By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team concludes its latest home stand with a midweek tilt against North Alabama, squaring off with the Lions Tuesday evening in a 6:00 p.m. match-up at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The contest is scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+ with Dylan Vazzano on the call. Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free of charge.
Tuesday's match-up marks the 19th between the two programs, with North Alabama owning a slight, 9-8-1 edge in the series. Tech claimed a series win with the Lions last season, rebounding from a 6-5 defeat in the opener with a double-header sweep the following day.
There was plenty of drama in the second tilt of the series, with Tech trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Lions picked up a pair of quick outs in the frame before issuing a free pass to right fielder Theo Bryant IV. Former Tech third baseman Peyton Mills played hero, smashing a two-run, walk-off blast down the left-field line.
In the second tilt, the Golden Eagles used a big fourth frame to provide all the room it would need to secure the win, dropping five runs. Tech went on to pick up a 7-3 victory to clinch the series.
Tech enters the midweek affair with the Lions after capturing a series win over Davidson, overcoming a 6-4 loss in 10 innings in the weekend's opener. In game two, the second half of a doubleheader, the purple and gold prevailed with a 12-2 decision in seven innings by run rule.
The Cookeville crew earned a walk-off win in the battle, plating seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to square the series. The Golden Eagles finished things off on Sunday with a 9-4 victory.
North Alabama enters Tuesday's affair after salvaging a victory in a series loss to Kennesaw State to open Atlantic Sun play. KSU took both ends of a doubleheader last Saturday, topping the Lions 10-5 in the first contest before cruising to an 11-1, seven-inning W.
UNA earned a 4-2 victory in the finale on Sunday, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh to snap a 2-2 tie.
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Current Midweek Schedule
Tuesday, Mar. 19 | 6:00 p.m. CT | vs. North Alabama
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 12-8
2024 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 509-461-2 (18th Season)
Career: 560-537-3 (21st Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Tanner Shiver (.408)
2B: Troy Baunsgard (9)
3B: Austin Turner (3)
HR: Preston Steele (7)
RBI: Preston Steele (26)
R: Troy Baunsgard (24)
BB: Austin Turner (27)
SLG%: Tanner Shiver (.918)
OB%: Nicho Jordan (.519)
SB: Austin Turner (11)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.59)*
W: Peyton Calitri (3)
APP: Jack Erdman / Jaxson Pease (7)
IP: Peyton Calitri (31.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (31)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.220)*
SV: Jack Erdman (3)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
NORTH ALABAMA LIONS
2024 Record: 7-12
2024 A-SUN Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Jad Prachniak
DC: 21-49 (2nd Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Jackson Ferrigno (.280)
2B: Andrew Knight (6)
3B: Kyle Machado (1)
HR: Gehrig Frei (3)
RBI: Kyle Machado (12)
R: Andrew Knight (16)
BB: Gehrig Frei (9)
SLG%: Kyle Machado (.449)
OB%: Kyle Machado (.370)
SB: Dominick McIntyre (3)
ERA: Jacob James (3.00)*
W: Jacob James / Anthony Pingeton (2)
APP: Brycen Parrish / Anthony Pingeton (7)
IP: Jacob James (27.0)
K: Jacob James (41)
BAA: Jacob James (.214)*
SV: 4 players tied (1)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
Photo by Jim Dillon
