COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Looking to extend its Division I-leading 12-game winning streak, the Tennessee Tech baseball team (19-6, 8-1) will play host to Ohio Valley Conference foe SIU Edwardsville (6-13, 4-5) in a three game set beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. CDT.
Off to their best conference start in program history, the Golden Eagles will try to continue its streak, having swept its last two OVC opponents. The Cougars took two of three from Tech last season, a fact that the current Golden Eagle members have not forgotten.
Thursday's and Friday's match-ups will be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network and can also be followed on live stats or Twitter. Both games are tabbed with 6 p.m. start times. Saturday's game, a 2 p.m. contest, can be followed via live stats or Twitter updates. Just follow @TTUGoldenEagles.
SCOUTING THE SIU EDWARDSVILLE COUGARS
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LAST FIVE GAMES FOR |
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Date |
H/A/N |
Opponent |
Result |
Score |
|
March 17 |
A |
Jacksonville State* |
L |
7-6 |
|
March 19 |
H |
Illinois State |
L |
5-0 |
|
March 22 |
H |
Murray State* |
L |
1-0 |
|
March 23 |
H |
Murray State* |
W |
13-12 |
|
March 24 |
H |
Murray State* |
L |
8-1 |
The Cougars limp into this weekend's series having lost six of their last seven contests. The lone win in that span was a one-run victory over Murray State in Edwardsville, Ill.
Joel Greatting leads the offensive charge for SIUE, batting a team-best .295 through 19 games this season. He has 18 hits and five RBI to go along with 12 runs scored. Greatting has walked 12 times, also a team-best mark. Devin Caldwell leads the Cougars in both home runs (3) and RBI (9).
Thursday's man on the hill for the Cougars will be Travis Felax (2-3), one of the OVC's best as the righty owns a 1.94 ERA in six starts this season. He has allowed just nine earned runs on the year while striking out 27 batters and walking only three.
On tap for Friday's match-up is right hander P.J. Schuster (1-3), a 5.39 ERA guy that has thrown 27.1 innings on the year. He ranks second on the team with 22 Ks and allows batters to hit just .245.
Wrapping up the weekend series for SIUE will be Caleb Wilkerson (0-3), a righty that relies more on his defense than on the strikeout, setting down just five batters on strikes this season in 12.2 innings pitched. He ownes a 4.97 ERA and will be making his third start of the year on Saturday.
CATCHING UP WITH TECH
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LAST FIVE GAMES FOR |
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Date |
H/A/N |
Opponent |
Result |
Score |
|
March 20 |
H |
Berea |
W |
9-4 |
|
March 22 |
A |
UT Martin* |
W |
3-1 |
|
March 23 |
A |
UT Martin* |
W |
13-8 |
|
March 24 |
A |
UT Martin* |
W (6) |
8-5 |
|
March 26 |
H |
Maryville (Tenn.) |
W |
1-0 |
The Golden Eagles enter this weekend's series off to the hottest start in program history and owning the longest active winning streak in Division I baseball. Tech has run off 12-straight victories, the second longest streak in school history behind the 1955 team, which began its season 14-0.
The 12-game winning streak is the second longest in school history, just two shy of the 1955 team which started its season 14-0.
The streak comes off the backbone of great hitting and pitching, areas that the Golden Eagles have been so good in that they rank nationally in several categories including: second in strikeouts per nine innings, tied for second in home runs, 12th in slugging percentage, 24th in runs scored, 24th in scoring, 25th in doubles, and 30th in on-base percentage.
Five players are batting .300 or better this season for the Golden Eagles, inlcuding Brandon Thomasson (.327), Daniel Miles (.312), Zach Stephens (.304), James Abraham (.303), and Zach Zarzour (.300). Stephens leads the group with 30 RBI and 24 walks while Thomasson is tops in hits, with 32, and slugging percentage (.673). Both sluggers lead the team and OVC with seven home runs apiece.
Pitching this weekend for the Golden Eagles will be senior ace Tristan Archer (4-1), senior Nick Price (4-1), and sophomore Jacob Honea (1-1). Archer will look for his fifth consecutive win on Thursday and try to lower his team-best 2.79 ERA. He leads the team in strikeouts with 40 and has walked a measley seven batters in 38.2 innings pitched.
Price, taking the mound on Friday, is also in search of his fifth win, owning a 5.60 ERA in 27.1 innings. He has set down 24 batters on strikes this season and lets batters hit just .260 against him.
Honea will close things out for Tech, pitching on Saturday with a 5.18 ERA. He is third on the team with 30 strikeouts in just 24.1 innings. The righty is in search of his second win of the year.