By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tennessee Tech will head down to Jacksonville for a unique event this weekend as the Golden Eagles will face North Florida for a doubleheader on Thursday, Jacksonville University for a twinbill on Saturday, then wrap up Sunday with another single game against the Ospreys.
Tech's competing in the UNF-JU Classic as both teams will take on the Golden Eagles and DePaul in the four-team round robin. With the anticipated weather in Jacksonville, Tech's games against UNF have already been moved to Thursday afternoon with a Noon Central first pitch with the second game following approximately 30 minutes after.
Saturday's games against the Dolphins remain at 2 PM and 4:30 PM Central for the time being. Morning showers are still in the forecast for Saturday, while Sunday's prediction shows mostly sunny into the 70s.
It's the final tune-up for the Golden Eagles before they open Ohio Valley Conference play next weekend at home against SIUE. Tech went 1-2 last week at the Georgia Southern GATA Challenge as Rhode Island won 2-1 in extra innings before falling 11-0 to the host Eagles. Tech closed out the event with a big 9-0 run-rule victory over former OVC rival Eastern Kentucky before rain washed out the final two games of the weekend.
Starting off with North Florida on Thursday will be no easy task as the Ospreys come into the first of three games with a 14-5 record overall with an 11-2 record on their home turf so far this season, including a 11-3 run-rule victory over Auburn on opening day.
North Florida went 3-2 last week at the Grand Canyon University Purple Classic, topping San Diego 4-0, UC Santa Barbara 4-3 and Montana 7-2 with a 6-3 return loss to San Diego and a 9-0 run-rule loss to the hosts.
The Ospreys are hitting .300 as a team with Bella Cimino leading the way with a .370 average, two home runs, 11 runs scored and 13 RBI. Grace Shaw (.309) has 14 RBI and 11 runs scored with three doubles, two triples and a homer, while Hallie Langford (.328) has a team-best 19 hits with six doubles and two triples.
UNF has a team ERA of 2.88 with Cameron Ponich (6-1, 1.25 ERA) and Kate Peters (2-1, 1.75 ERA) throwing sub-2.00 ERAs. Ponich and Peters have both allowed just six earned runs, Ponich in 33 2/3 innings, Peters in 24 frames. The pair has combined for 13 walks and 52 strikeouts.
Jacksonville has started the season with a 7-8 record, going 1-4 last week at the UNC Charlotte Invitational. The lone victory came against Boston with a 4-0 win, but the first game against the Terriers was a 6-5 loss. Marshall shut JU out 3-0, then the host 49ers topped the Dolphins 11-2 in five innings and 9-8 in the finale.
JU is hitting .305 as a team with 68 total RBI, led by Kate Linkletter (.429) with three home runs, 11 runs scored and 11 RBI. Tatum McCool (.226) also has nine RBI and two home runs.
In the circle, the Dolphins have a 5.62 staff ERA with Jacy Harrelson (4-4, 3.23 ERA) leading the way with 25 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings of work. Jordan White (3-3, 5.20 ERA) has 23 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings. The pair has allowed 48 of the team's 73 earned runs.
Jailynn Paderez currently leads Tech in average with a .444 clip, providing a team-high 12 hits with seven walks and four RBI. Ashley Capelouto (.357) has the team lead in runs scored – five – and in RBI – six. Ella Grace Harvey (.273) and Ella Bishop (.250) both have five RBI thus far. As a team, Tech is hitting .247.
Pitching-wise, the Golden Eagles have collected a 4.97 staff ERA, led by Addison Abell with a 2.30 and a 1-0 record in 21 1/3 innings – getting the complete-game shutout against Eastern Kentucky last weekend. Lainey Fitzgerald leads the team in strikeouts with 16, just one more than Emily York with 15.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
