Softball

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After coming into Cookeville and meeting the Tennessee Tech softball players, Danielle Penner knew she wanted to be the next coach for the Golden Eagles. Now, she’s set to hit the ground running, hired as the sixth head coach in the program’s 38-year history. “I’m thankful to (Tech Director of Athletics) Mark Wilson and the Tennessee Tech athletic department for the opportunity to lead the Golden Eagle softball team,” Penner said. “The moment I arrived in Cookeville, I met with the staff, the players and even some of our dedicated fans, I knew it was a special place. I’m excited about the future and the direction of the program and the athletic department.” The young women on the team and their commitment to the Purple and Gold made the decision an easy one.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson announced the decision to make a change in leadership at the top of the softball program Friday afternoon.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announcing its All-Region teams on Thursday, the Tennessee Tech softball team earned its first all-region selection since 2008 as first baseman/pitcher Haeli Bryson was selected as a first baseman on the Midwest Region’s third team.  She is the 10th player in program history to earn a selection to the NFCA All-Region teams, joining Stacy Hughes (1996), Brandy Henry (1999), Adrienne Fortmann (2001), Stephanie Dallmann (2001. 2003), Jennifer Smith (2001), LeeAnne Mongar (2002), Bonnie Bynum (2006, 2007), Beth Boden (2007) and Stephanie Fischer (2008). 

OXFORD, Ala. – After Southeast Missouri went up 5-0 in the top of the first, the Tennessee Tech softball team didn’t back down. Abby Buettner drilled two home runs and picked up all five Golden Eagle RBI in the game, but the game wasn’t out of reach at any point. While the Golden Eagles fell 6-5 in the contest Thursday night, Tech had every opportunity to retake the lead.

OXFORD, Ala. – When all was said and done in the second game for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Wednesday in the Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship, the Golden Eagles had a great opportunity against UT Martin in the seventh inning. After all, trailing 5-4 with the bases loaded and two out, there was a great chance for Tech to take the lead back and advance in the winner’s bracket. Abby Buettner battled, taking a 2-2 count and fouling off another pitch. The sixth pitch in the sequence, however, seemed to be a routine foul ball. Instead, UT Martin first baseman Kaitlyn Kelley ran the ball down, slid into the infield wall and made the catch for the game-ending out.

OXFORD, Ala. – The hard part is out of the way as the Tennessee Tech softball team advanced past the single-elimination contests on Wednesday and will now see at least two more games as the Golden Eagles will play UT Martin this afternoon at 3 p.m. Tech took a 3-1 victory over Eastern Illinois in the day’s opener. It was a pitchers’ duel for the longest time as the two teams went scoreless through the first three frames.

OXFORD, Ala. – With just three days removed from a 16-15 extra-inning loss and a 10-4 defeat to Eastern Illinois to close out the regular season, then have to regroup and play the team again to open the Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship at Choccolocco Park, there’s no doubt it’s a strange feeling. There is the lingering concern after the previous two meetings, of course, but there’s also a familiarity about it. With fresh eyes on the pitching and defense last seen, things can always be different the next time around.

OXFORD, Ala. – With the regular season in the books and the Ohio Valley Conference set to begin its softball championship on Wednesday, the league announced its postseason honors on Tuesday afternoon. With the sixth-seed in the bracket, the Tennessee Tech softball team picked up two league awards as senior first baseman/pitcher Haeli Bryson was selected to the all-OVC first-team roster, becoming the first Golden Eagle since Alyssa Richards in 2017 to make the first-team lineup. Freshman pitcher Tyler Erwin was named to the conference’s All-Newcomer Team, Tech’s fifth pick to that squad in five seasons.

CHARLESTON, Ill. – After a 12-0 lead in game one, the Tennessee Tech softball team saw Eastern Illinois rally back, tying the game in the seventh inning to send the contest into extra innings, then the Panthers walked off the game in the eighth for a 16-15 victory over the Golden Eagles. In game two, Tech tied the game at four runs each early, but EIU (25-29, 10-17 Ohio Valley Conference) shut the Golden Eagles down offensively and took a 10-4 victory.

CHARLESTON, Ill. – It’s down to the final week of competition for the Ohio Valley Conference race and there’s still a lot to play out. It’ll all come to a close this weekend as the Tennessee Tech softball team heads to Charleston, Ill., to take on Eastern Illinois for a three-game set. With rain in Charleston, Saturday’s doubleheader has been pushed back to a 4 p.m start, while Sunday’s single game will begin at 1 p.m.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech was able to chase off Murray State ace Hannah James after one inning, but the visiting Racers rallied late to take a 7-3 victory over the Golden Eagles on Sunday. Haeli Bryson was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Golden Eagles (31-18, 13-12 Ohio Valley Conference), while Sierra Gilmore had three RBI and Logan Braundmeier, Gracie Osbron and Erin Lackey each went 2-for-4 to lead the Racers (34-14-1, 19-6 OVC) to keep pace a game back of Belmont in the league standings.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team honored its seniors on Saturday, but it turned out to be a tough day for the Golden Eagles as Murray State, still looking to unseat Belmont from the top spot in the Ohio Valley Conference, took two from Tech on Saturday. The Racers (34-14-1, 18-6 OVC) won game one 7-3 behind OVC Pitcher of the Year contender Hannah James, but it was a close game for most of the contest with Murray not collecting its first hit until the fifth inning.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s amazing how quickly time flies. It just seems like yesterday that the 2022 campaign kicked off, even if it was two-and-a-half months ago. It’s even more surreal for the Tennessee Tech seniors who are wrapping up their Golden Eagle careers this season and entering their final games at the Tech Softball Field. Tech hosts Murray State, who dropped into second place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings on Wednesday, but still very much in contention for the regular-season title. The games are slated for a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 1 p.m., followed by a single game on Sunday.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a day with a lot of ups and downs as the Tennessee Tech softball team saw a split against Morehead State. The visiting Eagles won the day’s opener as MSU held the Golden Eagles to four hits in a 5-2 victory, then Tech took the nightcap by the same score, 5-2. The Golden Eagles (31-15, 13-9 Ohio Valley Conference) return to action on Saturday and Sunday as they host Murray State in a three-game set.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Five games remain for the Tennessee Tech softball team at its friendly confines of the Tech Softball Field for the 2022 campaign and they’re all important games for the Golden Eagles as they try to lock down seeding in the OVC Softball Championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. The home action begins on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles host Morehead State in a twinbill starting at 3 p.m. Tech will then host conference co-leader Murray State with a doubleheader Saturday and a single game on Sunday. The team will recognize its three departing seniors – Sydney Love-Baker, Callie Piper and Shelby Penning – in the home finale as part of Senior Day festivities. Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field is free to the public.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An early start was enough to propel the Tennessee Tech softball team to a three-game sweep of Tennessee State on Sunday as the Golden Eagles plated three in the first inning and held on to a 5-2 victory. The Golden Eagles (30-14, 12-8 Ohio Valley Conference) moved into fourth in the league standings, positioned four games back of co-conference leaders Murray State and Belmont, both square at 16-4 in the league. Tech hosts Morehead State (4-15) in a doubleheader on Wednesday before the Golden Eagles close out the home slate this weekend with Murray State.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State made Tennessee Tech earn everything on Saturday, keeping the Golden Eagles quiet on the scoreboard. Tech had to tie the day’s opener in the sixth inning, then earn the extra-inning victory in the eighth to claim the opener 4-3. Then, after trailing 2-0 early, the Golden Eagles rallied for single runs in the third, fourth and fifth to take a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a tough weekend against Belmont last Friday and Saturday, the Tennessee Tech softball team was able to get its feet back beneath them with a big midweek victory over Chattanooga. Now, Tech can use that to build some momentum on Saturday and Sunday as the Golden Eagles head to Nashville to take on Tennessee State. The Tigers (12-31, 3-14 Ohio Valley Conference) slipped into last place in the OVC after Morehead State swept SIUE last weekend. With three weekends remaining in the conference race – and 11 games remaining for the Golden Eagles with TSU, Morehead State, Murray State and Eastern Illinois still remaining on the slate – there’s still a lot that can happen in the standings.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team needed a win to get back on the positive side of things and the Golden Eagle bats came through, collecting seven hits and reaching on three errors and five walks to collect a 5-3 victory on Tuesday afternoon. The big blast came in the third inning as Savannah Talley hit a three-run dinger, her fifth round-tripper of the season and her 20th, 21st and 23rd RBI of the season.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the final stretch of the 2022 softball season kicks into gear, the Tennessee Tech squad will take on its final regular-season non-conference opponent of the season as the Golden Eagles take on in-state foe Chattanooga on Tuesday evening. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m. Central time. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Sydney Love-Baker had a four-RBI game for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Saturday, but the Belmont squad completed the three-game sweep with a 14-5 run-rule victory. Tech fell to 26-14, 9-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Belmont improved to 22-11, 13-4 in the league. The Golden Eagles return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Chattanooga for a 4:30 p.m. Belmont’s offense picked right up where it left off from Friday’s doubleheader, collecting 14 runs on 11 hits – including eight runs in the second inning to chase off starter Alyssa Arden. The Tech ace was tagged for eight runs on four hits in an inning and a third, walking five Bruins batters and striking out two to see her season record fall to 13-9.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Alyssa Arden was just two outs away from her fourth career no-hitter, leading Belmont 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning during Friday’s second game. However, the Bruins spoiled that and more, going on to sweep the Golden Eagles in the twinbill. Elison Ollinger hit a solo home run to break up the no-hit bid, then drove in two more in the eighth inning as the Bruins earned a 5-1 victory in eight innings in game one. She finished the night with five RBI as she also had a two-run home run in the first inning of game two. After the Golden Eagles tied the game in the second inning, the Bruins struck for nine runs in the top of the fifth inning as Belmont collected seven straight hits and tallied nine total in the frame to force the run rule in the nightcap, topping Tech 13-4.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Eleven home games so far for the Tennessee Tech softball team and all of them have resulted in victories for the Golden Eagles. It’s the longest home winning streak since the 2007 season as that Tech squad won 15 straight home outings en route to a 20-2 record at Tech Softball Field before claiming the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships. That streak stands on the line Friday and Saturday as Belmont comes to down for a three-game set, a crucial one in the OVC standings.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – If the Tennessee Tech softball team keeps winning at home, they may never want to hit the road again. The Golden Eagles used some late-inning heroics in both games to earn the sweep over SIUE and improve their record at the Tech Softball Field to 11-0 on the season. It is the longest home winning streak since 2007, where Tech went 15-0 en route to a 20-2 mark at home.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Alyssa Arden put together a strong outing on Saturday as she collected her 12th win and second complete-game shutout, fanning a season-high eight batters as Tennessee Tech collected a 4-0 victory over the visiting SIUE Cougars. Tech improves to 24-11 on the season, 7-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while SIUE falls to 13-21, 5-7 in the league.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s been a weird weather week in Cookeville as the Tennessee Tech softball team already saw one contest scratched on Wednesday. With rain and snow in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, the Golden Eagles will shift their weekend slate just slightly. Tech (23-11, 6-5 Ohio Valley Conference) will still host SIUE, but the schedule has changed. Now, the Golden Eagles will host the Cougars in a single game on Saturday, starting at 3 p.m., then in a twinbill on Sunday starting at noon. Admission to games at Tech Softball Field is free to the public. Streaming-wise, Dylan Vazzano will have the call for all three games online on ESPN+ (subscription required).

UPDATE (3:00 p.m., 4/5): With the threat of storms on Wednesday, the game against North Alabama has been canceled. COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – There’ll be some midweek action for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Wednesday afternoon as the Golden Eagles entertain North Alabama. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. Dylan Vazzano will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required). Storms are in the forecast for Wednesday so the game is weather permitting. Updates will be available on TTUsports.com and on the team’s social media channels.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – For the three-game series, Tennessee Tech outscored Austin Peay 20-17. However, it was the Governors who took the wins as Austin Peay held off a late Golden Eagle rally to take the series’ rubber game on Sunday with a 7-5 win over Tech. The Golden Eagles (23-11, 6-5 Ohio Valley Conference) return to action on Wednesday for a non-conference contest at home against North Alabama, starting at 4 p.m, to begin a seven-game homestand. Tech will also host SIUE next weekend and Belmont the following weekend during the run at Tech Softball Field.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After Austin Peay rallied to take the first game 9-4 on Saturday, the Tennessee Tech softball team bounced back in a big way, run-ruling the Governors 11-1 in the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split. The Golden Eagles (23-10, 6-4 Ohio Valley Conference) hit five home runs on the day. Mackenzie Fitzgerald hit three of them, posting five RBI in total during both games, while Savannah Talley hit Tech’s fourth grand slam of the season in game two, giving the Golden Eagles 35 total home runs thus far.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It’ll be a quick turnaround for the Tennessee Tech softball team. After taking the first two games against Morehead State in the travel partner home-and-home doubleheaders, the Golden Eagles will hit the road once more this week as they prepare to head to Clarksville on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game set against Austin Peay. The series, the last between these Ohio Valley Conference in-state rivals since the Govs are joining the Atlantic Sun Conference next season, will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). First pitch on Saturday’s doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m., as is Sunday’s single game.