By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (5/17)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will return to the comfort of Cookeville and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex Thursday evening, wrapping up its regular season schedule with a three-game series against Ohio Valley Conference rival Morehead State.
Game one is set for a 6 p.m. CT start Thursday night while game two will commence at 6 p.m. Friday evening. Saturday's series finale will represent Tech's Senior Day contest, with a special ceremony taking place just prior to first pitch that will honor 10 individual members of the Golden Eagle baseball program. Game time is currently set for a 1 p.m. start.
The Golden Eagles claimed their ninth OVC regular season championship last weekend, with a 9-2 victory at Eastern Kentucky. Tech has clinched the No. 1 seed in the OVC Tournament as well. Morehead State enters the series needing just one victory to lock up the No. 2 seed in the league tournament.
Fans are encouraged to follow social media and the TTUsports.com website for updates concerning any game time changes or delays in case of inclement weather.
Tennessee Tech (36-17, 22-5) vs. Morehead State (32-20, 16-10)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: TTU Sports | Instagram: TTUGoldenEagles
PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION
Thursday, May 18, 6:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Michael Wood (RHP)
8-3 | 4.78 ERA | 75.1 IP | 75 K | 20 BB
vs.
MSU Aaron Leasher (LHP)
7-3 | 4.54 ERA | 79.1 IP | 88 K | 29 BB
Friday, May 19, 6:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Jake Usher (RHP)
4-1 | 5.16 ERA | 61.0 IP | 51 K | 28 BB
vs.
MSU Jake Ziegelmeyer (RHP)
4-1 | 5.68 ERA | 50.2 IP | 36 K | 15 BB
Saturday, May 20, 1:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Evan Fraliex (RHP)
2-0 | 3.86 ERA | 23.1 IP | 19 K | 8 BB
vs.
MSU Dalton Stambaugh (LHP)
3-3 | 6.12 ERA | 60.1 IP | 41 K | 16 BB
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tech leads, 73-47
First Meeting: 1949 | TTU 11, MOR 4 | Unknown
Last Meeting: May 25, 2016 | MOR 3, TTU 2 (12) | Jackson, Tenn.
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2017 Record: 36-17
2017 OVC Record: 22-5 (1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 389-376-2 (14th season)
Career: 516-470-2 (18th season)
Since 2008: 317-240-2
TEAM STATS (National Rank)
AVG: .317 (12)
H: 619 (3)
2B: 130 (2)
3B: 9 (166)
HR: 82 (2)
R: 442 (5)
R/G: 8.3 (6)
SLG%: .519 (3)
OB%: .391 (27)
BB: 200 (129)
HBP: 49 (111)
SB: 38 (186)
ERA: 5.27 (186)
WIN%: .679 (28)
K/9: 9.4 (10)
SH/O: 3 (89)
FLD%: .973 (83)
BATTING LEADERS (National Rank)
AVG: Trevor Putzig – .392 (17)
H: Trevor Putzig – 74 (18)
2B: Ryan Flick – 23 (3)
3B: Three players tied – 2 (NR)
HR: Chase Chambers – 16 (14)
RBI: Chase Chambers – 58 (21)
R: Alex Junior – 59 (9)
SLG%: Ryan Flick – .712 (10)
OB%: Ryan Flick – .480 (22)
BB: Ryan Flick – 35 (91)
HBP: Chase Chambers – 13 (57)
SB: Collin Harris – 12 (NR)
Toughest to K: Trevor Putzig – 11.1 AB/K (85)
PITCHING LEADERS
ERA: Michael Wood – 4.78 (NR)*
WINS: Michael Wood – 8 (20)
APP: Ethan Roberts – 19 (NR)
IP: Michael Wood – 75.1 (NA)
K: Michael Wood – 75 (125)
SV: Ethan Roberts – 12 (12)
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played
MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES
2017 Record: 32-20
2017 OVC Record: 16-10 (2nd)
Head Coach: Mike McGuire
MSU: 147-137 (5th season)
Career: Same
BATTING LEADERS
AVG: Eli Boggess – .427
H: Will Schneider – 81
2B: Reid Leonard – 21
3B: Will Schneider – 3
HR: Niko Hulsizer – 24
RBI: Niko Hulsizer – 73
R: Niko Hulsizer – 64
BB: Reid Leonard – 32
SB: Tyler Niemann – 8
PITCHING LEADERS
ERA: Aaron Leasher – 4.54*
WINS: Aaron Leasher – 7
APP: Cable Wright – 23
IP: Aaron Leasher – 79.1
K: Aaron Leasher – 88
SV: David Calderon / Cable Wright – 4
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played
Photo by Tony Marable
