Tech Softball hosts Southeast Missouri in Easter weekend series
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a successful trip to UT Martin last weekend, the Tennessee Tech softball team is back in the hunt and looks to keep on building momentum this week as the Golden Eagles host Southeast Missouri on Friday and Saturday. The games are a day earlier for the Easter holiday with the doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Friday and the single game Saturday at noon. The games will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
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0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
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0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
|
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4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 8 | 1 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a successful trip to UT Martin last weekend, the Tennessee Tech softball team is back in the hunt and looks to keep on building momentum this week as the Golden Eagles host Southeast Missouri on Friday and Saturday.
The games are a day earlier for the Easter holiday with the doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Friday and the single game Saturday at noon. The games will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Admission to all games at Tech Softball Field are free to the public.
With three conference series remaining – nine league games in all – the Golden Eagles (15-26 overall, 7-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference) find themselves in seventh place. It's still a tenuous spot though with UT Martin (6-11) and Western Illinois (6-12) right behind. However, Tech is also two games back of Lindenwood – next weekend's opponent at 9-9 in the league – as well as three back from Tennessee State (10-7) and five back from Southeast Missouri (12-5), leaving the potential for some ground to be made up.
The Golden Eagles certainly did that last weekend with a three-game sweep at UT Martin. In the finale, Tech's offense flourished as the Golden Eagles combined for 19 hits – tying the single-game school record set against Alabama A&M in 2016 – while Sydney Kirby went 5-for-6 at the plate, tying Samantha Lovelady's single-game record set in 2002.
Tech has won four games in a row and with 11 to go in the regular season, the Golden Eagles find themselves in familiar territory. The 2005 Tech squad won 14 of their last 15 games in the regular season after starting 18-25. There's a striking parallel there, but it will be a challenge as Southeast Missouri comes into Cookeville this holiday weekend.
The Redhawks have won their last five games, taking two from three at Lindenwood before sweeping Morehead State this past weekend in the Cape. SEMO has taken some knocks on the road, however, going 7-for-7 away from the Southeast Softball Complex.
SEMO head coach Mark Redburn also only needs one win to reach the 500 career win mark, so the Redhawks will enter the weekend with a little added incentive.
Southeast Missouri, as a team, is batting .323 overall with 179 runs scored and 171 RBI. The Redhawks have 73 extra-base hits with 50 doubles, six triples and 17 home runs. Sydney Dennis leads the team in average with a .450 mark with 25 runs scored, 49 hits – including 11 doubles and three triples – and 22 RBI. Brooklyn Saysoff (.379) leads the team in RBI with 38 while also collecting 11 doubles and three homers. Gracie Luna (.304) has six round-trippers and 33 RBI. Tatum Gerwitz (.337) has a team-best 13 stolen bases.
In the circle, SEMO has a 2.97 cumulative earned run average with 88 walks to 149 strikeouts with opponents hitting .250. Delaney Kell (6-3, 2.81 ERA) has worked the most innings with 52 1/3, recording 22 walks and 33 strikeouts. Willow Van Haren (4-2, 2.78 ERA) and Tegan Livesay (4-2, 2.96 ERA) have identical records, combining for 29 walks and 73 strikeouts.
Tech has a combined .271 batting average with 165 runs scored and 139 RBI. The Golden Eagles have 63 extra-base hits with 52 doubles, six triples and five home runs. Following the past weekend, Kirby and Abby Shoulders both share the team lead in average with a .331 clip, while Kirby ranks in a tie for 10th nationally with 16 doubles – three behind the national leader, Penn State's Brooke Klosowicz with 19.
Kirby and Abbee Klinefelter (.306) share the team lead in RBI with 24, while Shoulders has 25 steals in 27 attempts.
Tech has a combined 3.76 earned run average with 137 walks and 180 strikeouts with opponents hitting .299. Emily York leads the team with a 3.15 ERA and an 8-6 record over 19 appearances. In 95 2/3 innings, she has walked 26 and struck out 64 with five complete games. Payton Wagner (1-9, 3.19 ERA) has 19 appearances this season, while Lainey Fitzgerald (4-7, 4.50 ERA) has made 21 appearances.
This weekend's games will be "Strike Out Cancer" weekend for the Golden Eagles as the team will try to raise awareness for the disease and those affected by it.
Photo | Jim Dillon
