By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (Mar. 7)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will make the trip south for a special, midweek contest with Auburn Wednesday evening, squaring off with the Tigers in a neutral-site affair at Toyota Field in Huntsville, Ala.
The home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Toyota Field represents one of two Minor League Baseball stadiums the Golden Eagles will compete at this season, set to take on No. 3 Tennessee at Smokies Stadium, home of Chicago Cubs' Double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokies, on Apr. 12.
The purple and gold enter the match-up one of just five undefeated teams left in Division I baseball, off to the program's second-best start ever at 10-0. As a team, Tech ranks third nationally with a .354 batting average, fifth in scoring at 10.9 runs per game, and fifth with a .579 slugging percentage.
Tech's 2.10 home runs per game also rank fifth nationally, while the 21 total round-trippers ranks eighth. Additionally, the team ranks ninth in the country with a .453 on-base percentage.
Individually, leadoff man and shortstop Ed Johnson paces the nation with 24 hits, 2.40 hits per game, and 1.90 runs scored per game. He leads Tech with a .480 average and 19 runs while smashing three home runs and driving in 14.
Left fielder Jason Hinchman enters the contest as the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week and a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week after slugging four home runs in four games, batting .550, and driving in 10 runs. The Winston, Ga. native has slashed .438/.491/.813 this season while leading the OVC with five dingers and 19 RBI. On Sunday, he tied Chase Chambers (2015-18) for fifth on Tech's all-time career home run list, boasting 49 in his career thus far.
Third baseman Gabe Lacy rounds out the trio batting above .400 for the Golden Eagles, with a.439 mark, 15 runs scored, a team-high four doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBI. He also leads the team with a .556 on-base percentage.
Auburn has turned in an 11-2 record this season, winning all six of its contests last week. The Tigers defeated Alabama State and UAB during the midweek and then completed a four-game, weekend sweep of Rhode Island, outscoring the Rams 49-3.
As a team, the Tigers own a .306 batting average, 15 home runs, and 122 runs in 13 games. On the mound, Auburn has dominated to the tune of a 1.80 ERA and .175 batting average against with 140 strikeouts in 115 innings.
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Tennessee Tech vs. Auburn | Wednesday, Mar. 9, 6:00 PM
Huntsville, Ala. | Toyota Field (7,000)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 10-0
2022 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 456-392-2 (16th Season)
Career: 507-468-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.480)
2B: Gabe Lacy (4)
3B: Austin Turner (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (5)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (19)
R: Ed Johnson (19)
BB: Will Long (10)
SLG%: Jason Hinchman (.813)
OB%: Gabe Lacy (.556)
SB: Jackson Green / Austin Turner (1)
ERA: Brock Myers (1.29)
W: Brock Myers (3)
APP: Jackson Berry / Brock Myers (4)
IP: Peyton Calitri (18.1)
K: Connor Adams / Peyton Calitri (12)
BAA: Carter Gannaway (.175)
SV: 3 players tied (1)
AUBURN TIGERS
2022 Record: 11-2
2022 SEC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Butch Thompson
AU: 190-144 (7th Season)
Career: 229-165 (8th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Sonny DiChiara (.472)
2B: Sonny DiChiara (7)
3B: Bryson Ware (1)
HR: Sonny DiChiara (5)
RBI: Cole Foster (17)
R: Sonny DiChiara (16)
BB: Sonny DiChiara / Cole Foster (11)
SLG%: Sonny DiChiara (1.083)
OB%: Sonny DiChiara (.615)
SB: Blake Rambusch (5)
ERA: Trace Bright (0.00)
W: Trace Bright / Joseph Gonzalez (2)
APP: John Armstrong (5)
IP: Trace Bright (17.0)
K: Jordan Armstrong / Trace Bright (19)
BAA: Trace Bright (.109)
SV: Blake Burkhalter (2)
Photo by Jim Dillon
