By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (5/16)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 16 nationally-ranked Tennessee Tech baseball team wrap up the 2018 regular season beginning Thursday, May 17, kicking off a three-game series at Ohio Valley Conference rival Morehead State at 2 p.m. CT. Game time was moved up two hours due to projected inclement weather in the Morehead, Ky. area.
Game two of the series is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Friday while the series finale will begin at approximately 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Fans are encouraged to check social media and the TTUSports.com website for updates concerning this weekend's schedule.
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 - 16
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)
#16 Tennessee Tech (44-6, 25-2) at Morehead State (31-21, 17-10)
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball | Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Thursday, May 17, 2:00 pm | Morehead, Ky. | Allen Field (1,000) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Travis Moths (RHP)
11-1 | 4.22 ERA | 74.2 IP | 82 K | 31 BB
vs.
MOR Jake Ziegelmeyer (RHP)
5-0 | 5.77 ERA | 34.1 IP | 32 K | 12 BB
Friday, May 18, 4:00 pm | Morehead, Ky. | Allen Field (1,000) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Marcus Evey (RHP)
6-0 | 3.82 ERA | 61.1 IP | 77 K | 20 BB
vs.
MOR Dalton Stambaugh (LHP)
5-3 | 5.96 ERA | 71.0 IP | 64 K | 24 BB
Saturday, May 19, 1:00 pm | Morehead, Ky. | Allen Field (1,000) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Alex Hursey (LHP)
7-3 | 4.45 ERA | 58.2 IP | 38 K | 20 BB
vs.
MOR David Calderon (RHP)
1-3 | 3.76 ERA | 40.1 IP | 58 K | 18 BB
*Starting rotations are probable and subject to change
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)
MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES
2018 Record: 31-21
2018 OVC Record: 17-10 (T-2nd)
Head Coach: Mike McGuire
MOR: 182-161 (6th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Braxton Morris (.398)
2B: Braxton Morris (24)
3B: Tyler Niemann (3)
HR: Trevor Snyder (17)
RBI: Trevor Snyder (63)
R: Braxton Morris (57)
BB: Reid Leonard (46)
SB: Braxton Morris (6)
ERA: David Calderon (3.12)
W: Cory Conway (6)
APP: Cory Conway (27)
IP: Dalton Stambaugh (71.0)
K: Dalton Stambaugh (64)
SV: Dom Masullo (4)
Photo by Tony Marable
