By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Just one more game remains on the docket at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex as the Tennessee Tech baseball team will play host to Western Carolina Monday evening in the regular season home finale, the team's fourth game in as many days.
The Golden Eagles (24-24) enter the 5 p.m. CT contest against the Catamounts (19-26) after collecting a crucial Ohio Valley Conference series victory over in-state rival Belmont, clinching the three-game set on Sunday, which doubled as Mother's Day and Senior Day for the Tech program.
Western Carolina will also play its fourth game in-a-row after dropping its three-game Southern Conference series at Samford over the weekend, losing Sunday's rubber match in a barn burning 16-14 decision.
Fans can follow Monday's action live via live stats and webstream on the OVC Digital Network.
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Tennessee Tech vs. Western Carolina |
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| May 11, 2015 | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | |
| MON. | 5:00 P.M. | |
| Probable Starters: | |
| TTU - RHP Austin Tolle 0-2, 6.09 ERA, 34.0 IP, 18 K |
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| TBA 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP, 0 K |
SERIES INFO
Dates: May 11, 2015
Times: 5 PM CT
Location: Cookeville, Tenn.
Stadium: Bush Stadium
Radio: None
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: WCU leads, 14-4
Bragga vs: 2-4
First Meeting: Mar. 19, 1991
Last Meeting: May 4, 2014
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: Monday
Audio: None
Video: Monday
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 24-24
2015 OVC Record: 15-12 (4th)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 319-330-2 (12th season)
TTU: 319-330-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Dylan Bosheers (.330)
2B: Bosheers (19)
HR: Ryan Flick (9)
RBI: Flick (51)
SB: Anthony El Chibani (5)
WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS
2015 Record: 19-26
2015 SoCon Record: 10-11 (T-5th)
Head Coach: Bobby Moranda
Career: 251-190-2 (8th season)
WCU: 251-190-2 (8th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Bradley Strong (.353)
2B: Strong (15)
HR: Strong (8)
RBI: Strong (49)
SB: Strong (19)
CLOSING IN...
All-American shortstop Dylan Bosheers has been the iron man of the Tennessee Tech baseball program his entire career, missing just three games (this season) over his four-year span in the purple and gold. Over that time period, the senior has paved his way into the top 10 career marks in several statistical categories.
Following last weekend's series at Belmont, Bosheers extended his program record for career doubles, collecting the 59th two-bagger of his career. After playing in his 214th career game (all of which he's started) he moved to third all time. He also ranks second in runs scored with 187.
He currently is second all-time in hits (268), second with 423 total bases, third in at bats (817), and third in career RBI with 172. With seven home runs on the year, Bosheers has moved into a tie for seventh place all time with 28 career bombs. He remains just one walk shy of 100 for his career, ranking fifth all-time.
DOWN MAYBE, BUT NEVER OUT
If there's been anything to learn about this year's version of the Golden Eagles, it's that you can knock them down, but don't you dare count them out. In 31 games this season, Tech has mounted 11 come-from-behind victories when trailing in the fifth inning or later.
In the second game of the year, the Golden Eagles headed into the bottom of the ninth, trailing 7-2 to a feisty Longwood squad. Six runs later, Tech walked off with its first victory of the year. A week later, the squad found itself trailing to a dangerous Davidson team in the fifth by two runs. Tech tied it in the bottom half before the flood gates opened up with an eight-run sixth for a 12-5 win.
Morehead State mounted its own rally, taking a two-run lead in the top of the sixth while looking for a series sweep. Two quick runs in the bottom half of the frame led to an exhilarating 9-8, walk-off W for the Golden Eagles in the ninth.
In Nashville, the Golden Eagles looked sure to be done in the fifth, trailing in-state rival Lipscomb by six runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. The Golden Eagles proved they don't care, dropping a seven-spot to take the lead for good in an unreal 12-8 victory.
The series-opener against Eastern Illinois saw the Panthers take a 6-4 lead into the fifth inning before the Tech squad tied things up in the bottom half. The Golden Eagles scored three more times in the sixth and then held off a seventh-inning rally to take down EIU 9-7.
The Golden Eagles showed more resiliency in a midweek bout with in-state rival Middle Tennessee, exploding for six runs in the seventh inning to rally from a 2-0 deficit. Tech captured the contest 6-5 behind a huge three-run RBI by senior Jordan Hopkins and big four-out save by closer Cain Sloan.
Facing Jacksonville State in game one of a three-game set, the Golden Eagles came out on top of contest featuring nine lead changes, rallying from a 6-5 deficit in the sixth and 8-7 deficit in the eighth to take yet another come-from-behind victory, 10-8.
In by far their most impressive comeback victory, the Golden Eagles posted four runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally from a one-run deficit and down No. 5 Arizona State, 7-4. Tech led 2-0 early after a two-run homer by Chase Chambers, but the Sun Devils scored four unanswered runs to take a 4-2 advantage into the seventh inning. Tech nabbed one run in the seventh, before mounting the incredible comeback in the ninth.
Tech tallied two comeback victories over the first-place Redhawks in Cape Girardeau, Mo., starting with a fifth-inning rally in game two. Trailing 5-2 entering the fifth frame, the squad scored three runs to square things at 5-5 before dropping four more in the sixth and one each in the seventh and eighth innings to walk out with an 11-5 W.
The next day the Golden Eagles did it again, trailing 6-2 heading into the sixth inning. That hardly mattered as the squad dropped a six spot in the sixth to take an 8-6 lead. They then added three important insurance runs to hold on for an 11-10 victory.
Against Belmont in the series opener, Tech crossed two runners across home plate in the bottom fifth, overcoming a 3-2 lead to eventually hold off the Bruins for a critical 4-3 victory.
FRESHMAN FOCUS
Freshman Ryan Flick, Tech's designated hitter, has been a huge boon to the offense all season long. Number 11 leads the Golden Eagles with 51 RBI on the year (which also ranks in the top 10 in the OVC), thanks to a slugging percentage of .522 and 24 extra base hits. He also leads the team with nine home runs.
Fellow freshman Chase Chambers owns a .260 average, slugging .444 along the way. He has drawn a team-high 30 walks and tallied a .393 on base percentage this season. The first baseman also ranks third on the squad with six home runs and 34 RBI.
MR. 300
With a 14-2 win over Northern Illinois on Feb. 28, head coach Matt Bragga earned his 300th career victory, just the second coach in program history to accomplish the feat. He currently ranks second to Hall of Fame coach David Mays in total wins.
Photo by Jim Dillon
