By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (5/10)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 19 ranked Tennessee Tech baseball team welcomes Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky to Quillen Field at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex this weekend for a three-game series.
The two teams are set to square off on Friday, May 11 at 6 p.m. CT to kick off the series. Game two is set for a 2 p.m. start on Saturday while Sunday will feature the finale at 1 p.m. Sunday will also represent Tech's Senior Day festivities, with seven team members being honored prior the first pitch.
Tech enters the game after claiming a midweek win over Vanderbilt in Nashville, a 6-4 decision that helped the Golden Eagles tie the program record for wins with 41 on the year. The Golden Eagles sit just one win (or one loss by Morehead State) from clinching its second straight OVC regular season title outright. Last weekend, Tech clinched at least a share of the league championship after a three-game sweep of Belmont.
The Golden Eagle offense has continued its record-setting pace in 2018, leading the nation in batting average (.353), doubles per game (2.55), hits (627), home runs (106), home runs per game (2.26), on base percentage (.444), runs (512), scoring (10.9), slugging percentage (.617) and win/loss percentage (.872). The Golden Eagles also rank second in doubles (120) and 10th in base on balls (255).
Several Tech players rank among the national leaders in several categories as well:
Batting Average - Chase Chambers (6th), Kevin Strohschein (9th)
Hits - Kevin Strohschein (1st), Chase Chambers (7th)
Hits Per Game - Kevin Strohschein (1st), Chase Chambers (7th)
On Base Percentage - Chase Chambers (6th)
RBI - Chase Chambers (3rd), Trevor Putzig (3rd), David Garza (9th)
RBI Per Game - Trevor Putzig (3rd), Chase Chambers (7th), David Garza (10th)
Runs - Alex Junior (2nd), Chase Chambers (4th), David Garza (7th), John Ham (9th), Trevor Putzig (9th)
Runs Per Game - Alex Junior (1st), Chase Chambers (3rd), Trevor Putzig (6th), John Ham (8th), David Garza (9th)
Sacrifice Flies - Trevor Putzig (9th)
Saves - Ethan Roberts (10th)
Slugging Percentage - Kevin Strohschein (8th)
Strikeouts Per Nine Innings - Ethan Roberts (3rd)
Total Bases - Kevin Strohschein (1st)
Victories - Travis Moths (2nd)
#19 Tennessee Tech (41-6, 22-2) vs. Eastern Kentucky (26-23, 15-9)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball | Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Friday, May 11, 6:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS
TTU Travis Moths (RHP)
10-1 | 4.26 ERA | 67.2 IP | 73 K | 31 BB
vs.
EKU Logan Teague (RHP)
5-4 | 5.74 ERA | 64.1 IP | 47 K | 33 BB
Saturday, May 12, 2:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS
TTU Marcus Evey (RHP)
6-0 | 4.07 ERA | 55.1 IP | 69 K | 20 BB
vs.
EKU Jack Piekos (LHP)
2-3 | 5.63 ERA | 38.1 IP | 42 K | 17 BB
Sunday, May 13, 1:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS
TTU Alex Hursey (LHP)
7-3 | 4.08 ERA | 53.0 IP | 37 K | 19 BB
vs.
TBA
- | - ERA | - IP | - K | - BB
*Starting rotations are probable and subject to change
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2018 Record: 41-6
2018 OVC Record: 22-2 (1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 434-386-2 (15th Season)
Career: 559-480-2 (19th Season)
Since 2008: 321-228-2
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Chase Chambers (.416)
2B: John Ham (15)
3B: 4 players tied (3)
HR: Kevin Strohschein (15)
RBI: Chase Chambers / Trevor Putzig (63)
R: Alex Junior (67)
BB: Alex Junior (38)
SB: Collin Harris (8)
ERA: Ethan Roberts (2.28)
W: Travis Moths (10)
APP: Ethan Roberts (19)
IP: Travis Moths (67.2)
K: Ethan Roberts (75)
SV: Ethan Roberts (12)
EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS
2018 Record: 26-23
2018 OVC Record: 15-9 (7th)
Head Coach: Edwin Thompson
EKU: 72-84 (3rd Season)
Career: 109-117 (5th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Alex Holderbach (.384)
2B: Ryland Kerr (18)
3B: 5 players tied (2)
HR: Alex Holderbach (17)
RBI: Alex Holderbach (70)
R: Alex Holderbach (52)
BB: Alex Holderbach / Cornell Nixon (33)
SB: Cornell Nixon (30)
ERA: Austin Perry (3.92)
W: Logan Teague (5)
APP: Aaron Ochsenbein (5.13)
IP: Logan Teague (5.74)
K: Aaron Ochsenbein (53)
SV: Aaron Ochsenbein (9)
Photo by Tony Marable
