By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (5/14)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 18 nationally-ranked Tennessee Tech baseball team will host its final home game of the regular season Tuesday afternoon, welcoming Western Kentucky to Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex for a 2 p.m. CT match-up.
The Golden Eagles enter the contest having won 35 of their past 36 games, including a three-game sweep over Eastern Kentucky over the weekend, which clinched Tech its 10th Ohio Valley Conference regular season title and second straight. Tech is ranked in all six national polls for the second straight week, including:
Baseball America - 22
Collegiate Baseball - 18
D1Baseball.com - 20
NCBWA - 19 (May 7 poll)
Perfect Game - 18
USA TODAY Coaches - 21
The Golden Eagle offense has continued its record-setting pace in 2018, leading the nation in batting average (.350), hits (656), home runs (113), home runs per game (2.26), on base percentage (.442), runs (537), scoring (10.7), slugging percentage (.615) and win/loss percentage (.880). The Golden Eagles also rank second in doubles (126), second in doubles per game (2.52) and 12th in base on balls (279).
Several Tech players rank among the national leaders in several categories as well:
Batting Average - Chase Chambers (8th)
Hits - Kevin Strohschein (2nd), Chase Chambers (8th)
Hits Per Game - Kevin Strohschein (3rd)
On Base Percentage - Chase Chambers (8th)
RBI - Chase Chambers (3rd), Trevor Putzig (8th)
RBI Per Game - Trevor Putzig (3rd), Chase Chambers (4th)
Runs - Alex Junior (2nd), Chase Chambers (4th), David Garza (8th), John Ham (8th)
Runs Per Game - Alex Junior (2nd), Chase Chambers (3rd), Trevor Putzig (7th), John Ham (8th)
Sacrifice Flies - Trevor Putzig (1st)
Strikeouts Per Nine Innings - Ethan Roberts (3rd)
Total Bases - Kevin Strohschein (1st)
Victories - Travis Moths (2nd)
#18 Tennessee Tech (44-6) vs. Western Kentucky (21-29)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball | Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Tuesday, May 15, 2:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Devin Lancaster (RHP)
4-1 | 5.34 ERA | 30.1 IP | 17 K | 15 BB
vs.
TBA
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2018 Record: 44-6
2018 OVC Record: 25-2 (1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 437-386-2 (15th Season)
Career: 562-480-2 (19th Season)
Since 2008: 324-228-2
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Chase Chambers (.408)
2B: 3 players tied (15)
3B: 4 players tied (3)
HR: Kevin Strohschein (15)
RBI: Chase Chambers (68)
R: Alex Junior (71)
BB: Alex Junior (42)
SB: Collin Harris (9)
ERA: Ethan Roberts (2.32)
W: Travis Moths (11)
APP: Ethan Roberts (20)
IP: Travis Moths (74.2)
K: Travis Moths (82)
SV: Ethan Roberts (12)
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS
2018 Record: 25-22
2018 C-USA Record: 11-16 (9th)
Head Coach: John Pawlowski
WKU: 61-98 (2nd Season)
Career: 566-416 (16th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Steve Kraft (.375)
2B: Steven Kraft (12)
3B: 3 players tied (3)
HR: Jacob Rhinesmith (13)
RBI: Jacob Rhinesmith (40)
R: Jacob Rhinesmith (44)
BB: Steven Kraft (29)
SB: Jacob Rhinesmith (13)
ERA: Conner Boyd (1.99)
W: Paul Kirkpatrick / Ryan Thurston (4)
APP: Conner Boyd (24)
IP: Ryan Thurston (79.0)
K: Ryan Thurston (85)
SV: Ben Morrison (7)
Photo by Thomas Corhern
