University of Tennessee Athletics
SOFTBALL CENTRAL: Eagle Round Robin
February 08, 2017 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- It’s officially Softball Time in Tennessee! The Volunteers open their 2017 campaign this Friday with a doubleheader against Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee at the Eagle Round Robin in Statesboro, Ga.
MORE INFO
2017 Eagle Round Robin
- Teams: Tennessee, Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee, UNC Greensboro, Tennessee Tech
- Dates: Friday, Feb. 10 – Sunday, Feb. 12
- Venue: Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex (Statesboro, Ga.)
- Watch: GS All-Access (For GS game only)
- Listen: UTSports.com
No. 15/15 Tennessee
Roster Schedule StatsGeorgia Southern
Roster Schedule StatsMiddle Tennessee
Roster Schedule StatsUNC Greensboro
Roster Schedule StatsTennessee Tech
Roster Schedule StatsUT will also play UNC Greensboro and tournament host Georgia Southern over the weekend. The Vols are coming off their 13th straight NCAA tournament appearance and are ranked No. 15 in both national polls to start the season.
Tournament Schedule/Media & Broadcast Info
All five of Tennessee’s games this week can be heard live on UTSports.com by visiting the schedule page and clicking the “Listen” link for each game. Brian Rice will have the call for the audio broadcast.
The Vols’ game against Georgia Southern will be streamed live via GS All-Access on their website HERE. A subscription is required to watch.
View UT’s full weekend schedule below.
Friday
Tennessee vs. Tennessee Tech | 12 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Middle Tennessee | 2 p.m.
Saturday
Tennessee vs. UNCG | 11:30 a.m.
Tennessee at Georgia Southern | 3:30 p.m. | Stream: GS All-Access
Sunday
Tennessee vs. UNCG | 12 p.m.
Need to Know
Tennessee is coming off its 13th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and returns 13 letterwinners from last season, including five position starters. UT also brings back four players that earned SEC postseason honors last season in Meghan Gregg (First Team), Matty Moss (Freshman Team), Brooke Vines (Freshman Team) and Aubrey Leach (Freshman Team).
Preseason Rankings and Honors
The Vols begin the season ranked in both the NFCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll and the USA Softball Preseason Top 25 for the 14th straight season, checking in at No. 15 in both polls.
Gregg and senior Megan Geer have both garnered some preseason recognition this year. Gregg was named to the All-SEC Preseason team and to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-America team. Geer was also named to the All-SEC Preseason team and was included on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 “Watch List”.
Success in Season Openers
UT has had a ton of success in season openers and during opening-week tournaments under co-head coaches Ralph Weekly and Karen Weekly. The Vols are 12-3 in season openers and have gone 57-12-1 in opening-week tournaments under the Weeklys.
The Streak
The Vols will put their impressive winning streak against in-state opponents on the line this week with a pair of games against teams from Tennessee. UT opens its season with a doubleheader against Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee on Friday afternoon. The Big Orange have won 88 straight games against in-state foes and have never been beaten by an in-state opponent since the Weeklys took over the program in 2002 (83-0).
Scouting Report
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Tennessee Tech was 23-33 (14-13 OVC) in 2016 and was picked to finish fifth on the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll. The Golden Eagles return seven of their top eight hitters from a year ago, as well as senior pitcher Danielle Liberatore, who was an All-OVC second team selection last season.
UT’s All-Time Record vs. Tennessee Tech: 20-0
The Vols have beaten the Golden Eagles more than any other in-state program. UT defeated TTU, 8-0 (5), in the last meeting between the two programs on April 27, 2016.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee is coming off a 23-31 (6-18 C-USA) season in 2016 and was picked to finish 11th in the Conference USA Preseason Poll. The Blue Raiders bring back nine of their top 11 hitters from last season and also return two pitchers. Junior outfielder Precious Birdsong was named to the preseason all-conference team.
UT’s All-Time Record vs. Middle Tennessee: 18-1
Tennessee has dominated the all-time series and is 2-0 against the Blue Raiders in games played at neutral sites. However, Middle Tennessee was the last in-state team to defeat the Volunteers, doing so on March 22, 2000.
UNC Greensboro Spartans
UNC Greensboro went 33-26 (9-9 SoCon) last year and was chosen to finish third in the Southern Conference Preseason Poll. The Spartans are led by junior pitcher Alicia Bazonski, who was selected as the SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year. UNCG will need to lean heavily on Bazonski this season after losing their top five hitters from 2016.
UT’s All-Time Record vs. UNC Greensboro: 2-0
Tennessee and UNCG have not met since 1997, when the Vols rolled to a 15-1 victory over the Spartans in Knoxville.
Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia Southern finished 30-27 (13-11 Sun Belt) a year ago and was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll. The Eagles bring back nearly their entire roster from 2016, including 10 of their top 12 hitters and all five pitchers who saw action last season. Sophomore pitcher Dixie Raley returns to lead the pitching staff after being named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year last season.
UT’s All-Time Record vs. Georgia Southern: 10-0
UT in 3-0 on the road against Georgia Southern, including a 1-0 victory in Statesboro on Feb. 8, 2014.
What's Next?
Tennessee travels out west next week for the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. The Vols will play five games in the tournament, taking on Northern Colorado, DePaul, Bradley, Oregon State and New Mexico State.
