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Games 1-3: at North Alabama
Date: Monday, Feb. 22 - Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021
Times: Mon. - 1:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.; Tues. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Florence, Ala.
Venue: Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium
Live Stats: LIVE
Video: NA


Tigers (0-0)
2020: 7-11

After an 11 month layoff due to the 2020 season cut short due to COVID-19, the Tigers return to action as they open the 2021 campaign with a three game series at North Alabama. This marks the second consecutive season the Big Blue travels to Florence, Ala. to start the season. TSU faced the Lions and Alcorn State at the UNA Softball Invitational. TSU finished 1-3 at the two-day event, dropping both games against North Alabama.

The Tigers return 10 members from a year ago, including second year seniors Lauren Powell and Savanah Wallace. The duo took advantage of the NCAA's decision to grant another year of eligibility to all players from 2020. Powell is in her sixth season in blue after serving a redshirt year due to an injury after her junior campaign. In the circle. Powell finished 3-6 with a 2.91 ERA while striking out 50 batters in 53.0 innings. Raven Loveless will join Powell at the front of the TSU rotation after going 3-3 with two saves a year ago.

Offensively, TSU has to replace their top three hitters from 2020. The trio of Patton Akers, Sarah Snell and Beckey Melton along with the other departed Tigers combined for 67 of the teams 104 hits, as well as 31 of the 50 scored runs. The former Tigers collected 16 of the 24 doubles, two of the three triples and three of the five home runs. Fourth year Head Coach Andrea Browning will turn to returners Lauren Farias, Bri Vire and Analeigh Coursey as well as Wallace to pace TSU. Coach Browning will also look to the nine newcomers to step in a produce immediately.

Top Returning Statistical Tigers:
Avg.: Lauren Farias - .238
OBP: Lauren Farias - .304
Runs: Marisa Mauroschadt - 6
Hits: Lauren Farias - 10
Doubles: Bri Vire - 3
Triples: Lauren Farias - 1
Home Runs: Savanah Wallace, Kayli Mothershed - 1
RBI: Bri Vire, Analeigh Coursey - 3
Stolen Bases: Lauren Farias, Bri Vire - 1
Base On Balls: Lauren Farias - 4
Hit by Pitch: Savanah Wallace - 4
ERA: Lauren Powell - 2.91
Wins: Raven Loveless, Lauren Powell - 3
Saves: Raven Loveless - 2
Innings Pitched: Raven Loveless, Lauren Powell - 53.0
Strikeouts: Lauren Powell - 50


North Alabama (1-2)
2020 Record: 16-7
Conference: Atlantic Sun

The Lions are once again led by pitcher Megan Garst who over the last two seasons has struck out 257 batters in 211 innings. Garst is the owner of the Lions lone win this season and has posted a 1.70 ERA over 12.1 innings and has fanned 13 batters without surrendering a walk. At the plate, Lexie Harper leads the team with a .375 average and two runs scored over the first three games of the season.


Career - Individual
Hit by Pitch
T8. Tedra Alford (2010-13), 10
T8. Tayler Shimizu (2012-15), 10
T8. Jennifer Givens (2012-13), 10
 --   Savanah Wallace (2019-Present), 6

Wins
3. Amanda Vaught (2007-08), 27
4. Caitlin Eaton (2008-11). 21
5. Shannon Hicks (2001-04), 17
T6. Lauren Powell (2016-Present), 14
T6. Raven Loveless (2019-Present), 14

Appearances
1. Shea Morris (2012-14), 118
2. Teresa Onry (1995-98), 106
3. Olivia Gamache (2011-14), 104
4. Caitlin Eaton (2008-11), 99
5. Lauren Powell (2016-Present), 98

Starts
1. Shea Morris (2012-14), 76
2. Sarah Davis (1997-2000), 75
3. Teresa Onry (1995-98), 70
T4. Caitlin Eaton (2008-11), 68
T4. Tarah Evanisko (2002-05), 68
T6. Olivia Gamache (2011-14), 65
T6. Lauren Powell (2016-Present), 65

Innings Pitched
1. Shea Morris (2012-14), 551.3
2. Teresa Onry (1995-98), 436.3
3. Amanda Vaught (2007-08), 432.6
4. Tarah Evanisko (2002-05), 420.3
5. Lauren Powell (2016-Present), 399.7

Strike Outs
2. Amanda Vaught (2007-08), 438
3. Caitlin Eaton (2008-11), 274
4. Lauren Powell (2016-Present), 260
5. Olivia Gamache (2011-14), 214
6. Candace Hildebrand (2006-07), 178
7. Tarah Evanisko (2002-05), 166
8. Shannon Hicks (2001-04), 147
9. Lauren Weber (2006-08), 138
10. Justine Jontz (2003-04), 116
-- Raven Loveless (2019-Present), 87

Saves
1. Shea Morris (2012-14), 8
2. Amanda Vaught (2007-08), 6
3. Shannon Hicks (2001-04), 4
T4. Tarah Evanisko (2002-05), 3
T4. Justine Jontz (2003-04), 3
T4. Megan Hedrick (2009-10), 3
T4. Jasmine Matchen (2015), 3
T4. Raven Loveless (2019-Present), 3

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