By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (4/19)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 21 ranked Tennessee Tech baseball team returns to Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex as the hottest team in the country, boasting the nation's longest winning streak of 22 games. The Golden Eagles (31-5) will play host to Southern Illinois (20-17) in a three-game series from Friday to Sunday during the team's annual bye week from Ohio Valley Conference play.
Game one is slated for a 6 p.m. CT start at Quillen Field Friday evening. Saturday's game two will feature a 2 p.m. start while the series finale on Sunday will begin at 1 p.m. All three games are scheduled to be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
The Golden Eagle offense has continued its record-setting pace in 2018, leading the nation in batting average (.360), doubles (104), doubles per game (2.89), hits (492), home runs (90), home runs per game (2.50), on base percentage (.454), runs (415), scoring (11.5), slugging percentage (.653) and win/loss percentage (.861). The Golden Eagles also rank sixth in base on balls (218) and 19th in triples (13).
Several Tech players rank among the national leaders in several categories as well:
Batting Average - Kevin Strohschein (10th)
Hits - Kevin Strohschein (2nd)
Hits Per Game - Kevin Strohschein (3rd)
Home Runs Per Game - Trevor Putzig (7th)
RBI - Trevor Putzig (4th), Chase Chambers (5th), David Garza (5th), John Ham (7th)
RBI Per Game - Trevor Putzig (3rd), John Ham (5th), Chase Chambers (6th), David Garza (6th)
Runs - Alex Junior (1st), Chase Chambers (3rd), David Garza (5th), John Ham (5th), Trevor Putzig (10th)
Runs Per Game - Alex Junior (1st), Chase Chambers (2nd), John Ham (4th), David Garza (6th) Trevor Putzig (7th)
Sacrifice Flies - Trevor Putzig (4th)
Slugging Percentage - John Ham (5th)
Total Bases - Kevin Strohschein (1st), John Ham (4th)
Victories - Travis Moths (6th)
#21 Tennessee Tech (31-5) vs. Southern Illinois (20-17)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball | Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Friday, Apr. 20, 6:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Travis Moths (RHP)
7-1 | 4.17 ERA | 49.2 IP | 54 K | 22 BB
vs.
SIU Michael Baird (RHP)
3-2 | 3.52 ERA | 61.1 IP | 48 K | 10 BB
Saturday, Apr. 21, 2:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Marcus Evey (RHP)
4-0 | 4.46 ERA | 38.1 IP | 46 K | 13 BB
vs.
SIU Jamison Steege (LHP)
4-2 | 4.45 ERA | 54.2 IP | 29 K | 21 BB
Sunday, Apr. 22, 1:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Alex Hursey (LHP)
5-2 | 4.14 ERA | 37.0 IP | 31 K | 16 BB
vs.
SIU Brad Harrison (LHP)
4-2 | 2.83 ERA | 54.0 IP | 58 K | 12 BB
*Starting rotations are probable and subject to change
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2018 Record: 31-5
2018 OVC Record: 17-1 (1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 424-385-2 (15th Season)
Career: 549-479-2 (19th Season)
Since 2008: 311-227-2
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Kevin Strohschein (.411)
2B: Kevin Strohschein (14)
3B: John Ham / Alex Junior (3)
HR: John Ham / Trevor Putzig (12)
RBI: Trevor Putzig (49)
R: Alex Junior (59)
BB: Alex Junior (32)
SB: Collin Harris (5)
ERA: Tyler Sylvester (2.12)
W: Travis Moths (7)
APP: Ethan Roberts (13)
IP: Travis Moths (49.2)
K: Ethan Roberts (55)
SV: Ethan Roberts (8)
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS
2018 Record: 20-17
2018 MVC Record: 4-5 (T-4th)
Head Coach: Ken Henderson
SIU: 207-252-1 (8th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Logan Blackfan (.372)
2B: Logan Blackfan / Connor Kopach (11)
3B: Connor Kopach (4)
HR: Logan Blackfan (7)
RBI: Logan Blackfan (45)
R: Connor Kopach (37)
BB: Nikola Vasic (.297)
SB: Connor Kopach (21)
ERA: Brad Harrison (2.83)
W: Brad Harrison / Jamison Steege (4)
APP: Trey McDaniel (19)
IP: Michael Baird (61.1)
K: Brad Harrison (58)
SV: Ryan Netemeyer (6)
Photo by Tony Marable
