 stolen bases, while Sydney Kirby is in double-figures in RBI with 15. Abbee Klinefelter has two home runs.

 

In the circle, Tech has a 3.90 cumulative ERA, allowing 131 runs – 97 earned – on 231 hits with opponents hitting .315. The Golden Eagles have walked 88 and struck out 117. Emily York (3-5) has a team-best 3.14 ERA, while Lainey Fitzgerald (3-5) has a team-most 43 strikeouts.

 

Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field is open to the public.