By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (5/11)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will look to clinch its ninth Ohio Valley Conference regular season title this weekend, making a trip to Richmond, Ky. for a three-game series with Eastern Kentucky.
The Golden Eagles sit just one win, or one loss by Morehead State, from securing its first OVC crown since 2013 and will look to lock down the No. 1 seed in the league's tournament on Friday. First pitch is set for a 6 p.m. CT start.
Game two is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch on Saturday with game three concluding the series at noon on Sunday.
Fans are encouraged to follow social media and the TTUsports.com website for updates concerning any start time changes or delays in case of inclement weather.
Tennessee Tech (34-16, 20-4) at Eastern Kentucky (23-26, 9-15)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: TTU Sports | Instagram: TTUGoldenEagles
PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION
Friday, May 11, 6:00 pm | Richmond, Ky. | Turkey Hughes Field (900) | STATS
TTU Michael Wood (RHP)
8-3 | 4.35 ERA | 70.1 IP | 70 K | 18 BB
vs.
EKU Casey Collins (LHP)
2-1 | 5.11 ERA | 44.0 IP | 50 K | 27 BB
Saturday, May 12, 3:00 pm | Richmond, Ky. | Turkey Hughes Field (900) | STATS
TTU Jake Usher (RHP)
3-1 | 5.50 ERA | 54.0 IP | 48 K | 22 BB
vs.
EKU Bryan Quillens (RHP)
3-2 | 8.75 ERA | 36.0 IP | 24 K | 20 BB
Sunday, May 13, 12:00 pm | Richmond, Ky. | Turkey Hughes Field (900) | STATS
TTU Evan Fraliex (RHP)
2-0 | 3.44 ERA | 18.1 IP | 15 K | 6 BB
vs.
EKU TBA
- | - ERA | - IP | - K | - BB
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Series tied, 79-79-2
First Meeting: 1946 | EKU 8, TTU 7 | Unknown
Last Meeting: May 21, 2016 | TTU 7, EKU 5 | Cookeville, Tenn.
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2017 Record: 34-16
2017 OVC Record: 20-4 (1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 387-375-2 (14th season)
Career: 514-469-2 (18th season)
Since 2008: 315-238-2
TEAM STATS (National Rank)
AVG: .319 (9)
H: 588 (3)
2B: 123 (2)
3B: 9 (152)
HR: 77 (2)
R: 417 (4)
R/G: 8.3 (5)
SLG%: .521 (4)
OB%: .391 (29)
BB: 183 (125)
HBP: 48 (101)
SB: 37 (176)
ERA: 5.23 (185)
WIN%: .680 (31)
K/9: 9.4 (12)
SH/O: 3 (81)
FLD%: .972 (88)
BATTING LEADERS (National Rank)
AVG: Ryan Flick – .403 (10)
H: Trevor Putzig – 74 (14)
2B: Ryan Flick – 23 (3)
3B: Three players tied – 2 (NR)
HR: Chase Chambers – 15 (17)
RBI: Chase Chambers – 54 (26)
R: Alex Junior – 57 (4)
SLG%: Ryan Flick – .746 (5)
OB%: Ryan Flick – .486 (16)
BB: Ryan Flick – 30 (NR)
HBP: Chase Chambers – 12 (57)
SB: Collin Harris – 11 (NR)
Toughest to K: Trevor Putzig – 12.3 AB/K (50)
PITCHING LEADERS
ERA: Michael Wood – 4.35 (NR)*
WINS: Michael Wood – 8 (17)
APP: Nick Osborne / Ethan Roberts – 18 (NR)
IP: Michael Wood – 70.1 (NA)
K: Michael Wood – 70 (144)
SV: Ethan Roberts – 12 (14)
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played
EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS
2017 Record: 22-21
2017 OVC Record: 14-10 (3rd)
Head Coach: Dave Jarvis
BEL: 580-518-2 (20th season)
Career: 904-670-2 (27th season)
BATTING LEADERS
AVG: Ben Fisher – .359
H: Ben Fisher – 70
2B: Ben Fisher – 14
3B: Shea Sullivan – 2
HR: Ben Fisher – 21
RBI: Ben Fisher – 62
R: Ben Fisher – 60
BB: Ben Fisher – 34
SB: Cornell Nixon – 15
PITCHING LEADERS
ERA: Jack Piekos – 5.55*
WINS: Alex Hamilton – 4
APP: Brian Mroz – 24
IP: Jack Piekos – 58.1
K: Jack Piekos – 61
SV: Caleb Johnson – 7
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played
Photo by Tony Marable