By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (Mar. 24)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team continues its eight-game homestand with a weekend series against Bradley beginning Friday, Mar. 25 at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
First pitch for the series opener will begin at 6:00 p.m. CT. Games two and three will both feature 1:00 p.m. starts.
The Golden Eagles are coming off a historic win over North Alabama on Tuesday, smashing a whopping 10 home runs for a 19-7 victory. Eight different Tech batters circled the bases at least once, while eight of the 10 dingers were of the solo variety.
This season, the purple and gold rank fifth nationally in home runs per game (2.05), eighth in home runs (39), ninth in batting average (.326) and slugging percentage (.550), 11th in hits (236), and 13th in scoring (9.3 runs per game). Tech leads the Ohio Valley Conference in average, double plays (17), double plays per game (0.89), hits, home runs, on-base percentage (.415), runs (176), sacrifice flies (10), scoring, and slugging percentage.
Shortstop Ed Johnson has led the potent offensive attack for the Golden Eagles, pacing the nation in hits (43) and hits per game (2.26) while ranking fourth in runs per game (1.58), fifth in batting average (.467) and runs (30), and seventh in total bases (69). Slugger Jason Hinchman tied TTU Sports Hall of Famer A.J. Kirby-Jones for third on the program's home run charts on Tuesday, smashing the 51st round-tripper of his career.
Bradley saw its midweek affair at Illinois canceled due to inclement weather. The Braves went 1-2 over the weekend while competing against Dartmouth and Central Connecticut in Auburndale, Fla. The team exploded for a 20-6 victory over Dartmouth in the opening contest, but fell to the Big Green, 5-4, in the weekend finale. Central Connecticut took a 10-6 win on Saturday.
The Braves are backed by a solid offense, boasting a .304 average and 116 runs in 16 games this season. Five of Bradley's regulars hit above .290. The pitching staff has been relatively small this season, utilizing only 11 hurlers on the year.
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball
Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball
Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Tennessee Tech vs. Bradley | Friday, Mar. 25, 6:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
Tennessee Tech vs. Bradley | Saturday, Mar. 26, 1:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
Tennessee Tech vs. Bradley | Sunday, Mar. 27, 1:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 14-5
2022 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 460-397-2 (16th Season)
Career: 511-473-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.467)
2B: Gabe Lacy (8)
3B: Ed Johnson / Austin Turner (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (7)
RBI: Gabe Lacy (26)
R: Ed Johnson (30)
BB: Will Long (14)
SLG%: Ed Johnson (.750)
OB%: Ed Johnson (.505)
SB: 3 players tied (1)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.23)
W: Peyton Calitri / Brock Myers (3)
APP: Brock Myers / Colt Taylor (7)
IP: Peyton Calitri (36.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (26)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.198)
SV: 3 players tied (1)
BRADLEY BRAVES
2022 Record: 5-11
2022 MVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Elvis Dominguez
BU: 304-331-1 (14th Season)
Career: 482-530-3 (21st Season
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Connor O'Brien (.397)
2B: Connor O'Brien / Keaton Rice (6)
3B: Jackson Chatterton / Keaton Rice (1)
HR: Carson Husmann / Connor O'Brien (2)
RBI: Connor O'Brien (20)
R: Ryan Vogel (15)
BB: Cal McGinnis (11)
SLG%: Connor O'Brien (.683)
OB%: Cal McGinnis (.453)
SB: Jackson Chatterton (4)
ERA: Taylor Catton (4.66)
W: Jacob Kisting (3)
APP: Taylor Catton / Nick King (8)
IP: Jacob Kisting (26.1)
K: Nick King (24)
BAA: Nick King (.233)
SV: Taylor Catton / Troy Hickey (1)
Photo by Jim Dillon
