By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (Mar. 28)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team continues its eight-game homestand with a midweek tilt Tuesday evening against in-state rival Middle Tennessee, the first of two meetings with the Blue Raiders this season.
First pitch for Tuesday's tilt is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. The contest is slated to be streamed on ESPN+ with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
The Golden Eagles enter after a 1-2 weekend against Bradley, a ferocious series that saw a ninth-inning rally fall just short for Tech Sunday afternoon in an 8-7 loss. The purple and gold did complete a late comeback on Thursday, setting the program record for eighth-inning runs with 11 in a 12-8 win on Saturday.
This season, the purple and gold rank fifth nationally in home runs per game (1.95), seventh in home runs (43), 10th in slugging percentage (.550), 11th in batting average (.319), 14th in scoring (9.0 runs per game), and 15th in hits (262). Tech leads the Ohio Valley Conference in average, hits, home runs, home runs per game, on-base percentage (.413), runs (197), sacrifice flies (13), scoring, and slugging percentage.
Shortstop Ed Johnson has led the potent offensive attack for the Golden Eagles, ranking second nationally in hits (45) and hits per game (2.05) while ranking fourth in runs per game (1.58). Slugger Jason Hinchman was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday, ranks 10th nationally with 10 home runs.
Middle Tennessee comes into the midweek affair after claiming a Conference USA series at UAB, capturing a 1-0 pitcher's duel on Friday to open the weekend. The Blue Raiders followed it up with a 6-3 win on Saturday, but couldn't pull off the sweep on Sunday, dropping a 10-inning battle, 6-5.
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball
Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball
Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Tennessee Tech vs. Middle Tennessee | Tuesday, Mar. 29, 6:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 15-7
2022 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 461-399-2 (16th Season)
Career: 512-475-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.441)
2B: Gabe Lacy (8)
3B: Ed Johnson / Austin Turner (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (10)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (29)
R: Ed Johnson (32)
BB: Austin Turner (16)
SLG%: Jason Hinchman (.737)
OB%: Ed Johnson (.487)
SB: 4 players tied (1)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.81)
W: Peyton Calitri / Brock Myers (3)
APP: Colt Taylor (9)
IP: Peyton Calitri (41.2)
K: Peyton Calitri (32)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.205)
SV: 3 players tied (1)
MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
2022 Record: 10-13
2022 C-USA Record: 3-3
Head Coach: Jim Toman
MT: 59-89-1 (4th Season)
Career: 388-294-2 (13th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Mason Speirs (.373)
2B: Fausto Lopez / JT Mabry (7)
3B: Luke Vinson (2)
HR: Fausto Lopez / Mason Speirs (4)
RBI: Nathan Sanders (16)
R: Fausto Lopez (16)
BB: Fausto Lopez (12)
SLG%: Mason Speirs (.627)
OB%: Mason Speirs (.464)
SB: Brett Coker (7)
ERA: Trent Seibert (3.76)
W: 4 players tied (2)
APP: Jaden Hamm / Peyton Wigginton (9)
IP: Zach Keenan (37.2)
K: Zach Keenan / Peyton Wigginton (32)
BAA: Jaden Hamm (.232)
SV: 3 players tied (1)
Photo by Jim Dillon
