By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will get the most grueling part of its 2015 regular season schedule underway Wednesday afternoon, contesting seven of its next eight games on the road, beginning with its second meeting of the year with Alabama A&M.
The Golden Eagles (18-19) enter its 3 p.m. match-up with the Bulldogs (22-22) hot off a three-game sweep of Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State this past weekend. Tech has now won eight of its past 10 games, including four straight.
Fans can follow Wednesday's action live via live stats here.
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Tennessee Tech at Alabama A&M |
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| Apr. 22, 2015 | Huntsville, Ala. | Bulldog Field (500) | |
| WED. | 3:00 P.M. | |
| Possible Starters: | |
| TTU - RHP Austin Tolle 0-2, 6.92 ERA, 26.0 IP, 15 K |
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| AA&M - RHP Caleb Bowen 2-2, 5.93 ERA, 27.1 IP, 19 K |
SERIES INFO
Dates: Apr. 22, 2015
Times: 3 PM CT
Location: Huntsville, Ala.
Stadium: Bulldog Field
Radio: None
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tech leads, 9-1
Bragga vs: 9-1
First Meeting: Feb. 14, 2007
Last Meeting: Mar. 25, 2015
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: Wednesday
Audio: None
Video: None
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 18-19
2015 OVC Record: 11-10 (6th)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 313-325-2 (12th season)
TTU: 313-325-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Dylan Bosheers (.341)
2B: Bosheers (13)
HR: Flick (9)
RBI: Flick (46)
SB: Anthony El Chibani (5)
ALABAMA A&M BULLDOGS
2015 Record: 22-22
2015 SWAC Record: 14-7 (2nd East)
Head Coach: Mitch Hill
Career: 43-54-0 (2nd season)
AA&M: 43-54-0 (2nd season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Julio Nunez (.344)
2B: Nunez (19)
HR: Jordan Friend/Nunez (9)
RBI: Nunez (47)
SB: Brandyn Crutcher/Trea Nelson (9)
CLOSING IN...
All-American shortstop Dylan Bosheers has been the iron man of the Tennessee Tech baseball program his entire career, missing just three games (this season) over his four-year span in the purple and gold. Over that time period, the senior has paved his way into the top 10 career marks in several statistical categories.
Following last weekend's slate at Jacksonville State, Bosheers became just the seventh Tech player to play in 203 career games, starting every single one of them. He now ranks second in Tech history with 53 career doubles (just one behind the all-time record of 54 by Mike Meihls) and third in runs scored with 182.
He moved into second all-time in hits (255), is fourth in at bats (773), is tied for third with 404 total bases, and in fourth in career RBI with 168. With seven home runs on the year, Bosheers has moved into a tie for seventh place all time with 28 career bombs.
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 31 games this season, Tech has mounted seven 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.
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 for the Golden Eagles in the ninth.
In Nashville, 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.
The series-opener against Eastern Illinois saw the Panthers take a 6-4 lead into the fifth inning before the Tech squad tied things up in the bottom half. The Golden Eagles scored three more times in the sixth and then held off a seventh-inning rally to take down EIU 9-7.
The Golden Eagles showed more resiliency in a midweek bout with in-state rival Middle Tennessee, exploding for six runs in the seventh inning to rally from a 2-0 deficit. Tech captured the contest 6-5 behind a huge three-run RBI by senior Jordan Hopkins and big four-out save by closer Cain Sloan.
Facing Jacksonville State in game one of a three-game set, the Golden Eagles came out on top of contest featuring nine lead changes, rallying from a 6-5 deficit in the sixth and 8-7 deficit in the eighth to take yet another come-from-behind victory, 10-8.
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 46 RBI on the year (which also ranks in the top five in the OVC), thanks to a slugging percentage of .606 and 21 extra base hits. He also leads the team with nine home runs.
Fellow freshman Chase Chambers ranks fourth on the TTU squad with a .285 average. He has drawn a team-high 23 walks and tallied a .446 slugging percentage and .407 on base percentage this season. The first baseman also ranks third on the squad with 26 RBI.
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 Sean Setters
