By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (4/22)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team hits the road for a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference match-ups in the midweek, first visiting No. 14 nationally ranked NC State on Tuesday for a 5:00 p.m. CT tilt in Raleigh, N.C.
Game two of the week features a 5:00 p.m. CT contest at Clemson. Both games are scheduled to appear on ACC Network Extra, which can also be viewed on the WatchESPN App.
RECORDS WATCH
All-American outfielder Kevin Strohschein has spent the majority of his senior campaign rewriting the Tech and OVC record books and will look to continue that trend heading into the weekend. Already the Golden Eagles' all-time leader in hits, doubles, and runs scored, the slugger is within spitting distance of several OVC marks.
| Current | OVC Record | Current Leader | School (Years) | |||||
| Hits | 330 | 330 | Clayton Daniel (tied) | Jacksonville State (2015-18) | ||||
| Doubles | 65 | 68 | Clayton Daniel | Jacksonville State (2015-18) | ||||
| Home Runs | 56 | 62 | Zach Stephens | Tennessee Tech (2011-14) | ||||
| RBI | 228 | 229 | Zach Stephens | Tennessee Tech (2011-14) | ||||
| Runs | 220 | 241 | Bert Smith | Jacksonville State (2006-10) | ||||
| At Bats | 929 | 975 | Clayton Daniel | Jacksonville State (2015-18) |
ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
Strohschein ranks as one of the most accomplished hitters, not just in Tech or OVC history, but among all current NCAA Division I players. The McDonough, Ga. native leads all active players in career home runs (56), RBI (228) and total bases (581). He also ranks in the top-10 in hits (second with 330), runs (second with 220), at bats (third with 934), doubles (fourth with 65) and slugging percentage (seventh with a mark of .622).
HE'S GOT THE POWER
Sophomore Jason Hinchman has enjoyed a breakout campaign in his first starting role with the purple and gold, leading the OVC in home runs with an eye-popping 18 in 37 games. That's 48.6 percent of his hits leaving the ball park. It's also good enough to rank the first baseman third nationally in long balls, trailing Vanderbilt's JJ Bleday by just two for a share of the lead. What's more astonishing, is the fact that Hinchman did not have a long ball through the team's first 10 games of the season. He has 18 round trippers in his last 27 games.
FRESHMAN FOCUS
Freshman John Dyer has raised many eyebrows in his rookie campaign, ranking as one of the best hitters in the Tech lineup, as well as the league. The Mt. Juliet native leads all OVC freshmen in batting average (.352), doubles (10), home runs (six), RBI (36) and slugging percentage (.592).
HOME RUN U
The nation's reigning home run champ after smashing an OVC-record 135 dingers a year ago, it took the Golden Eagles a little time to get the bats rolling to start the 2019 campaign. The power is back on it Cookeville, however, as Tech enters the week having smashed a long ball in each of its past 13 contests. Over that span, the Golden Eagles have clubbed 35 dingers, with 10 games boasting multiple shots. On the year, Tech leads the OVC with 60 round trippers and ranks fifth nationally.
TENNESSEE TECH (17-20) at #14 NC STATE (31-10)
TENNESSEE TECH (17-20 at CLEMSON (25-15)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball | Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Tuesday, Apr. 23, 5:00 pm | Raleigh, N.C. | Doak Field at Dail Park (2,200) | STATS | VIDEO
Wednesday, Apr. 24, 5:00 pm | Clemson, S.C. | Doug Kingsmore Stadium (6,272) | STATS | VIDEO
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2019 Record: 17-20
2019 OVC Record: 5-13 (T-10th)
Head Coach: Justin Holmes
TTU: 17-20 (1st Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Kevin Strohschein (.361)
2B: Kevin Strohschein (14)
3B: 4 players tied (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (18)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (47)
R: Kevin Strohschein (39)
BB: Jason Hinchman (27)
SB: Jason Hogan (3)
ERA: Jacob Cole (4.58)
W: 5 players tied (2)
APP: 3 players tied (14)
IP: Mark Leonard (41.2)
K: Mark Leonard (45)
SV: Jacob Cole / Tyler Sylvester (2)
NC STATE WOLFPACK
2019 Record: 31-10
2019 ACC: 13-8 (2nd Atlantic)
Head Coach: Elliott Avent
NCS: 864-519 (23rd Season)
Career: 1,089-732 (31st Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Evan Edwards (.350)
2B: Patrick Bailey (15)
3B: 3 players tied (2)
HR: Will Wilson (13)
RBI: Evan Edwards (48)
R: Jonny Butler (49)
BB: Patrick Bailey / Jonny Butler (34)
SB: Tyler McDonough (9)
ERA: Canaan Silver (3.06)
W: Reid Johnston / Kent Klyman (5)
APP: Evan Justice / Baker Nelson (17)
IP: Reid Johnston (52.2)
K: Nick Swiney (48)
SV: Dalton Feeney (6)
CLEMSON TIGERS
2019 Record: 25-15
2019 ACC: 11-10 (T-4th Atlantic)
Head Coach: Monte Lee
CU: 158-72 (4th Season)
Career: 434-217 (11th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Grayson Byrd (.287)
2B: Sam Hall (11)
3B: Grayson Byrd (2)
HR: Logan Davidson (10)
RBI: Logan Davidson (36)
R: Sam Hall (44)
BB: Logan Davidson (27)
SB: Sam Hall (26)
ERA: Davis Sharpe (2.48)
W: Mat Clark (7)
APP: Carson Spiers (19)
IP: Davis Sharpe (58.0)
K: Davis Sharpe (64)
SV: Carson Spiers (9)
Photo by Thomas Corhern