Sports

Softball begins challenging fall with doubleheader at home

The Tennessee Tech softball team begins their fall schedule Sept. 28 in a doubleheader against the Kennesaw State Owls and the Motlow State Lady Bucks. The action will take place at the Tech Softball Field. The Golden Eagles’ contest with the Owls will start at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a game with the Lady Bucks at 2 p.m. The only other home contest will be on Oct. 3 against Roane State.

Tech wants to build from last year’s conference success. The Golden Eagles ended the season with a 15-12 record in the Ohio Valley Conference and have won 13 of their last 16 regular season games. The team also made a deep run in the conference tournament, which was highlighted by a dramatic win over Jacksonville State. The team was only eliminated after rain delays canceled the consolation round.

 “We finished on a bittersweet note last year because we did awesome,” said sophomore pitcher Danielle Liberatore. “I think this year we are out to get it (OVC title).”

This year’s fall schedule includes some tough competition for the Golden Eagles. Tech will travel to Ole Miss to take on the Rebels and the Jones Community College Lady Bobcats on Oct. 11.

A week later, the team will be in Knoxville, Tenn. to face the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, which will be the closing weekend for Tech’s fall schedule. For senior Erica Tuck, going back to Knoxville will be like a homecoming.

“I am from Knoxville,” said Tuck. “It is always a fun time to go and play over there.”

Head coach Bonnie Bynum believes the tough schedule will be a way to see where the program is.

“I think it is a great thing. I think we have set ourselves up to really see what we are going to need to work on for the spring,” said Bynum. “Obviously they are the kind of opponents we are going to be facing day in and day out once we get to our spring schedule.”

Tech will have some familiar faces returning this fall. The team had only three players graduate after last season.

“We do have a lot of experience. We only lost three players last year. They contributed quite a bit, but we have the bulk of our team returning,” said Bynum. “We have got some new people who I expect to step in and fill those roles and do a good job.”

A combination of newcomers, a drive to improve and a competitive schedule should make the fall season interesting for the Golden Eagles.