NASHVILLE— Lately, wins have been tough to come by for the Tennessee State University Tiger softball team (15-21-1, 6-8 OVC). After a 4-0 start to the conference schedule, the Tigers have dropped eight of their last ten OVC matchups and are on a three-game losing streak overall. This weekend, they will be taking on the team above them in the standings, the University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (16-19, 9-8 OVC).
 
This will be the first time that both programs have matched up. The three-game set begins Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday in the series finale at 1 p.m. The final nine regular season games for TSU will all be played in the state of Tennessee, with six scheduled at the friendly confines of Tiger Field. Both teams are vying for position in the postseason, with the conference having a log jam in the middle of the standings—two games in the loss column separate six teams. 
 
The Tigers have enjoyed four different four-game unbeaten streaks this season. They started the season sweeping the four-game River City Classic. After tying the University of Incarnate Word on the road, they traveled to Lindenwood and swept them in a three-game series. In the next game, TSU defeated the SEMO Redhawks to start the OVC at 4-0. The victory broke a 14-game losing streak to SEMO, and it was the first home win over the Redhawks since April 3, 2005. 
 
The Matchup: Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (16-19, 9-8 OVC) at Tennessee State Tigers (15-21-1, 6-8 OVC)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 21| 1 & 3 p.m. (CST)
Date/Time: Sunday, April 22| 1 p.m. (CST)
Watch Live: ESPN +
Live Stats: https://tsutigers.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
Location: Tiger Field | Nashville
 
 SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Junior Anayah Baker-Rowell has flourished since moving to the leadoff position. She has reached base safely in the past five games and seven of the last eight. She is also a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen bases this season.
• Freshman catcher Onnika Spencer is the only Tiger with a batting average over .300. She leads the team in home runs (eight), RBI (24), and slugging percentage (.631).
• Laila Armstrong has reached base safely in the last eight games.
• The Tigers have turned 19 double plays this season while only committing six.

 
SCOUTING USI:

• USI is second in the OVC with a team batting average of .297 in conference games.
• Senior Allie Goodin has feasted on OVC pitching. She leads the conference in batting average (.467), hits (28), doubles (eight), and total bases (45).
• Sophomore Josie Newman has eight of the nine USI wins in OVC play. In games against conference opponents, she leads the league in complete games (ten) and strikeouts (73). Newman has also pitched ten innings in one game. That is the most this season by an OVC pitcher.
• Junior Mackenzie Bedrick leads the team with 26 runs scored on the season.

The Tigers will travel to Cookeville, Tennessee, to take on Tennessee Tech in a three-game weekend series on April 29-30.