By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
EDITOR'S NOTE: Since the publishing of this preview, Davidson has been added to this weekend's games. Tech will now play Michigan on Friday at 1 p.m. CST and be the home team. On Saturday, Tech will act as the road team against Michigan at 3 p.m. The Golden Eagles will conclude the weekend as the home team against Davidson at 11:30 a.m.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With brutal playing conditions and a winter storm playing all kinds of havoc with the Tennessee Tech baseball schedule this week, the Golden Eagles finally have a weekend planned ahead beginning Friday evening with a neutral-site contest against the Michigan Wolverines.
After postponing its Wednesday match-up with in-state foe Tennessee to a date to be determined and canceling its weekend series at Bush Stadium against Youngstown State, the Tech squad was able to salvage the week, agreeing to a three-game series against Michigan. The three contests will be played Friday at 1 p.m. CST, Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m., all taking place in Savannah, Ga.
The Golden Eagles and Wolverines will square off at Grayson Stadium, home to the Class A affiliate of the New York Mets, the Savannah Sand Gnats.
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vs. |
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Tennessee Tech vs. Michigan |
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| Feb. 20-22, 2015 | Savannah, Ga. | Grayson Stadium (4,000) |
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| FRI. | 1:00 P.M. |
SAT. | 1:00 P.M. |
SUN. | 8:00 A.M. |
| Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: |
| TTU - LHP John Gora 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 6 K |
TTU - RHP Evan Fraliex 0-0, 3.18 ERA, 5.2 IP, 5 K |
TTU - RHP Travis Moths 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 4.0 IP, 4 K |
| UM - LHP Brett Adcock 0-0, 3.86 ERA, 4.2 IP, 2 K |
UM - RHP Keith Lehmann 0-1, 16.20 ERA, 1.2 IP, 2 K |
UM - RHP Ryan Nutof 0-0, 1.59 ERA, 5.2 IP, 4 K |
SERIES INFO
Dates: Feb. 20-22, 2015
Times: 1 PM | 1 PM | 8 AM CST
Location: Savannah, Ga.
Stadium: Grayson Stadium
Radio: None
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: First meeting
Cookeville: Series tied, 0-0
Ann Arbor: Series tied, 0-0
Neutral Site: Series tied, 0-0
Bragga vs: First meeting
First Meeting: First meeting
Last Meeting: First meeting
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: mgoblue.com
Audio: None
Video: None
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 2-1
2015 OVC Record: 0-0 (T-1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 297-307-2 (12th season)
TTU: 297-307-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Tyler Brazelton (.667)
2B: Four tied (1)
HR: Brazelton/Jake Farr (1)
RBI: Brazelton (5)
SB: Five tied (1)
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
2015 Record: 1-2
2015 Big Ten Record: 0-0 (T-1st)
Head Coach: Erik Bakich
Career: 130-156-1 (6th season)
UM: 60-58-1 (3rd season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Travis Maezes (.286)
2B: Seven tied (1)
HR: None
RBI: Jacob Cronenworth/Eric Jacobson (2)
SB: Cronenworth/Jackson Glines (1)
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
The Golden Eagle offense took a little while to get going to start the 2015 campaign, scoring just four runs through the season's first 17 innings. That all changed with a magical ninth frame against Longwood. Trailing 7-2 entering the bottom half, Tech rallied to score six runs and capture its first victory of the season, 8-7, over the Lancers and kick start an offensive run.
The Golden Eagles proceeded to score 12 runs, including six unearned, against the Lancers in the rubber match, collecting the 12-2 victory to capture the series.
NOT SHORT ON TALENT
Listed at just 5-foot-6, sophomore Tyler Brazelton would seem to have a disadvantage on the field when just looking at him. But the third-year outfielder has taken the past two years to erase any doubt in his abilities.
Through three games this season, the Huntsville, Ala. native has already made a splash, batting a monstrous .667 while spending arguably more time on base than in the dugout with an on base percentage of .818. Brazelton launched the first Tech home run of the year out of the park and also leads the team with five RBI and slugging percentage of 1.333. Let's also not forget that it was his walk-off RBI single that gave Tech its first win of the year.
LEADING OFF
A good lead-off hitter is crucial to running a high-octane offense and no one has done a better job of filling that spot for the Golden Eagles over the years than head coach Matt Bragga. For 2015, he has plugged in shortstop and second baseman Jake Farr into the role and the JUCO transfer has not disappointed.
In three starts this season, Farr is batting an impressive .462, leading the team with six hits, 10 total bases and a crazy six runs scored. He has slugged .769 thanks to a double and home run and has walked twice as compared to zero strikeouts. Not a bad start.
ALREADY IN MIDSEASON FORM
Preseason All-American Dylan Bosheers already looks to be in midseason form through the team's first three games this season, leaving little doubt as to weather the senior can put up similar numbers to last year's breakout campaign.
The Lawrenceburg, Tenn. native is batting .417 with five hits and two runs scored, not to mention two RBI and a stolen base. And there is plenty more stored in the tank from where that came.
Photo by Jim Dillon
