By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (3/8)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team wraps up its seven-game road stretch, kicking off Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series at UT Martin starting Thursday, Mar. 9.
Originally scheduled for Friday through Sunday, the three-game series was moved up to a single game at 4 p.m. CT on Thursday and doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 10 due to impending inclement weather expected in the area over the weekend.
The three contests will pit two of the league's top pitching staffs against each other, with the Golden Eagles leading the OVC with a 4.00 ERA, .240 opposing batting average and 108 inning pitched. Tech also ranks in the top five with 102 strikeouts and 32 batters struck out looking.
UT Martin leads the league with 114 strikeouts and ranks in the top five with a 4.28 ERA, a .251 opposing batting average and 32 batters struck out looking.
Tennessee Tech (8-4) at UT Martin (6-4)
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PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION
Thursday, Mar. 9, 4:00 pm | Martin, Tenn. | Skyhawk Field (500) | STATS
TTU Michael Wood (RHP)^
2-1 | 4.26 ERA | 19.0 IP | 16 K | 5 BB
vs.
UTM Dom Bazzani (LHP)
1-1 | 4.32 ERA | 16.2 IP | 17 K | 15 BB
Friday, Mar. 10, 1:00 pm | Martin, Tenn. | Skyhawk Field (500) | STATS
TTU Jake Usher (RHP)^
1-1 | 4.24 ERA | 17.0 IP | 12 K | 5 BB
vs.
UTM Dalton Westfall (RHP)
2-1 | 1.04 ERA | 17.1 IP | 30 K | 8 BB
Friday, Mar. 10, 4:00 pm | Martin, Tenn. | Skyhawk Field (500) | STATS
TTU Chase Burkett (RHP)^
2-1 | 2.55 ERA | 17.2 IP | 12 K | 3 BB
vs.
UTM Jake Patzner (RHP)
1-1 | 4.15 ERA | 13.0 IP | 18 K | 7 BB
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tech leads 48-24
First Meeting: May 1, 1993 | UTM 4, TTU 2 (7) | Martin, Tenn.
Last Meeting: Mar. 19, 2016 | TTU 5, UTM 3 | Cookeville, Tenn.
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES^
2017 Record: 8-4
2017 OVC Record: 0-0 (1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 361-363-2 (14th season)
Career: 488-457-2 (18th season)
Since 2008: 289-226-2
BATTING LEADERS^
AVG: Collin Harris (.378)
2B: Ryan Flick (6)
3B: Chase Chambers (2)
HR: Collin Harris (6)
RBI: Chase Chambers (13)
R: Alex Junior (14)
BB: Alex Junior (9)
SB: Alex Junior (6)
PITCHING LEADERS^
ERA: Chase Burkett 2.55)*
WINS: Chase Burkett / Michael Wood (2)
APP: Six players tied (4)
IP: Michael Wood (19.0)
K: Travis Moths (18)
SV: Ethan Roberts (2)
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played
UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS
2017 Record: 6-4
2017 OVC Record: 0-0 (1st)
Head Coach: Rick Robinson
UTM: 42-74 (3rd season)
Career: 741-345 (20th season)
BATTING LEADERS
AVG: Tyler Albright (.463)
2B: Tyler Albright (5)
3B: Three players tied (1)
HR: Creighton Eldridge (3)
RBI: Tyler Albright (11)
R: Tyler Albright (11)
BB: Ryan Helgren (7)
SB: Tanner Wessling (4)
PITCHING LEADERS
ERA: Dalton Westfall (1.04)*
WINS: Dalton Westfall (2)
APP: Alex Evans (5)
IP: Dalton Westfall (17.1)
K: Dalton Westfall (30)
SV: Alex Evans (1)
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played
^Statistics prior to Wednesday evening's contest at Lipscomb
Photo by Tony Marable
