By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (5/5)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The top-ranked team in the Ohio Valley Conference awaits the Tennessee Tech baseball team, as the Golden Eagles return home from a three-game weekend slate at Little Rock to host Southeast Missouri for three contests starting Friday evening at 6 p.m. CT.
Game two of the series will commence at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon with the series finale set for a first pitch time of 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend after taking two of three contests on the road against Little Rock, including the final two of the series. Tech did not play in a midweek contest due to finals. Southeast Missouri comes to Cookeville after dropping a midweek battle against Saint Louis and winning two of its three games against Murray State last weekend.
Freshman sensation Kevin Strohschein has been on an absolute tear over the past month, batting a ridiculous .507 with 21 runs scored, six doubles, two triples, six home runs and 34 RBI in 16 games since April 5. The rookie leads the OVC on the year with 58 RBI and ranks third in the nation with 1.38 RBI per contest.
Senior Jake Farr has stepped up his play considerably over the past two weeks, putting together an eye-popping .565 average with 15 runs scored, four home runs and 13 RBI since April 15. Batting a season-low .254 at the start of his hot streak, the veteran now ranks third on the Tech squad with a .337 average.
Tennessee Tech (23-19, 10-11) vs. Southeast Missouri (31-13, 20-4)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: TTU Sports | Instagram: TTUGoldenEagles
Friday, May 6, 6:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS
TTU Michael Wood (RHP)
3-3 | 4.54 ERA | 41.2 IP | 40 K
vs.
SEMO Joey Lucchesi (LHP)
8-3 | 1.69 ERA | 74.2 IP | 105 K
Saturday, May 7, 2:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS
TTU Jake Usher (RHP)
1-0 | 5.23 ERA | 31.0 IP | 38 K
vs.
SEMO Clay Chandler (RHP)
4-2 | 3.24 ERA | 72.1 IP | 77 K
Sunday, May 8, 1:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS
TTU TBA
- | - ERA | - IP | - K
vs.
SEMO Robert Beltran (LHP)
6-1 | 3.94 ERA | 61.2 IP | 55 K
* all starters listed are probable and subject to change
SERIES HISTORY vs. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Overall: SEMO leads, 49-32
First Meeting: May 2, 1992 | SEMO 11, TTU 3 | Cookeville, Tenn.
Last Meeting: May 22, 2015 | SEMO 14, TTU 1 | Jackson, Tenn.
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2016 Record: 23-19
2016 OVC Record: 10-11 (T-6th)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 344-354-2 (13th season)
Career: Same
Since 2008: 272-217-2
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Kevin Strohschein (.382)
2B: Kevin Strohschein (14)
3B: Kevin Strohschein (3)
HR: Kevin Strohschein (10)
RBI: Kevin Strohschein (58)
R: Jake Farr (43)
BB: Alex Junior (26)
SB: Alex Junior (10)
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REDHAWKS
2016 Record: 31-13
2016 OVC Record: 20-4 (1st)
Head Coach: Steve Bieser
SEMO: 130-89 (4th season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Garrett Gandolfo (.367)
2B: Garrett Gandolfo (15)
3B: Branden Boggetto (3)
HR: Chris Osborne (11)
RBI: Branden Boggetto (45)
R: Branden Boggetto / Trevor Ezell (53)
BB: Dan Holst (43)
SB: Trevor Ezell (19)
Photo by Jim Dillon
