By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Golden Eagles are back! After losing out on each of its past four home games due to weather, the Tennessee Tech baseball team finally returns to Bush Stadium Friday afternoon as it hosts Northern Illinois in a three-games series beginning at 3 p.m. CST.
The last two weeks have seen the Golden Eagle squad forced to postpone its road game at Tennessee and its home match-up with Middle Tennessee. Tech also was forced to cancel its three-game set at home against Youngstown State last weekend, but was able to salvage a three-game weekend with neutral site contests against Michigan (two games) and Davidson (one game) in Savannah, Ga.
First pitch for Tech's series against the Huskies of Northern Illinois is set for 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, with contests on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. to follow.
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vs. |
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Tennessee Tech vs. Northern Illinois |
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| Feb. 27 - Mar. 1, 2015 | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) |
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| FRI. | 3:00 P.M. |
SAT. | 2:00 P.M. |
SUN. | 1:00 P.M. |
| Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: |
| TTU - LHP John Gora 0-1, 5.06 ERA, 10.2 IP, 13 K |
TTU - RHP Evan Fraliex 1-0, 5.06 ERA, 10.2 IP, 8 K |
TTU - RHP Travis Moths 0-0, 6.48 ERA, 8.1 IP, 9 K |
| NIU - LHP Ben Neumann 0-1, 7.04 ERA, 7.2 IP, 7 K |
NIU - RHP Joe Ceja 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 8.0 IP, 7 K |
NIU - RHP Dirk Ormsby 1-1, 2.89 ERA, 9.1 IP, 6 K |
SERIES INFO
Dates: Feb. 27 - Mar. 1, 2015
Times: 3 PM | 2 PM | 1 PM CST
Location: Cookeville, Tenn.
Stadium: Bush Stadium
Radio: None
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tech leads, 1-0
Cookeville: Tech leads, 1-0
DeKalb: Series tied, 0-0
Neutral Site: Series tied, 0-0
Bragga vs: First meeting
First Meeting: March 15, 1992
Last Meeting: March 15, 1992
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: ttusports.com
Audio: None
Video: None
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 4-2
2015 OVC Record: 0-0 (T-1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 299-308-2 (12th season)
TTU: 299-308-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: David Allen (.368)
2B: Dylan Bosheers (4)
HR: Brazelton/Jake Farr (1)
RBI: Bosheers (7)
SB: Five tied (1)
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES
2015 Record: 3-4
2015 MAC Record: 0-0 (T-1st)
Head Coach: Mike Kunigonis
Career: 3-4-0 (1st season)
NIU: 3-4-0 (1st season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Brian Sisler (.500)
2B: Sisler (5)
HR: Micah McCulloch/Nate Ruzich (1)
RBI: Sisler (9)
SB: Jason Gasser (4)
MR. 300
After posting back-to-back 40-win seasons, not to mention a solid 4-2 start to the 2015 campaign, head coach Matt Bragga remains just one more W short of his 300th career victory.
In his career, Bragga holds a 17-8 record against teams from the Mid-American Conference, battling eight different members of the league in his 11 seasons at the helm of the Tech program. Northern Illinois will represent the ninth different MAC team to play the Golden Eagles during Bragga's tenure in Cookeville.
ALREADY IN MIDSEASON FORM
Preseason All-American Dylan Bosheers already looks to be in midseason form through the team's first six games this season, leaving little doubt as to whether the senior can put up similar numbers to last year's breakout campaign.
The Lawrenceburg, Tenn. native is batting .385 with 10 hits and five runs scored, not to mention seven RBI and a stolen base. And there is plenty more stored in the tank from where that came.
HEATING UP
The Golden Eagle offense is starting to take form, collectively batting .319 over its last four games, including sporting three batters with averages over .400 during that span. Freshmen Chase Chambers and Ryan Flick are torching the ball to a tune of .462/.538/.650 and .400/.600/.417 while senior David Allen is calmly settled in at an average of .417.
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 six games this season, the Huntsville, Ala. native has already made a splash, batting .444 while spending arguably more time on base than in the dugout with an on base percentage of .706. Brazelton launched the first Tech home run of the year out of the park and also ranks first on the team with a slugging percentage of .889. 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 head coach Matt Bragga has done a phenomenal job of filling that spot for the Golden Eagles over the years. For 2015, he has plugged in shortstop and second baseman Jake Farr into the role and the JUCO transfer has not disappointed.
In six starts this season, Farr is batting an impressive .320, ranking first on the Golden Eagles with nine runs scored. He also ranks second on the team with eight hits and 12 total bases. Not a bad start.
Photo by Tony Marable
