By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (Mar. 30)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team squares off with its first nationally-ranked opponent of the year Tuesday evening, taking on No. 1 Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field in Nashville in a 6:30 p.m. CT tilt.
In six match-ups since 2013, all in Nashville, the two in-state foes have split the results, each claiming three wins along the way. The Commodores won the most recent match-up in 2019 after the two sides saw last year's tilt wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tech took back-to-back decisions in 2017 and 2018, defeating the No. 19 Commodores 5-2 in 2017 and collecting a 6-4 victory during the team's magical run in 2018. The Golden Eagles earned a 10-9 win in Nashville over No.2 Vanderbilt in 2013.
Sophomore shortstop Ed Johnson has led the Tech offense through the team's first 18 games, batting .358 with 17 RBI and three home runs. His double-play partner ranks just behind, as second baseman Brett Roberts owns a .351 average with 13 RBI, a team-high nine doubles and nine steals.
Tech is a perfect 3-0 during midweek action this season, earning 7-2 and 18-4 victories against North Alabama in a home-and-home series. The Golden Eagles also picked up an 11-4 win over Belmont in a Tuesday tilt with no Ohio Valley Conference implications.
Vanderbilt enters the contest with just three losses overall on the year, each coming during weekend action. The Commodores boast the nation's top pitching staff in terms of ERA, compiling a 2.19 on the year in 197.0 innings on the bump. The No. 1 ranked Vanderbilt squad also ranks in the top-10 nationally in batting, posting a .309 average.
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Tennessee Tech at #1 Vanderbilt | Tuesday, Mar. 30, 6:30 pm
Nashville, Tenn. | Hawkins Field (3,700)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2021 Record: 9-9
2021 OVC Record: 4-5
Head Coach: Steve Smith
TTU: 12-21 (2nd Season)
Career: 756-544-1 (23rd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.358)
2B: Brett Roberts (9)
3B: Jason Hinchman / Cody Littlejohn (1)
HR: Golston Gillespie (5)
RBI: Ed Johnson (17)
R: Cody Littlejohn (18)
BB: Golston Gillespie (14)
SB: Brett Roberts (9)
ERA: Jacob Parham (2.70)
W: Ty Fisher / Mark Leonard (2)
APP: Mark Leonard (8)
IP: Ty Fisher (26.2)
K: Ty Fisher (24)
SV: None
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
2021 Record: 19-3
2021 SEC Record: 5-1
Head Coach: Tim Corbin
VU: 772-362-1 (19th Season)
Career: 878-500-1 (24th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Dominic Keegan (.453)
2B: Dominic Keegan / Carter Young (8)
3B: 4 players tied (2)
HR: Isaiah Thomas (6)
RBI: Dominic Keegan (20)
R: Dominic Keegan (21)
BB: Enrique Bradfield Jr. (18)
SB: Enrique Bradfield Jr. (17)
ERA: Jack Leiter (0.25)
W: Jack Leiter / Kumar Rocker (6)
APP: Nick Maldonado (8)
IP: Kumar Rocker (37.0)
K: Jack Leiter (59)
SV: Luke Murphy (4)
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
