COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A poignant combination of emotion and drama
will surround Tennessee Tech's final home series of the 2011 season
as the Golden Eagles host UT Martin for three games this weekend in
Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Following a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, the teams will take
the field Sunday for a single game at 1 p.m. in what will be Senior
Day for the Golden Eagles, who bid farewell to six players wrapping
up their collegiate careers under coach Matt Bragga.
"Senior Day is always kind of an emotional time for the players,
their families, and the coaching staff," Bragga said. "It's the
final time they will play on their home field and it's always a
special day with special memories."
For the team, however, the drama of the Ohio Valley Conference
race will overshadow the emotion as the Golden Eagles are fighting
to reach the post-season and the OVC Tournament. With just six
games left on the schedule, the Golden Eagles need some wins to
keep playing.
Entering this weekend Tech is 8-10 in OVC games, leaving the
Golden Eagles in seventh place. Only the top six teams advance to
the May 25-28 OVC Tournament in Jackson, Tenn.
It's not bleak, however, as Tech is only 1.5 games out of third
place. Breaking the chase down to the simplest terms, six Golden
Eagles wins would clinch a tournament berth. Winning five of the
final six would most likely put Tech in the tourney field, too.
Winning four of six would complicate matters, depending on who the
wins come against.
"We just need t go out and play the best brand of baseball we can
play," Bragga said. "We need to play the baseball we're capable of
playing, and we're looking forward to the challenge."
Austin Peay owns the league lead with a 13-4 OVC record, while
Southeast Missouri is second at 10-6. Jacksonville and UT Martin
are tied for third at 9-8, with Eastern Illinois next at 9-9.
Eastern Kentucky is just ahead of the Golden Eagles at 10-11 with
just one league series remaining.
Following the UT Martin series this weekend, the Golden Eagles
wrap up the regular season with a trio of games at Murray State
next Friday and Saturday (May 20-21).
The six seniors who will get a proper sendoff on Sunday are Frankie
Beech, Jared Dobbs, Casanova
Donaldson, Chad Oberacker, Trice Powers and
Devin
Rivers.
The Golden Eagles are 20-25 overal this season, including a 14-12
record at home. The latest win was a 12-9 victory Tuesday night
with two comebacks against Lipscomb. Tech's lineup features six
regular starters above the .300 mark, led by Frazier's .333 mark.
The others are Donaldson (.328), Zach Stephens
(.312), Austin
Wulf (.310), Zephan Guyear (.305)
and Oberacker (.303). Tech owns a .291 team batting average with 37
home runs.
Bragga is settled on his pitching plans for Saturday, sending
Matthew Shepherd (3-5. 5.06) and Tristan Archer (5-4, 6.23) to the
hill. Sunday's starter, however, isn't determined. The Golden
Eagles have used three different Sunday starters this season,
including Oberacker (1-2, 4.38), Nick Price (3-4, 5.44) and Justin
McWhirter (0-4, 8.10). Tech's pitching staff has a 5.75 ERA with
four saves.
UT Martin, meanwhile, is 18-28 overall including a 5-17 record
away from home after dropping two games at Belmont Wednesday night.
The Skyhawks had won eight of their last nine prior to the Belmont
setback, including seven in OVC play to improve to 9-8 in league
games. Five regulars are hitting above the .300 mark, paced by Phil
Sorenson's .376 mark. Drew Mason (.370), Cody Terry (.343), Matt
Haynes (.328) and Erik Larsen (.304) are also above that plateau.
The Skyhawks own a .278 team batting average with 24 home runs.
The Skyhawk starting rotation will feature Dan Tobik (3-6, 5.47)
and Dannie Kelley (1-5, 5.16), but the third UTM weekend starter,
Wes Patterson (0-4, 9.00), is doubtful after suffering an injury
last weekend. The UTM pitching staff has a 6.18 ERA with four
saves.
Admission is free.
