By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will be back in action on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles host former Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay at Tech Softball Field.
Wednesday's game will be the second meeting against the Governors since they left the OVC following the 2022 season. Tech leads the all-time series 73-31, but Austin Peay has won 11 of the last 12 meetings since the 2017 campaign.
Austin Peay enters Wednesday's affair with a 33-11 record, falling in two of its last three games in a weekend Atlantic Sun series at Eastern Kentucky. The Governors have three OVC victories this season as they have topped Morehead State three times – 10-1 in five innings in Greeneville, S.C., as well as a 7-1 victory and a 9-1 win in six innings at the Governors Classic in Clarksville.
As a team, the Governors are hitting .321 with 140 extra-base hits – 66 doubles, 12 triples and 62 home runs – while scoring 294 runs and driving in 276 for RBI. Austin Peay is 22nd nationally in home runs, 26th nationally in RBI and 34th nationally in total runs scored. Sam Leski (.276) and Sammie Shelander lead the team in RBI with 45 and 42 respectively with Leski hitting 10 round-trippers. Katie Raper (.291) has the team's most home runs with 11, while average leader Kylie Campbell (.397) has eight homers and a team-best 43 runs scored.
In the circle, the Governors have a 3.50 earned run average with opponents hitting .280 against, while walking 116 and striking out 148. Samantha Miener (13-2, 2.79 ERA) has seen the most work with 113 innings over 32 appearances, walking 33 and striking out 45. Ashley Martin (10-3, 3.54 ERA) has walked 31 and struck out 76 while also recording a team-high seven saves.
The Golden Eagles avoided the series sweep against Southeast Missouri over the weekend as Tech got a two-homer performance from Makayli Harris and a solid pitching effort between Payton Wagner, Addison Abell and Emily York to get the victory.
As a team, Tech is hitting .270, collecting 67 extra-base hits – 54 doubles, six triples and seven home runs – while scoring 176 runs and driving in 150 for RBI. Abby Shoulders leads the team in average with a .333 mark, while also leading the team in runs scored (29), hits (43) and stolen bases (25-for-28). Sydney Kirby (.307) has the most doubles (16) and RBI (25), while Abbee Klinefelter is close by with 24 runs driven in. Harris leads the team with three home runs.
In the circle, Tech has a 3.75 ERA with opponents hitting .295. Emily York (8-7, 3.24 ERA) has the team's best record in 103 2/3 innings of work with 31 walks and 67 strikeouts, while Lainey Fitzgerald (4-8, 4.24 ERA) and Wagner (2-9, 3.16 ERA) have combined for 24 starts.
Admission is free to all games at Tech Softball Field.
The Golden Eagles will continue OVC play this weekend at Lindenwood for a three-game set.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
