March 29, 2010

Rivals to meet as Tech hosts Gamecocks Tuesday in 3 p.m. doubleheader

One of the most engaging rivalries in the Ohio Valley Conference resumes Tuesday afternoon at the Tech softball field when Tennessee Tech hosts Jacksonville State in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- One of the most engaging rivalries in the Ohio Valley Conference resumes Tuesday afternoon at the Tech softball field when Tennessee Tech hosts Jacksonville State in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

While both teams are below the .500 mark so far this season, the two squads are typically among the top teams in the OVC and have waged some memorable battles through the past 10 years.

Tech comes into the games with a 12-18 overall mark after dropping three games at league-leading Eastern Illinois over the weekend. The Golden Eagles are 2-3 in conference play.

The Gamecocks, who were also swept by EIU, bring a 12-13 overall mark to town including a 1-3 record in the OVC.

Tech has been led at the plate by juniors Lacie Coquerille and Callie Schmidt. Coquerille tops Tech with a .311 batting average with four doubles and one home run. Schmidt is second on the tam with a .308 average and leads coach Tory ACheson's team with six home runs and 21 RBI. Another power hitter in the Tech lineup has beenjunior Whitney Cummings, with five home, runs six doubles and 18 RBI.

A couple of freshmen are also hitting above the .300 mark this season. Chanelle Spalding is third on the team with a .304 mark and a team-high .436 on-base percentage. Melody Christian is hitting .302 in her rookie campaign and leads the team in stolen bases.

Inside the circle, junior Maddie Schmissroauter and sophomore Holly Thomas has seen the most action. Schmissrauter is 5-4 with a 1.95 ERA, posting 65 strikeouts in 57 1.3 innings. Thomas is 7-9 with a 3.05 ERA, getting a team-high 7 strikeouts in 85 innings.

Jacksonville State has three batters above the .300 mark, led by Hillary downs at .333 wih two home runs and 10 RBI. Chrissy O'Neal is hitting .330 with two home runs and nine RBI, while Sallie Beth Burch is hitting .304.

One number that stands out on the JSU season stats -- the team has not hit into a single double play in the first 25 games this season.

Two pitchers have thrown nearly every inning for JSU. Hillary Phillips is 4-6 with a 2.82 ERA, notching 44 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings, while Ashley Eliasson is 8-7 with a 2.84 ERA and 67 K's in 108 1/3 innings.

Admission is free to all regular season Tech home games.