By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (Mar. 26-27)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team hits the road for some more Ohio Valley Conference action, visiting Jacksonville, Ala. for a three-game set with Jacksonville State beginning Friday evening.
First pitch of the series is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Friday. Saturday will feature doubleheader action beginning at 1:00 p.m. The series finale will begin at approximately 4:00 p.m. following the conclusion of the first contest of the day. All three games are set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
Tech continued its hot streak in midweek action Tuesday, winning its third-straight contest and seventh out of its last nine games with an 11-4 decision over in-state rival Belmont. The Golden Eagle offense has struck for at least nine runs in each of its past six victories on the diamond, averaging 12.0 runs per game over that span.
The hot stretch has the purple and gold atop the league's leaderboard in team batting average with mark of .285. Pacing that run has been shortstop Ed Johnson, the OVC's reigning Player of the Week. The sophomore leads Tech with a robust .452 batting average and 17 RBI in 11 games this season.
Jacksonville State comes into the weekend following a 12-10 midweek loss at Kennesaw State on Wednesday. The Gamecocks are 1-2 in OVC play, starting the league season with a bye week. Jax State dropped two-of-three tilts at Murray State in its first official taste of the OVC this season.
The Golden Eagles and Gamecocks did already square off once this season, with both teams losing their original season-opening series due to inclement weather around the country. Instead, Jacksonville State hosted Tech, Southern Illinois and Alabama State in a round-robin tournament at Rudy Abbott Field. Tech won its match-up with Jax State, breaking a tie in the ninth inning for a 5-4 win in a contest with no OVC implications.
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Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville State | Friday, Mar. 26, 6:00 pm
Jacksonville, Ala. | Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium (2,020)
Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville State | Saturday, Mar. 27, 1:00 pm
Jacksonville, Ala. | Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium (2,020)
Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville State | Saturday, Mar. 27, 4:00 pm
Jacksonville, Ala. | Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium (2,020)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2021 Record: 9-6
2021 OVC Record: 4-2
Head Coach: Steve Smith
TTU: 12-18 (2nd Season)
Career: 756-541-1 (23rd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.452)
2B: Brett Roberts (8)
3B: Jason Hinchman / Cody Littlejohn (1)
HR: Golston Gillespie (5)
RBI: Ed Johnson (17)
R: Cody Littlejohn (18)
BB: Golston Gillespie (12)
SB: Brett Roberts (9)
ERA: Ty Fisher (2.74)
W: Ty Fisher / Mark Leonard (2)
APP: Mark Leonard (7)
IP: Ty Fisher (23.0)
K: Ty Fisher (20)
SV: None
JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS
2021 Record: 8-11
2021 OVC Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Jim Case
JSU: 601-483 (20th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Nash Adams (.382)
2B: Nash Adams (6)
3B: Tre Kirklin (2)
HR: Alex Webb / Jaylen Williams (3)
RBI: Alex Webb (22)
R: Cole Frederick (15)
BB: Jaylen Williams (14)
SB: Cole Frederick / Tre Kirklin (3)
ERA: Christian Edwards (2.67)
W: Christian Edwards / Dylan Hathcock (2)
APP: Jackson Tavel (10)
IP: Christian Edwards (27.0)
K: Christian Edwards (37)
SV: Corley Woods (3)
Photo by Robert Smith, APSU Athletics
