Tech Softball hosts North Alabama Wednesday
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will face a challenge on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles host North Alabama on Wednesday. The visiting Lions have been playing well of late and have found themselves on two mid-major polls as North Alabama is ranked No. 18 in the Softball America poll and No. 22 on the D1Softball poll after winning eight straight conference games and improving to 27-8 on the season.
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By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team will face a challenge on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles host North Alabama on Wednesday.
The visiting Lions have been playing well of late and have found themselves on two mid-major polls as North Alabama is ranked No. 18 in the Softball America poll and No. 22 on the D1Softball poll after winning eight straight conference games and improving to 27-8 on the season.
It'll certainly be a test for the Golden Eagles as they host the Lions at 4 PM on Wednesday. Dylan Vazzano will have the call live on ESPN+ (subscription required), while admission to Tech Softball Field is free.
Tennessee Tech's offense continued to power forward during this last weekend's series at Western Illinois. Despite dropping two games to the Leathernecks and see the Ohio Valley Conference race tighten, the Golden Eagle offense continued to put up numbers as Tech hit .368 in the series, collecting 23 RBI on 24 runs scored with six home runs.
Sofia Carroll hit .667 in the series with five RBI and six runs scored, while Jailynn Paderez batted .571 with a stunning 1.571 slugging percentage and .750 on-base percentage as she was 4-for-7 with eight RBI and three runs scored – and was walked eight times.
North Alabama has won six games in a row since a 12-0 loss to No. 6 Alabama, sweeping Bellarmine 10-0 in five, 17-6 in five and 12-2, then sweeping Lipscomb 8-3, 3-0 and 3-1. The Lions presently are 10-2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
As a team, UNA is hitting .311 on the season with 232 runs scored – 6.6 per game – with 208 RBI. The Lions have 97 extra-base hits – 47 doubles, five triples and 45 home runs. Briley Dover (.393) leads the team in average and runs scored (40), while posting eight home runs, 34 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Holly Merritt (.380) leads the team in RBI (43) and home runs (12). Bayleigh Rouse (.340) has 33 RBI, while Gyvan Hammons (.313) leads the team in stolen bases (13).
In the circle, the staff has a 3.57 earned run average, striking out 152 to 80 walks. Alivia Wilken has posted an 11-4 record and a 2.68 ERA, while Katie Simon has a 10-2 mark and a 3.47 ERA. Opponents are hitting .257 against UNA.
The Golden Eagles (13-21, 10-5 OVC), meanwhile, saw their nine-game OVC winning streak snapped in Macomb, but have still won 11 of their last 15 games. As a team, Tech is hitting .279 with 168 runs scored – 4.9 per game – and 129 RBI. The Golden Eagles have 76 extra-base hits – 78 doubles, nine triples and 19 home runs.
Paderez leads the team in batting with a .418 clip, collecting 25 RBI and three home runs. Ashley Capelouto (.337) has the most home runs with seven and has a team-best 32 RBI. Olivia Evans (.311) has stolen a team-best 16 bases.
In the circle, the staff has a combined ERA of 4.93, walking 108 and striking out 126 with opponents hitting .313 against. Addison Abell has the team's best ERA with a 3.54 over 61 1/3 innings, with a 3-2 record. Emily York has the most victories with seven to go with a 5.32 ERA and team-best 55 strikeouts.
Following the Wednesday midweek, the Golden Eagles will host Southern Indiana on Saturday and Sunday before welcoming in Bellarmine next Tuesday to complete the homestand.
