EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Ohio Valley Conference chase continues this weekend as the Tennessee Tech softball team heads up to Evansville to take on Southern Indiana for a three-game set.

 

Weather in the forecast has changed the original schedule from a single game Saturday and a Sunday doubleheader into a Friday twinbill and a Saturday single game. The games on both days will begin at noon. With the forecast, the planned broadcasts have been cancelled.

 

Regardless, this is a big week for both teams. With Tech's sweep over Western Illinois, the Golden Eagles (10-20, 4-5 OVC) have jumped back into the mix, tied with Lindenwood for fifth in the league standings with just over a full month remaining in league play. The Screaming Eagles (6-17, 3-5 OVC) stand half a game back from Tech.

 

As a team, the Screaming Eagles are batting .234 with 71 runs scored, 64 RBI and 36 extra-base hits – 27 doubles, one triple and eight home runs. Jordan Mackey has the top total in RBI with 15 and four of the team's round-trippers, while Kennedy Nalley has eight. Lilly Brown has the top batting average with a .389 mark but only 36 at-bats. Caroline Stapleton, in 74 at-bats, has a .365 batting average. 

 

In the circle, USI has a cumulative 5.18 earned run average, walking 95 and striking out 155 with opponents hitting .297. Josie Newman (5.12 ERA) has the most wins on the team with a 4-10 record, while she has struck out a team-best 121 with opponents hitting .292. Kylie Witthaus (2-6, 3.95 ERA) has 31 walks and 28 strikeouts.

 

Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles have a team batting average of .263, scoring 119 runs and driving in 96 with 50 extra-base hits – 40 doubles, five triples and five home runs. Tech has three players with double-digit RBI totals with Sydney Kirby leading the way with 17, Abbee Klinefelter – who was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's Softball Player of the Week on Tuesday – with 15 and Makayli Harris with 10.

 

Abby Shoulders leads the team in average (.363), runs scored (20), hits (29) and stolen bases (17), while Klinefelter has two home runs to lead the squad. 

 

In the circle, Tech has a 3.74 cumulative ERA, walking 106 and striking out 124 with opponents hitting .308. Emily York (3.02 ERA, 36 Ks) leads the team with four wins, while freshman Lainey Fitzgerald (5.08 ERA, 44 Ks) has three wins.

 

Following the weekend series, Tech hits the road to Louisville to take on Bellarmine on Wednesday, then hosts Eastern Illinois next weekend at Tech Softball Field.