By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (Feb. 20-21)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Due to adverse weather and field conditions in Cookeville, the Tennessee Tech baseball team has made changes to its 2021 opening weekend, instead making a trip south to take part in a round robin tournament at Ohio Valley Conference rival Jacksonville State.
Originally slated to host Southern Illinois in three games between Friday and Saturday, the Golden Eagles will play three teams in two days down in Jacksonville, Ala. Tech will take on Southern Illinois in an 11:00 a.m. CT tilt on Saturday, Feb. 20 to officially open the season.
Later in the evening, the Golden Eagles will square off with Alabama State in a 6:00 p.m. match-up. Tech will round out play in the weekend tournament with a non-conference game against Jacksonville State on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m.
Live stats will be provided for each contest. Tech's Sunday affair with the Gamecocks will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Second-year head coach Steve Smith will get another crack at his first full season guiding the Golden Eagles after being named the program's 15th head man on Dec. 20, 2019. Smith spent 21 seasons (1995-2015) as the lead man at Baylor, compiling a 744-523-1 record, 13 NCAA Regional appearances, four NCAA Super Regional nods and a bid to the 2005 College World Series.
Leading the purple and gold into the 2021 campaign is junior outfielder Jason Hinchman, the OVC's Preseason Player of the Year, a Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season All-American and member of the 2021 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List. In last year's shortened stint, the Winston, Ga. native posted a .414/.485/.793 slash line with six home runs, four doubles, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored and three stolen bases in 15 games.
Also back for his second run as a freshman is infielder Brett Roberts, who earned Freshman All-American honors in 2020 behind a .290 batting average, .371 on-base percentage and .516 slugging percentage. He scored a team-high 13 runs while totaling 18 hits, four home runs, 13 RBI and three steals.
The Tech roster welcomes 15 newcomers to the mix for the 2021 season, including eight position players, six pitchers and a utility player. The Golden Eagles will also feature a very young roster on the year with 25 underclassmen suiting up.
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Tennessee Tech vs. Southern Illinois | Saturday, Feb. 20, 11:00 am
Jacksonville, Ala. | Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium (2,020)
Alabama State vs. Tennessee Tech | Saturday, Feb. 20, 6:00 pm
Jacksonville, Ala. | Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium (2,020)
Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville State | Sunday, Feb. 21, 1:30 pm
Jacksonville, Ala. | Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium (2,020)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2020 Record: 3-12
2020 OVC Record: 0-3
Head Coach: Steve Smith
TTU: 3-12 (2nd Season)
Career: 747-535-1 (23rd Season)
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Jason Hinchman (.414)
2B: Gavin Johns (6)
3B: 4 players tied (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (6)
RBI: Jason Hinchman / Brett Roberts (13)
R: Brett Roberts (13)
BB: 3 players tied (7)
SB: Jason Hinchman / Brett Roberts (3)
ERA: Daniel Holley (3.86)
W: 3 players tied (1)
APP: Jacob Parham (8)
IP: Alex Hursey (16.2)
K: Alex Hursey (21)
SV: Brock Myers / Tyler Sylvester (1)
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS
2020 Record: 12-6
2020 MVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Lance Rhodes
SIU: 12-6 (2nd Season)
Career: Same
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Evan Martin (.429)
2B: Ian Walters / J.T. Weber (6)
3B: 4 players tied (1)
HR: Grey Epps (3)
RBI: Philip Archer (18)
R: Nick Neville (18)
BB: Ian Walters (13)
SB: Ian Walters (10)
ERA: Matthew Steidl (1.71)
W: 3 players tied (2)
APP: Trey McDaniel (11)
IP: Matthew Steidl (21.0)
K: Trey McDaniel (22)
SV: Trey McDaniel (3)
ALABAMA STATE HORNETS
2020 Record: 14-4
2020 SWAC Record: 3-0
Head Coach: Jose' Vazquez
ASU: 103-77 (5th Season)
Career: Same
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Cameron Hearn (.395)
2B: AJ Gardner / Jabronski Williams (3)
3B: 4 players tied (1)
HR: Jabronski Williams (3)
RBI: Jabronski Williams (15)
R: Jabronski Williams (17)
BB: Ian Matos (14)
SB: Jabronski Williams (6)
ERA: Breon Pooler (0.52)
W: Jacknell Guzman / Jeremy Rivera (3)
APP: Jeremy Rivera (6)
IP: Jacknell Guzman (30.2)
K: Jeremy Rivera (32)
SV: Britt Buckelew / Breon Pooler (1)
JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS
2020 Record: 7-8
2020 OVC Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Jim Case
JSU: 593-472 (20th Season)
Career: Same
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Tre Kirklin (.328)
2B: Alex Strachan (5)
3B: 3 players tied (1)
HR: Tre Kirklin (4)
RBI: Tre Kirklin (14)
R: Cole Frederick (15)
BB: Carson Crowe (11)
SB: Tre Kirklin (3)
ERA: 3 players tied (0.00)
W: Dylan Hathcock (2)
APP: Jackson Tavel / Corley Woods (7)
IP: Dylan Hathcock (22.0)
K: Colton Lewis / Dylan Hathcock (15)
SV: Trey Fortner (2)
Photo by Jaylynn Nash, NC State Athletics
