By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (May 12)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team returns to Cookeville for the last time in 2022, playing host to long-time, in-state foe Austin Peay for the final time as Ohio Valley Conference rivals this weekend in a three-game series. Sunday's finale is slated to serve as Senior Day.
With inclement weather possible in the Cookeville area this weekend, fans should check TTUSports.com and social media frequently for any updates concerning the schedule for the series.
Game one of the series is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. CT first pitch Friday evening at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. Saturday's game two is expected to start at 2:00 p.m. while the finale on Sunday is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start. All three games are scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+.
The two sides faced off in Cookeville bacon on Mar. 29, with the visiting Blue Raiders picking up an 8-4 victory over the Golden Eagles. Middle Tennessee scored twice in the first inning, three times in the second, and twice more in the third to take a 7-0 advantage. After making it an 8-0 lead, Tech rallied with four runs in the eighth and ninth frames, including a three-run bomb from left fielder Jason Hinchman.
The Golden Eagles come into the weekend after falling in their last three games, including an 8-4 loss at Middle Tennessee on Tuesday. Last weekend, Tech finished 1-2 at SIUE. After securing the series opener with a 10-9 victory, the purple and gold fell in a 4-3 heartbreaker in 11 innings on Saturday. The Cougars took the series with a 6-4 win on Sunday.
Sluggers Jason Hinchman and Ryan Guardino have paced the Golden Eagle offense, ranking sixth and eighth nationally with 0.47 and 0.43 home runs per game, respectively. Hinchman's 21 dingers on the year rank fifth in the country. Hinchman currently owns the Ohio Valley Conference record for round-trippers with 65 and ranks among the all-time Tech career leaders in slugging percentage (third), walks (fifth), RBI (seventh), runs (tied for ninth), hits (19th), and on-base percentage (tied for 20th).
This season, the purple and gold rank sixth nationally in home runs per game (1.93), 10th in home runs (87), and 20th in slugging percentage (.507). Tech ranks in the top three in the league with a .298 batting average (second), .507 slugging percentage (second), .395 on-base percentage (second), 356 runs (first), 487 hits (second), 325 RBI (second), 87 home runs (first), 828 total bases (first), 226 walks (second), 52 hit-by-pitches (first), and 24 sacrifice flies (first).
Austin Peay enter play with a 2-2 mark over its last four games, including a 2-1 weekend against Murray State. The Govs claimed an 8-3 win on Friday before falling 7-0 on Saturday. APSU won 7-4 to claim the series on Sunday. In Tuesday midweek action, the Govs dropped an 11-6 decision against Western Kentucky.
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Tennessee Tech vs. Austin Peay | Friday, May 13, 6:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
Tennessee Tech vs. Austin Peay | Saturday, May 14, 2:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
Tennessee Tech vs. Austin Peay | Sunday, May 15, 1:00 PM
Cookeville, Tenn. | Quillen Field/Bush Stadium (1,100)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 23-22
2022 OVC Record: 7-11
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 469-414-2 (16th Season)
Career: 520-490-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Jason Hinchman (.370)
2B: Gabe Lacy (11)
3B: Austin Turner (3)
HR: Jason Hinchman (21)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (57)
R: Jason Hinchman (46)
BB: Austin Turner (37)
SLG%: Jason Hinchman (.761)
OB%: Jason Hinchman (.469)
SB: Ed Johnson / Austin Turner (5)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (4.99)
W: Peyton Calitri (5)
APP: Colt Taylor (18)
IP: Peyton Calitri (70.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (49)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.270)
SV: Jackson Berry (2)
AUSTIN PEAY GOVERNORS
2022 Record: 18-31
2022 OVC Record: 9-9
Interim Head Coach: Trevor Fitts
APSU: 1-4 (1st Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Jack Alexander (.339)
2B: Gino Avros (22)
3B: Jack Alexander / TJ Foreman (1)
HR: Jack Alexander (9)
RBI: Jack Alexander (46)
R: Gino Avros (46)
BB: Gino Avros (29)
SLG%: Jack Alexander (.589)
OB%: Jack Alexander (.421)
SB: John Bolton (11)
ERA: Harley Gollert (5.99)
W: Drew McIllwain (4)
APP: Jacob Weaver (23)
IP: Harley Gollert (67.2)
K: Harley Gollert (73)
BAA: Harley Gollert (.277)
SV: Luke Brown / Peyton Jula (2)
Photo by Jim Dillon
