COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - For the second time this season, the Tennessee Tech baseball team (6-4) will host a Big Ten opponent when Michigan State (4-4) comes to town for a two-games series on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Golden Eagles will meet the Spartans for the first time in program history.
Tech is coming off a strong weekend, taking two games from Bowling Green in a crazy weekend that saw a game suspended and another cancelled due to inclement weather. It marked the first time the Golden Eagles defeated the Falcons in school history, a mark that was also accomplished against Illinois earlier in the season.
The Golden Eagles defeated their first Big Ten opponent of the season, beating Illinois twice in a three-game set. It marked the first time the two programs met and now Tech holds a 2-1 series advantage.
SCOUTING THE MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
| LAST WEEK'S RESULTS FOR MICHIGAN STATE |
||||
| Date | Location | Opponent | Result | Score |
| March 3 |
Clarksville, Tenn. |
Austin Peay |
L | 7-2 |
| March 3 |
Clarksville, Tenn. |
Austin Peay |
W |
4-3 |
| March 4 |
Clarksville, Tenn. |
Austin Peay |
5 p.m. |
TBD |
Michigan State will enter its series against Tech just one day after wrapping up a three-game set against Austin Peay. The teams split the first two games, with the Spartans earning a 4-3 win in Game 2.
The leading bat for Michigan State this season has been Blaise Salter. He owns a .343 average in eight games played, collecting 12 hits and five RBI with two doubles and four runs scored.
Pitchers for the contests have yet to be determined because of the delays of the Austin Peay series. The Spartans own a 4.59 team ERA through eight games this year, recording 68 strikeouts in 68.2 innings. They have walked just 25 batters and given up 67 hits leading to 35 earned runs.
CATCHING UP WITH TECH
Just one week after garnering OVC Player of the Week honors, junior Brandon Thomasson racked up bases for the second straight week. After mashing three home runs in last week's contests, he roped two triples in two days agains Bowling Green. Both hits were key to Golden Eagle wins and helped raise his average to .308 on the season. He now has 14 RBI for the year along with eight extra base hits and a .769 slugging percentage.
Four other Tech batters own averages over .300 this season, inlcuding Dylan Bosheers, Zach Zarzour, James Abraham, and Austin Wulf. Bosheers leads the team with five doubles this season, driving in six RBI. Wulf ranks on the top of the hits and average list for the Golden Eagles, recording 15 hits this year for a .395 mark. He also leads the team in on-base percentage with a .511 mark.
Junior slugger Zach Stephens has certainly been tough for pitcher's to deal with, drawing 14 walks already this year. He is also tied for second in RBI with Michael Morris, with both driving in eight runs each this season.
The Golden Eagle pitching staff has been lights out in the strike out department, sitting down 89 batters on strikes this season in 89.0 innings. They allow batters to hit just .289 against them.
