By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the midway point of the 2018 baseball campaign here, Perfect Game has announced its Midseason All-America teams, and it comes as no surprise to find a member of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles among those honored with the mid-year accolade. Tech's Kevin Strohschein was officially named to the Midseason Perfect Game/Rawlings College Baseball All-American Second Team Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Eagle junior put forth a monster effort through the first 26 games of the season, batting .415 with 27 runs scored, 35 RBI, 11 doubles, a triple and eight home runs. Strohschein racked up a .462 on base percentage and .729 slugging percentage in the first half, helping lead Tech to a 21-5 start and 12 consecutive wins. The purple and gold went on to extend that streak to 13 straight victories on Wednesday evening and move to 22-5 overall.
The first ever player in the history of the Ohio Valley Conference to win both Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season as a freshman, the junior has put together an even better season so far while batting out of the No. 3 hole all season. He has earned both OVC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week honors this year, and tied a program record by hitting three home runs in a victory against Illinois State.
Strohschein has also helped forge the nation's most potent offense, individually ranking second in the nation in hits, sixth in hits per game and seventh in total bases. The Golden Eagle offense leads the nation in batting average (.354), doubles per game (2.93), home runs (59), home runs per game (2.19), on base percentage (.447), runs (304), scoring (11.3) and slugging percentage (.625). Tech also ranks second nationally in hits (358), third in doubles (79), seventh in win/loss percentage (.815), 11th in sacrifice flies (17) and 16th in bases on balls (161).
Tech returns to Cookeville Friday to open a three-game, Ohio Valley Conference series against Jacksonville State. First pitch is set for a 1 p.m. CT start.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
