Tech softball heads to Western Illinois for Easter weekend series
MACOMB, Ill. – Tennessee Tech will look to hold on to its share of second place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings as the Golden Eagle softball team heads to Macomb, Ill., to take on Western Illinois on Saturday and Sunday. The two teams will face each other Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled at 12 PM, followed by a single game on Sunday at 12 PM. The schedule is subject to change with potential inclement weather forecast for Macomb over the weekend.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
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1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 7 | 12 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 |
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1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | X | 9 | 13 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 16 | 3 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
MACOMB, Ill. – Tennessee Tech will look to hold on to its share of second place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings as the Golden Eagle softball team heads to Macomb, Ill., to take on Western Illinois on Saturday and Sunday.
The two teams will face each other Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled at 12 PM, followed by a single game on Sunday at 12 PM. The schedule is subject to change with potential inclement weather forecast for Macomb over the weekend.
The Golden Eagles (12-19) currently stand at 9-3 in the OVC, tied with UT Martin for the second-place spot and trailing undefeated Eastern Illinois by three games as the league begins its Easter weekend play. After falling in the first conference series against SIUE, Tech has won nine straight conference games and winning 10 of its last 12 overall.
Western Illinois enters the weekend with an 8-20 record overall and a 3-8 mark in the conference, presently tied with Morehead State for the last spot in the conference tournament if the season ended today.
However, this weekend marks the midway point of the conference race with nothing set in stone yet as there's a month remaining in OVC play.
The Leathernecks lost both games against Southeast Missouri as one was canceled to weather, fell in two of three to Southern Indiana, took two of three from Morehead State, then was swept last week at Eastern Illinois.
As a team, WIU is batting .292, scoring 131 runs and collecting 118 RBI with 60 extra-base hits – 46 doubles, five triples and nine home runs. Ruby Tarr (.306) leads the team with 26 RBI, while Payton Brown has the team's best average at .391, the team's most runs scored with 26 and the most home runs with five as she has driven in 24. Maria Luna (.298) has 20 RBI with a team-best 10 doubles.
In the circle, the Leathernecks have a 6.06 ERA, allowing 185 runs – 148 earned. The pitching staff has walked 134 and struck out 105. Libby Spaulding has six of the team's eight wins, posting a 4.56 ERA with 50 strikeouts across 73 2/3 innings of work. Lillie Wools (5.75 ERA) and Kaitlyn Green (10.50 ERA) have the other two wins on the season.
Over the last 15 games, the Golden Eagles have been hitting .329 with 92 RBI and 11 home runs. Ashley Capelouto has 23 RBI and six home runs in that stretch, while Jailynn Paderez is hitting .438 with 12 RBI and Olivia Evans and Sofia Carroll have scored 16 runs each.
In that same stretch, Tech's pitching has seen its ERA sit a 3.82 with opponents hitting .287, while striking out 55. Addison Abell has a 2.93 ERA and a 2-1 mark, while Emily York has a 7-2 record in 12 appearances, posting a 3.74 ERA with 27 strikeouts.
For the season as a whole, the Golden Eagles are batting .269 with 144 runs scored and 123 RBI, while posting a 4.76 staff ERA with 113 strikeouts.
Following the series in Macomb, Tech will host five straight games with a visit from North Alabama on Wednesday before Southern Indiana comes in for three next Saturday and Sunday, then closing the homestand with a visit from Bellarmine on April 14.
Photo | Jim Dillon
