Softball

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Now with a full season under her belt, Tennessee Tech softball head coach Michelle DePolo took stock of the Golden Eagle roster and looked for pieces to start the team back skyward. Scouring the region and beyond, DePolo found several players she felt would make a great fit with what is presently on the roster to make a push for the team’s 13th Ohio Valley Conference championship and eighth NCAA Regional appearance.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – You could say Zoe Schafer is very familiar with the Tennessee Tech softball team. Barely three months ago, Schafer played first base, donning the red and black of the SIUE Cougars. She had a fitting weekend for one of the program’s top hitters historically, going .500 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Now, she’s trading in her alma mater’s colors for Tech’s purple and gold as she joins Michelle DePolo’s staff.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Everywhere Mario Hernandez has served as a coach, improvement has followed. As the 2022 season stands before the Tennessee Tech softball team, Hernandez’s work ethic and passion for the sport looks to be tremendous assets as Golden Eagle head coach Michelle DePolo added him to her staff. A young coach with plenty of experience both as a head coach and an assistant, Hernandez brings an impressive resume to Cookeville.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the COVID-shortened season in 2020, the Ohio Valley Conference teams really didn’t get to know just how much of a presence Nicolle Nysted was for the Tennessee Tech softball team. In 2021, however, they found out. Even with an injury midway through the OVC campaign that sidelined her for nine games, the sophomore from Kennesaw, Ga., led the Golden Eagles offensively and had a solid presence behind the plate. On Wednesday, her efforts paid off as she earned a second-team all-OVC selection as well as a pick to the conference’s all-newcomer team.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech softball team honored its senior class, they all came up big in the season finale leading to a doubleheader split on Saturday. UT Martin took the day’s first game 2-0, then the Golden Eagles won the second 7-4. Jessie Lowery went 3-for-4 in the second game, Beth McCulley was 3-for-7 on the day with an RBI and Hannah Richter set up scoring plays in the later contest. With those players coming through and helping the Golden Eagles (19-30, 13-20 Ohio Valley Conference) earn a victory in the finale, Tech builds some momentum for the future.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Alyssa Arden and Alexis Groet were locked into a pitcher’s duel on Friday as the Tennessee Tech and UT Martin softball teams started their season-ending set. As each pitcher yielded three hits in the contest, it was errors that produced three unearned runs as the Skyhawks took the first game, winning 2-1.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the 2021 season comes to a close this weekend for the Tennessee Tech softball team, pride is on the line as the Golden Eagles host UT Martin in a three-game series. Tech hosts the Skyhawks in a single game on Friday, starting at 5 p.m., then wrap up the season with a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. The Saturday games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano providing the call.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team put together a late rally, but the effort wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit on Sunday as Belmont took a 5-3 victory at E.S. Rose Park, completing the three-game sweep over the Golden Eagles. Tech (18-28, 12-18 Ohio Valley Conference) concludes the regular season on Friday and Saturday as the Golden Eagles host UT Martin.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team had an early lead against Belmont on Saturday, but after the Bruins put together a six-run inning in the bottom of the fourth, it snowballed against the Golden Eagles as Belmont swept the Saturday twinbill. Belmont (14-23, 10-17 Ohio Valley Conference) run-ruled Tech 10-2 in six innings in game one, then topped the Golden Eagles (18-26, 12-17 OVC) 5-1 in the nightcap for Tech’s sixth straight loss. The two teams meet again on Sunday to close out the series at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

NASHVILLE – It’s one final road trip for the Tennessee Tech softball team this weekend as they pack up to Nashville to face Belmont. A doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start Saturday from E.S. Rose Park, while a single game on Sunday is also slated for 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required). The host Bruins (12-23 overall) have had a tough go in the Ohio Valley Conference race this season, going 8-17 in league play, while also going 7-for-12 in home contests. Belmont has lost five of its last seven games, taking a victory in both series at Murray State and at home against UT Martin.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky peppered the Tennessee Tech defense for 17 hits on Wednesday night as the host Hilltoppers topped the Golden Eagles 11-3. It was the final non-conference contest for Tech (18-25). The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday as they travel to Nashville to take on Belmont, starting with a twinbill at 1 p.m.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., -- After just finishing one trip into the Bluegrass State, the Tennessee Tech softball team will pack up again on Wednesday and head toward Bowling Green, taking on Western Kentucky in a single game to close out the non-conference slate.  First pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed online via Facebook Live and CUSA.tv.  The Hilltoppers come into the game with a 19-11 record, winning three of their last five games. They’ve played just two Conference USA series, falling in three of four to Middle Tennessee, then splitting the Charlotte series two games each. 

RICHMOND, Ky. – On Monday, everything seemed to be going Tennessee Tech’s way. Haeli Bryson was cruising in the circle, the Golden Eagle bats had put together a lead and the defense was holding strong. It all changed in the sixth inning. After a leadoff walk, errors creeped into Tech’s game. It built and built and as the adage goes, “When it rains, it pours.” Eastern Kentucky rallied for five runs in the inning to take the lead and eventually a 6-3 victory to sweep the Golden Eagles in their final meeting before the OVC-founding Colonels head to the Atlantic Sun Conference.

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech softball team battled on Sunday, collecting 15 total hits on the day. But while a rally was nowhere to be seen against Eastern Kentucky in game one, the Golden Eagles took the lead in game two, but it was short-lived as the Ohio Valley Conference-leading Colonels retook the advantage. The Colonels won the first game 3-1, then 4-3 in the later effort. The final match of the series is scheduled for a 1 p.m. Central start at Gertrude Hood Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required).

RICHMOND, Ky. – If the series against Eastern Kentucky wasn’t already a big one for Tennessee Tech since it is the last meeting between these two Ohio Valley Conference before the Colonels bolt to the Atlantic Sun Conference, it’s also the Golden Eagles’ chance to take on the conference leader as they try to make a push for a postseason spot. First pitch on Sunday in Richmond is scheduled for a 1 p.m. Central time start, the second game to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion. The third game of the series will be held Monday at 1 p.m. The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required).

RICHMOND, Ky. -- The Tennessee Tech softball series this weekend at Eastern Kentucky, originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, has been pushed back a day with the threat of inclement weather on Saturday. Tech and EKU will play a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. Central, as well as a single game on Monday, also starting at 1 p.m. Central. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the history between Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State, a split in their final faceoff almost seemed fitting. The games on Tuesday seemed indicative of the team’s 17-year rivalry in the Ohio Valley Conference – outstanding pitching, clutch offense and late-inning heroics. Jacksonville State took game one 4-3, then the Golden Eagles claimed the nightcap 4-1.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Haeli Bryson had a big week in the circle for the Tennessee Tech softball team. The Ohio Valley Conference agreed, as the league’s sports information contacts split the vote for the conference Pitcher of the Week between Bryson and Jacksonville State’s Alexus Jimmerson. Ironically, the two teams square off on Tuesday in a doubleheader at Tech Softball Field. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano providing the call.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – By the time this week ends, the Tennessee Tech softball team will have faced two of its long-time Ohio Valley Conference rivals for the last time in regular-season play. On Tuesday, the Golden Eagles (17-20, 11-11 OVC) entertain Jacksonville State (16-19, 14-9 OVC) in a doubleheader, starting at 3 p.m. Dylan Vazzano will provide the call on ESPN+ (subscription required). This weekend, Tech will travel to Richmond, Ky., to take on Eastern Kentucky (27-11, 18-5 OVC).

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech’s battery was pushing it to the limit on Sunday, trying to do everything to close out the series against SIUE with a win. With the way Haeli Bryson pitched and catcher Raleigh Lewis came through, there’s definitely some thought that the Golden Eagles could be building some momentum entering the home stretch of the Ohio Valley Conference slate. Tech (17-20, 11-11 OVC) claimed the 3-1 victory on Sunday to take the series two games to one. The Golden Eagles return home Tuesday in a league doubleheader with Jacksonville State, starting at 3 p.m.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Late-inning heroics for the Tennessee Tech softball team led to a split against SIUE on Saturday as the Golden Eagles took the day’s first game 3-2 in the ninth inning, then rallied in a 10-8 defeat in the nightcap. Tech (16-20, 10-11 Ohio Valley Conference) and SIUE meet up for the rubber game of the series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. with the game broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required). The visiting Cougars (9-20, 9-14 OVC) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Amber Storer hit a ball into left field for a single, but a fielding error allowed two runs to cross as Zoe Schafer and Lexi King came home.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech hasn’t had much luck on the home turf this season, posting a 1-7 record in Ohio Valley Conference play at the Tech Softball Field. On the road, the Golden Eagles are 8-3. But you have to look at it this way – Tech’s home opponents have included three of the top four teams in the conference this season in Southeast Missouri, Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois. Number five will be Jacksonville State who will come to town for a twinbill on Tuesday and has two of the Golden Eagles’ three road OVC losses from the previous meeting. Tech has an opportunity to reverse that trend this weekend as the Golden Eagles host SIUE for a three-game set, starting with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. Sunday’s finale is also slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. Admission to the games is free to the public, though masks are required for all fans in attendance and social distancing is in effect.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Shelby Penning collected the lone hit for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Monday, breaking up Ashley Rogers’ no-hit bid as No. 16 Tennessee blanked the Golden Eagles 8-0. Tech (15-19) returns to action this weekend as it hosts SIUE in a three-game set. Rogers yielded the lone Tech hit to Penning in the fourth inning as she dropped a ball into right field. She struck out five of her 16 batters faced, throwing a total of 69 pitches to earn her 17th win of the season.

MURRAY, Ky. – Alyssa Arden pitched a gem on Saturday, yielding just three hits as the Tennessee Tech softball team topped Murray State 3-1 to take the rubber game and win the series. The Golden Eagles improved to 15-18 on the season, 9-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Murray State dropped to 15-23, 12-10 in the league. Tech returns to action on Monday as the Golden Eagles take on Tennessee in a non-conference matchup, a makeup of the series scheduled last week.

MURRAY, Ky. – The first game was all Tennessee Tech on Friday, but despite some late-inning heroics in the second game, Murray State escaped with a split against the Golden Eagles in their first two games. The series is expected to conclude on Saturday with a single game at 3 p.m., weather permitting. Tech saw its record change to 14-18, 8-10 in the OVC, while Murray State improved to 15-22, 12-9 OVC, both teams breaking their losing streaks in the twinbill.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- After seeing its doubleheader against No. 21 Tennessee canceled with the Lady Vols going through COVID protocols, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee agreed to schedule a single game on Monday afternoon, first pitch scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.

MURRAY, Ky. – It’s back into Ohio Valley Conference action on Friday as the Tennessee Tech softball team heads to Murray State for what proves to be an important series for both teams. Anticipated weather for this weekend changed the schedule to a doubleheader Friday starting at 1 p.m. and a single game on Saturday starting at 3 p.m. The games will be televised on ESPN+ (subscription required). Murray State enters the weekend with a 14-21 overall record, 11-8 in the OVC. The Racers have lost their last six games, which included a three-game sweep at Jacksonville State and a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday at Austin Peay.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech’s jaunt up to Knoxville will have to wait until another day as Tuesday’s twinbill at No. 21 Tennessee has been canceled. Tennessee co-head coach Karen Weekly said, “Today’s game has been canceled due to an abundance of caution and COVID protocols within the Tennessee program.” With a positive result among Tennessee’s Tier 1 personnel, the action is consistent with requirements developed by the Southeastern Conference’s Medical Guidance Task Force. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles will return to Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend as they head to Murray State for a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday. Tech returns home next weekend for a three-game set against SIUE.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – It’s never easy to play on the road. It’s even tougher when you’re going in to face a ranked opponent. When the Tennessee Tech softball team heads to Knoxville on Tuesday to take on No. 21 Tennessee, the Golden Eagles know they’re going to be in for a battle. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Central, with the second game following approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first. The last week was not kind to Tech. After entering last week with five wins in their last six games, the Golden Eagles ran into challenging matchups on the road at Jacksonville State and at home with Austin Peay. They enter Tuesday’s contest with a six-game losing streak, dating back to the second contest against Eastern Illinois on March 26.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. ? Saturday?s game was a slugfest as Tennessee Tech closed out its three-game series against Austin Peay. The two teams combined for 22 hits, but the Governors struck for three runs in the sixth inning to break a 6-6 tie and were able to hang on for a 9-7 victory. Tech (13-17, 7-9 OVC) returns to action on Tuesday as it travels to No. 21 Tennessee for a doubleheader. Mackenzie Fitzgerald went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Golden Eagles at the plate, while Bailey Shorter (3-for-5, four RBI), Lexi Osowski (3-for-4, two RBI) and Kelsey Gross (2-for-3, three RBI) led the APSU attack.