By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Another Ohio Valley Conference battle is set for the Tennessee Tech baseball team as the Golden Eagles prepare to play host to Eastern Illinois in a three-game series beginning Thursday with a 6 p.m. CT bout.
It's a tight turnaround for the two squads, each of whom played midweek contests Tuesday afternoon. Following the series-opener on Thursday, play will continue with a 6 p.m. tilt on Friday night and conclude with a 2 p.m. match-up Saturday afternoon.
All three games are set to be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network, courtesy of the Golden Eagle Sports Network. Fans can also follow all the action via live stats at TTUSports.com.
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Tennessee Tech vs. Eastern Illinois |
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| Apr. 2-4, 2015 | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) |
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| THU. | 6:00 P.M. |
FRI. | 6:00 P.M. |
SAT. | 2:00 P.M. |
| Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: | Probable Starters: |
| TTU - RHP Chris Chism 4-1, 2.56 ERA, 31.2 IP, 35 K |
TTU - RHP Evan Fraliex 2-2, 4.69 ERA, 40.1 IP, 19 K |
TTU - RHP Travis Moths 1-2, 6.90 ERA, 30.0 IP, 31 K |
| EIU - LHP Garrison Stenger 0-6, 12.19 ERA, 20.2 IP, 24 K |
EIU - RHP Jake Johansmeier 0-3, 6.89 ERA, 31.1 IP, 20 K |
EIU - RHP Matt Wivinis 0-5, 6.00 ERA, 27.0 IP, 18 K |
SERIES INFO
Dates: Apr. 2-4, 2015
Times: 6 PM | 6 PM | 2 PM CT
Location: Cookeville, Tenn.
Stadium: Bush Stadium
Radio: None
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: EIU leads, 34-26
Bragga vs: 17-15
First Meeting: Unknown
Last Meeting: April 13, 2014
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Audio: None
Video: None
Webstream: Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 10-17
2015 OVC Record: 4-8 (T-8th)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 305-323-2 (12th season)
TTU: 305-323-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Dylan Bosheers (.348)
2B: Ryan Flick (9)
HR: Bosheers/Flick (5)
RBI: Flick (29)
SB: Bosheers/Matt Cunningham/Anthony El Chibani (3)
EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS
2015 Record: 0-21
2015 OVC Record: 0-9 (11th)
Head Coach: Jimmy Schmitz
Career: 684-706-1 (28th season)
EIU: 520-545-1 (21st season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Brant Valach (.306)
2B: Valach (8)
HR: Valach (4)
RBI: Valach (13)
SB: Caleb Howell (3)
BACK IN THE MIX
After missing the first three games of his lengthy career due to injury, All-American Dylan Bosheers returned for Tech's three-game series at Austin Peay last Friday, seemingly never missing a beat from before his injury. In four game since his return, the senior is batting .333 with five runs scored and a slugging percentage of .556.
Also back from injury this past weekend was outfielder Tyler Brazelton. The sophomore, who missed nearly two weeks with an ankle injury, was a beast for the Golden Eagles over the past four games. Brazelton managed a .357 batting average with slugging and on base percentages of .500 and .526, respectively.
FRESHMAN FOCUS
Freshman Ryan Flick, Tech's designated hitter, has been a huge boon to the offense all season long. Number 11 leads the Golden Eagles with 29 RBI on the year (which also ranks in the top five in the OVC), thanks to a slugging percentage of .531 and 14 extra base hits. He is tied for the team-lead with five home runs.
Fellow freshman Chase Chambers ranks fifth on the TTU squad with a .277 average. He has drawn a team-high 15 walks and tallied a .457 slugging percentage and .397 on base percentage this season. The first baseman also ranks in a tie for second on the squad with 18 RBI.
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 26 games this season, Tech has 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.
MR. 300
With a 14-2 win over Northern Illinois on Feb. 28, 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 Tony Marable
