By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (Apr. 6)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team hits the road for the first time in two weeks, continuing Ohio Valley Conference play with a weekend trip to Nashville and three-game series with in-state rival Belmont.
Play will open Friday at 4:00 p.m. CT at E.S. Rose Park with game two of the series slated for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Competition will wrap up in Sunday's finale at 1:00 p.m. Both Friday's and Sunday's tilts are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+.
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend after salvaging a win in their OVC-opening series against Morehead State last week after dropping the first contests against the Eagles. After losing a pair of close ones, 5-2 and 9-7, Tech rallied to claim the finale, 8-6.
This season, the purple and gold rank ninth nationally in home runs per game (1.81) and 13th in home runs (47). Tech leads the Ohio Valley Conference in batting average (.308), hits (296), home runs, on-base percentage (.403), RBI (196), runs (218), sacrifice flies (14), and slugging percentage (.511).
Shortstop Ed Johnson has led the potent offensive attack for the Golden Eagles, ranking second nationally in hits per game (1.92) and fifth in hits (50). Slugger Jason Hinchman, who moved into third on both Tech's and the OVC's career home run charts over the weekend, ranks second nationally with 13 home runs and 0.50 home runs per game, just one off the lead pace of 14 by Jake Gelof of Virginia.
Belmont comes into the weekend at a robust 5-1 in league play, sweeping Murray State on the road over the weekend. The Bruins lost a nail-biter in midweek action at Western Kentucky, falling to the Hilltoppers 9-8.
The Bruins rank second in the OVC in both batting average and ERA while leading the league with a .987 fielding percentage. Belmont boasts two of the conference's top arms in terms of ERA in Jalen Borders (2.55) and Andy Bean (4.54), as well as the league's saves leader in Kyle Brennan (10).
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Tennessee Tech at Belmont | Friday, Apr. 8, 4:00 PM
Nashville, Tenn. | E.S. Rose Park (500)
Tennessee Tech at Belmont | Saturday, Apr. 9, 2:00 PM
Nashville, Tenn. | E.S. Rose Park (500)
Tennessee Tech at Belmont | Sunday, Apr. 10, 1:00 PM
Nashville, Tenn. | E.S. Rose Park (500)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 16-10
2022 OVC Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 462-402-2 (16th Season)
Career: 513-478-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.424)
2B: Gabe Lacy (8)
3B: Ed Johnson / Austin Turner (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (13)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (37)
R: Ed Johnson (35)
BB: Hayden Gilliland / Austin Turner (17)
SLG%: Jason Hinchman (.757)
OB%: Ed Johnson (.470)
SB: Ed Johnson (2)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.79)
W: Peyton Calitri / Brock Myers (3)
APP: Colt Taylor (11)
IP: Peyton Calitri (48.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (35)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.219)
SV: 4 players tied (1)
BELMONT BRUINS
2022 Record: 19-10
2022 OVC Record: 5-1
Head Coach: Dave Jarvis
BU: 671-625 -2 (25th Season)
Career: 996-748-2 (33rd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Guy Lipscomb (.386)
2B: John Behrends / Brodey Heaton (8)
3B: Guy Lipscomb (3)
HR: Tommy Crider / Brodey Heaton (5)
RBI: Tommy Crider / Brodey Heaton (22)
R: Guy Lipscomb (29)
BB: John Behrends (17)
SLG%: Tommy Crider / Guy Lipscomb (.554)
OB%: Guy Lipscomb (.475)
SB: Guy Lipscomb (23)
ERA: Jalen Borders (2.55)
W: Andy Bean / Joshua South (4)
APP: Kyle Brennan (17)
IP: Joshua South (38.1)
K: Joshua South (38)
BAA: Andy Bean (.195)
SV: Kyle Brennan (10)
Photo by Jim Dillon
