By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech catcher Mack Whitcomb was recognized as the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season, as announced by the league Monday afternoon.
Whitcomb was a force for the Golden Eagles in their series win over Lindenwood, slashing .500/.615/1.400 in three games for the week while plating five, scoring six times, and smashing three home runs.
The sophomore tied a Tech program record with three pumps in the team's series finale with the Lions, finishing 3-for-3 with four RBI and a walk while joining a list of 13 other Golden Eagles who have piled up three long balls in a single game. The feat has been accomplished 15 times in program history, with Jason Hinchman, the OVC's all-time career home run leader, achieving the mark three times.
In the second game of the series, Whitcomb scored three runs with one RBI knock and a walk. He picked up one hit in the team's 1-0 loss to open the series.
The backstop represents one of five different Golden Eagles to take home weekly recognition from the league this season and the first to claim honors a second time. Senior starter Jared Herzog took home OVC Pitcher of the Week honors last Monday, while reliever Reece McDuffie shared Pitcher of the Week accolades on Apr. 28 with Lindenwood's Josh Newell. The three previous Player of the Week honors were taken home by Whitcomb back on Feb. 17, center fielder Nicho Jordan on Mar. 24, and second baseman Eddie Garza on Apr. 14.
The Golden Eagles will host their final home contest of the season on Tuesday evening, squaring off with in-state rival Middle Tennessee in a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt at the Quill. Tech downed the Blue Raiders back on Mar. 11 by a final score of 13-3 in seven innings, led by Owen Lee's own three-bomb outing.
Photo by Jim Dillon