By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Prepped for its second week of league action, the Tennessee Tech baseball team will continue Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend as the Golden Eagles (7-7, 1-2) head west for an in-state match-up with the UT Martin Skyhawks (2-10, 1-2).
Poor field conditions has led to a change in the schedule for the series, with games originally set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Due to the most recent winter storm and subsequent rain, the first game of the series will begin on Saturday with a 6 p.m. CT start. Game two will feature a first pitch time of 3 p.m. on Sunday and the third and final game of the series will commence on Monday at 3 p.m.
Fans can also follow all the action via live stats at utmsports.com.
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Tennessee Tech at UT Martin |
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| Mar. 14-16, 2015 | Martin, Tenn. | Skyhawk Field (500) |
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| SAT. | 6:00 P.M. |
SUN. | 3:00 P.M. |
MON. | 3:00 P.M. |
| Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: |
| TTU - RHP Chris Chism 2-0, 4.63 ERA, 11.2 IP, 5 K |
TTU - RHP Evan Fraliex 2-0, 2.96 ERA, 24.1 IP, 11 K |
TTU - RHP Travis Moths 0-1, 7.88 ERA, 16.0 IP, 16 K |
| UTM - LHP Carter Smith 1-1, 0.51 ERA, 17.2 IP, 19 K |
UTM - LHP Daniel Shaw 0-1, 6.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 4 K |
UTM - RHP Alex Martin 0-2, 4.34 ERA, 18.2 IP, 24 K |
SERIES INFO
Dates: Mar. 14-16, 2015
Times: 6 PM | 3 PM | 3 PM CT
Location: Martin, Tenn.
Stadium: Skyhawk Field
Radio: None
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tech leads, 40-17
Bragga vs: 21-12
First Meeting: Unknown
Last Meeting: March 23, 2014
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: Saturday | Sunday | Monday
Audio: None
Video: None
Webstream: None
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 7-7
2015 OVC Record: 1-2 (T-6th)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 302-313-2 (12th season)
TTU: 302-313-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Chase Chambers (.356)
2B: David Allen/Ryan Flick (6)
HR: Dylan Bosheers (4)
RBI: Flick (19)
SB: Bosheers (3)
UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS
2015 Record: 2-10
2015 OVC Record: 1-2 (T-6th)
Head Coach: Rick Robinson
Career: 701-291-0 (18th season)
UTM: 2-12-0 (1st season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Nico Zych (.409)
2B: Luis Paublini/Zych (4)
HR: Zych (2)
RBI: Zych (7)
SB: Jake Deason (6)
DOWN MAYBE, BUT NEVER OUT
If there's been anything to learn about this year's version of the Golden Eagles, it's that you can knock them down, but don't you dare count them out. In just 14 games this season, Tech has already mounted four come-from-behind victories when trailing in the fifth inning or later.
In the second game of the year, the Golden Eagles headed into the bottom of the ninth, trailing 7-2 to a feisty Longwood squad. Six runs later, Tech walked off with its first victory of the year. A week later, the squad found itself trailing to a dangerous Davidson team in the fifth by two runs. Tech tied it in the bottom half before the flood gates opened up with an eight-run sixth for a 12-5 win.
Just last week, Morehead State mounted its own rally, taking a two-run lead in the top of the sixth while looking for a series sweep. Two quick runs in the bottom half of the frame led to an exhilarating 9-8, walk-off W in the ninth.
And last time out, the Golden Eagles looked sure to be done in the fifth, trailing in-state rival Lipscomb by six runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. The Golden Eagles proved they don't care, dropping a seven-spot to take the lead for good in an unreal 12-8 victory.
WALK THIS WAY
Patience is a virtue. But there's no need to tell that to the Golden Eagle baseball team. They proved they have plenty of patience at the plate Wednesday, drawing nine walks in the team's incredible, six-run, comeback victory over in-state foe Lipscomb. Six different Tech players garnered a free pass, with three Golden Eagles snagging two each. All-American Dylan Bosheers also took a pitch off the shoulder, his third freebie to first of the game.
NO SUCH THING AS A POWER OUTAGE
One year after leading the nation with a monstrous 83 home runs, many experts believed there was just no way Tech could match the power-hitting output of the 2014 squad. Gone were the bats of Zach Stephens, Brandon Thomasson and Daniel Miles. Last year the three All-Americans combined for 52 dingers. Add Jordan Parris to the mix and there's another five long balls missing from the lineup.
But a closer look into the numbers reveals that this year's team, stock full of ultra-young talent (six freshmen have started at least three games this year), has been just potent with extra base hits as last year's.
Here's a comparison of the 2014 and 2015 squads power numbers 14 games into the season:
| 2014 Team | 2015 Team | |
| Doubles | 33 | 37 |
| Triples | 4 | 1 |
| Home Runs | 13 | 11 |
| Total | 50 | 49 |
ALREADY IN MIDSEASON FORM
Preseason All-American Dylan Bosheers is starting to show just why he was given such a high honor. For the season, the senior is batting .327 while leading the Golden Eagles with 17 runs scored and four home runs and ranking second with 16 RBI.
He is slugging .654 on the year and owns an on base percentage of .439 thanks to nine walks and three hit-by-pitches. He has made just one error between stints at second base and shortstop, the latter of which he returned to this past week after recovering from an offseason arm injury.
FRESHMAN FOCUS
Freshman Chase Chambers has really come alive over the past five games, batting .471 thanks to eight hits in 17 at bats. Over that span he's slugged .588 and tallied an on base percentage of .571. On the year, he leads the Golden Eagles with a .356 average, garnering a team-high 10 walks and tallying a .467 slugging percentage and .482 on base percentage.
Fellow freshman Ryan Flick, Tech's designated hitter, has also been a huge boon to the offense. Number 11 leads the Golden Eagles with 19 RBI on the year, thanks to a slugging percentage of .520 and eight extra base hits. He ranks second on the squad with two dingers.
MR. 300
With a 14-2 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday, head coach Matt Bragga earned his 300th career victory, just the second coach in program history to accomplish the feat. He currently ranks second to Hall of Fame coach David Mays in total wins.
Photo by Jim Dillon
