By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (Mar. 21)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team kicks off an eight-game homestand Tuesday afternoon, featuring a midweek rematch with North Alabama in a 3:00 p.m. CT tilt at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
First pitch was moved up from its originally scheduled 6:00 p.m. start due to expected inclement weather in the Cookeville area later Tuesday evening. The contest is slated to be streamed on ESPN+ with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Tech captured the previous meeting between these two programs back on Mar. 1, an 11-8 win that moved the Golden Eagles to 10-0 on the season. The Cookeville crew smashed three home runs in the game, including a three-run bomb by slugger Jason Hinchman, who went to win Ohio Valley Conference and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week honors following the week thanks to four round-trippers.
The Golden Eagles enter the match-up after taking two of three in their weekend series at ETSU, the first-ever three-game slate against their in-state rivals. The purple and gold claimed back-to-back 10-inning victories on Friday and Saturday.
Ace Peyton Calitri was special in the Friday tilt, covering 10 innings on the hill in the 4-2 win with a career-high 11 strikeouts and zero walks. He turned in the third-longest showing by a Tech pitcher in program history and the longest outing in Division I baseball since 2019.
The Tech offense led the way in the second win, a 10-9 decision capped by a two-out, pinch-hit bomb by junior John Dyer.
North Alabama finished last week 1-3 overall, falling to Tech's OVC rival in Murray State, 10-2 in midweek action. The Lions then fell in 2-of-3 tilts with Atlantic Sun Conference foe, and former OVC member, Eastern Kentucky.
UNA salvaged a victory on Sunday, dominating the Colonels 10-1 behind 12 hits and an impressive showing on the mound by Jacob James. The Lion hurler tossed six innings with nine punch-outs and just one earned run allowed on three hits.
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Tennessee Tech vs. North Alabama | Tuesday, Mar. 21, 3:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 13-5
2022 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 459-397-2 (16th Season)
Career: 510-473-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.460)
2B: Gabe Lacy (8)
3B: Ed Johnson / Austin Turner (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (6)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (24)
R: Ed Johnson (28)
BB: Will Long (14)
SLG%: Ed Johnson (.724)
OB%: Ed Johnson (.495)
SB: 3 players tied (1)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.23)
W: Peyton Calitri / Brock Myers (3)
APP: Brock Myers (7)
IP: Peyton Calitri (36.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (26)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.198)
SV: 3 players tied (1)
NORTH ALABAMA LIONS
2022 Record: 6-12
2022 A-SUN Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Mike Keehn
UNA: 340-304-1 (14th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Austin Thrasher (.352)
2B: Luke Harper (7)
3B: 3 players tied (1)
HR: Drew Hudson (2)
RBI: Reid Homan / Drew Hudson (13)
R: Reid Homan (16)
BB: Luke Harper (13)
SLG%: Austin Thrasher (.463)
OB%: Austin Thrasher (.539)
SB: Reid Homan (7)
ERA: Jacob James (2.66)
W: Jacob James (2)
APP: Austin Emener / Jacob James (11)
IP: Jacob James (23.2)
K: Austin Emener (33)
BAA: Jacob James (.198)
SV: Austin Emener (3)
Photo by Thomas Corhern
