By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tennessee Tech hits the road to Louisville to take on Bellarmine on Wednesday afternoon for a midweek contest as the Golden Eagles look to get momentum heading into the final full month of the campaign.
First pitch has been rescheduled to a 1 PM Central start time due to the forecast. The game is slated to be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). The game is weather permitting as the forecast in Louisville on Wednesday is primarily windy and overcast, but thunderstorms and high winds are expected to come through Wednesday night.
The two teams were scheduled to play in Cookeville almost a month ago on March 5 until weather forced a cancellation, while the scheduled meeting in Louisville a year ago was also cancelled for weather.
The Knights enter the game with a 4-21 record, including an 0-9 record in Atlantic Sun, and have lost 14 straight contests with their last win coming on March 2 against Butler at the Make It Happen Games in Madeira Beach, Fla.
As a team, Bellarmine is hitting .198 with 62 runs scored and 50 RBI, collecting 26 extra-base hits. Jacklyn Zuege (.215) leads the Knights with 10 RBI. Harlie Bickett has the team's top batting average (.247) with 18 hits, five doubles and six stolen bases. Megan Konermann (.235) has nine RBI and a team-high two home runs.
In the circle, Bellarmine has a cumulative 5.54 earned run average. Kelsie Houchens (1-9, 5.22 ERA, 56 1/3 IP) and Claire Lehmkuhler (2-10, 5.38 ERA, 52 2/3 IP) have seen the most innings of work with the two combining for 53 walks and 49 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .323 against the Knights.
The Golden Eagles enter the contest with a 10-23 mark and 4-8 in the Ohio Valley. After sweeping Western Illinois, the Golden Eagles fell in all four games last week with a slim 1-0 loss to Chattanooga, then a three-game sweep at Southern Indiana.
As a team, Tech is hitting .251 with 123 runs scored and 100 RBI, collecting 52 extra-base hits – including 42 doubles, five triples and five home runs. Abby Shoulders leads the team with a .348 batting average, 22 runs scored, 31 hits and 20 stolen bases. Sydney Kirby (.283), Abby Klinefelter (.296) and Makayli Harris (.279) all have double-digit RBI totals with 18, 17 and 10 respectively.
In the circle, the Golden Eagles have a cumulative 3.75 ERA with opponents hitting .307, walking 114 and striking out 139. Emily York (3.41 ERA, 4-6, 39 Ks) has worked the most innings with 13 total appearances, with Lainey Fitzgerald (4.88 ERA, 3-6, 52 Ks), Peyton Wagner (2.91 ERA, 1-7, 16 Ks) and Addison Abell (2.25 ERA, 2-3, 17 Ks) throwing a lot of innings.
Following Wednesday's contest, the Golden Eagles host Eastern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday. All games at Tech Softball Field are free to the public.
Photo | Jim Dillon
