By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (Apr. 11)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will make an appearance in its second Minor League Baseball facility this season Tuesday evening, squaring off with No. 1 nationally-ranked Tennessee at Smokies Stadium, home of the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. CT while the game is scheduled to be streamed on SEC Network + with Mark Packer and Andy Brock on the call. The contest will feature a special twist, with both teams using wood bats for the competition.
The two in-state foes met earlier in the first, midweek tilt of the season, but the contest was officially ruled a rainout after the contest was suspended due to inclement weather in the top of the fourth inning with two outs and the Vols leading 5-4. Tech had blasted a pair of home runs in the contest, courtesy of shortstop Ed Johnson and first baseman Golston Gillespie.
Tech comes into the meeting with the nation's No. 1 squad after salvaging a victory in its Ohio Valley Conference series against in-state rival Belmont over the weekend. After falling in a pair of close decisions on Friday on Saturday, the Golden Eagles rebounded to dominate in an 8-1 win on Sunday.
This season, the purple and gold rank seventh nationally in home runs per game (1.83) and 15th in home runs (53). Tech leads the Ohio Valley Conference in batting average (.305), slugging percentage (.510), on-base percentage (.400), home runs, home runs per game, and sacrifice flies (16).
Shortstop Ed Johnson has led the potent offensive attack for the Golden Eagles, ranking seventh nationally in hits per game (1.79) and 13th in hits (52). Slugger Jason Hinchman, is tied for the national lead with 15 home runs and ranks third with 0.52 home runs per game. His 59 career round-trippers are just three shy of tying both the program and OVC records held by former Golden Eagles Zach Stephens and Kevin Strohschein.
The No. 1 Vols enter the midweek tilt boasting the nation's top record at 31-1, with the lone loss a 7-2 decision to former No. 1 Texas back on Mar. 4. Tennessee has rattled off 23 straight wins since then, including a weekend sweep over Missouri to stay unbeaten in Southeastern Conference action.
Tennessee boasts one of the arguably the nation's top pitching staff and lineup, ranking first in the county in ERA (1.89), hits allowed per nine innings (5.60), shutouts (6), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.54), WHIP (0.86), walks allowed per nine innings (2.11), home runs (79), home runs per game (2.47), on-base percentage (.439), and slugging percentage (.648).
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Tennessee Tech vs. #1 Tennessee | Tuesday, Apr. 12, 5:30 PM
Kodak, Tenn. | Smokies Stadium (6,412)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 17-12
2022 OVC Record: 2-4
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 463-404-2 (16th Season)
Career: 514-480-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ed Johnson (.400)
2B: Gabe Lacy (10)
3B: Ed Johnson / Austin Turner (1)
HR: Jason Hinchman (15)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (41)
R: Ed Johnson (36)
BB: Hayden Gilliland (20)
SLG%: Jason Hinchman (.774)
OB%: Jason Hinchman (.455)
SB: Ed Johnson (2)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (3.27)
W: 3 players tied (3)
APP: Colt Taylor (12)
IP: Peyton Calitri (52.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (39)
BAA: Connor Adams (.235)
SV: Jackson Berry (2)
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
2022 Record: 31-1
2022 SEC Record: 12-0
Head Coach: Tony Vitello
UT: 165-69 (5th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Jared Dickey / Drew Gilbert (.403)
2B: Drew Gilbert / Seth Stephenson (12)
3B: Trey Lipscomb (3)
HR: Trey Lipscomb (13)
RBI: Trey Lipscomb (51)
R: Trey Lipscomb (36)
BB: Luc Lipcius (29)
SLG%: Trey Lipscomb (.831)
OB%: Drew Gilbert (.520)
SB: Seth Stephenson (11)
ERA: Drew Beam (1.14)
W: Drew Beam (7)
APP: Will Mabrey (15)
IP: Drew Beam (47.1)
K: Chase Dollander (70)
BAA: Drew Beam (.121)
SV: Redmond Walsh (5)
Photo by Jim Dillon
