Tech hosts No. 16 UT to begin six games in six days stretch
For the second time this season, the Tennessee Tech softball team will have the opportunity for its first-ever win against the No. 16 UT Lady Vols. The Golden Eagles will play host to Tennessee on Tuesday as Tech begins a stretch of six games in six days.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the second time this season, the Tennessee Tech softball team will have the opportunity for its first-ever win against the No. 16 UT Lady Vols. The Golden Eagles will play host to Tennessee on Tuesday as Tech begins a stretch of six games in six days.
Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Tech Softball Field. Admission is free.
Tennessee (37-8) enters the game on a six-game winning streak after most recently sweeping Presbyterian in a doubleheader on Saturday. The team is led offensively by Raven Chavanne who is sporting a .507 batting average with a team-leading 29 stolen bases. Chavanne is one of four Lady Vols batting above .300 this season.
In the circle, Ivy Renfroe has been the UT's ace, compiling a 22-2 record and 2.10 earned run average. She has six complete games and two shutouts to her credit while making a team-high 38 appearances.
Tech (18-25) heads into Tuesday's contest following a series win over Tennessee State. The Golden Eagles took two of three from the Lady Tigers and moved up from eighth to sixth in the OVC standings. Freshman Chanelle Spalding was one of several Golden Eagles who had a productive week as she hit .417 with her first career home run over the team's last four games. For the season, Spalding leads the team with a .321 batting average.
Maddie Schmissrauter has been a reliable option for head coach Tory Acheson in the circle. A junior from Chattanooga, Tenn., Schmissrauter (7-7) finished last week 1-0 with a 1.75 ERA in three appearances. Her 1.99 ERA for the season is the second best in the OVC.
When the two teams squared off earlier this season, Tech jumped out to a 1-0 lead after its half of the first inning, but the high-powered UT offense scored 11 runs in the first three innings before the Lady Vols captured a 11-2 win in five innings.
Golden Eagles catcher Callie Schmidt was a bright spot for the team in the previous meeting as she went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
The all-time series between TTU and UT has leaned in favor of the Lady Vols. The two teams have played several close games, but Tech is winless in 15 meetings with Tennessee.
Tech is looking to improve upon a 5-8 record at the Tech Softball Field this season. Six of UT's eight losses have come away from Knoxville as the Lady Vols are 17-6 when not playing at home.
All student-athletes are encouraged to attend the game as Tuesday is also Student-Athlete Appreciation Day.
For fans unable to attend, live stats will be available through Tech's Web site, TTUsports.com.
Following Tuesday's game, Tech has a home doubleheader against Cumberland scheduled for 2 p.m. before the team travels to Morehead State for a three-game series this weekend with the Eagles.
