By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (Mar. 31)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team kicks off Ohio Valley Conference play with a big weekend series against longtime league rival Morehead State. The weekend slate also wraps up Tech's eight-game homestand over the past two weeks.
The series will open with a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt Friday evening at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. Saturday's game two will feature a 2:00 p.m. first pitch while the series finale will begin Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. All three games are slated to be streamed on ESPN+ with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
The Golden Eagles come into the contest after falling to in-state rival Middle Tennessee in midweek action Tuesday evening, an 8-4 decision that saw the Blue Raiders hold Tech to just one hit through the first seven innings. Tech plated four, unanswered runs in the eighth and ninth, but the comeback bid fell short.
This season, the purple and gold rank seventh nationally in home runs per game (1.91) and 10th in home runs (44). Tech leads the Ohio Valley Conference in batting average (.313), hits (267), home runs, on-base percentage (.407), RBI (182), runs (201), sacrifice flies (13), and slugging percentage (.527).
Shortstop Ed Johnson has led the potent offensive attack for the Golden Eagles, ranking second nationally in hits per game (1.96) and fourth in hits (45). Slugger Jason Hinchman, who was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday, ranks sixth nationally with 11 home runs, just two off the lead pace of 13 by Jake Gelof of Virginia and Ivan Melendez of Texas.
Morehead State enters play on a three-game winning streak, the team's longest of the season. The Eagles defeated Northern Kentucky, 4-2, on Tuesday in midweek action after taking two games from Murray State to open OVC play last weekend.
After falling 7-6 in the opener with the Racers, Morehead bounced back for victories of 8-7 and 10-2 to clinch the series. The Eagles boast the league's reigning Rookie of the Year and Preseason Player of the Year in Jackson Feltner, who has turned in 21 RBI and 12 extra-base hits while slashing .340/.422/.574 in 94 at-bats this season.
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Tennessee Tech vs. Morehead State | Friday, Apr. 1, 6:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
Tennessee Tech vs. Morehead State | Saturday, Apr. 2, 2:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
Tennessee Tech vs. Morehead State | Sunday, Apr. 3, 1:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 15-8
2022 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 461-400-2 (16th Season)
Career: 512-476-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.421)
2B: Gabe Lacy (8)
3B: Ed Johnson / Austin Turner (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (11)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (32)
R: Ed Johnson (32)
BB: Austin Turner (17)
SLG%: Jason Hinchman (.748)
OB%: Ed Johnson (.466)
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)
MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES
2022 Record: 10-14
2022 OVC Record: 2-1
Head Coach: Mik Aoki
MSU: 39-47 (3rd Season)
Career: 488-548-2 (21st Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Alex Jacobs (.341)
2B: Colton Becker (8)
3B: 3 players tied (1)
HR: Ryley Preece (6)
RBI: Jackson Feltner (21)
R: Ryley Preece (25)
BB: Ryley Preece (22)
SLG%: Jackson Fletner (.574)
OB%: Ryley Preece (.445)
SB: Ryley Preece (5)
ERA: Alex Kafka (5.65)
W: Jarrett Miller (2)
APP: Jarrett Miller (16)
IP: Luke Helton / Alex Kafka (28.2)
K: John Bakke (26)
BAA: Alex Kafka (.250)
SV: John Bakke (5)
Photo by Jim Dillon
