By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball OVC Tournament Preview (May 24)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team visits Lexington, Ky. and Wild Health Field for the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament starting Wednesday, May 25, set to square off with Murray State in an elimination game at 11:30 a.m. CT.
Fans can follow all action throughout the tournament on ESPN+ or via radio broadcast with Dylan Vazzano and Mike Lehman on the call for radio.
The tilt with the Racers marks the fourth in a row between the two teams after closing the regular season with a series in Murray. It will also represent the final contest between the two programs as OVC rivals, with the Racers set to join the Missouri Valley Conference next season.
Over the weekend, the Golden Eagles took two of the three tilts over Murray State. After falling 7-2 in the opener, Tech erupted for huge wins of 15-8 and 15-3 on Friday and Saturday to take the series and clinch the No. 6 seed in the Tournament.
Five members of the purple and gold took home OVC postseason honors on Tuesday, led by outfielder Jason Hinchman and his All-OVC First Team nod. It marked the second of his career after leading the team with a .373 average, 22 home runs, and 66 RBI.
Reigning OVC Player of the Week and Brooks Wallace Award Watch List Semifinalist Ed Johnson took home Second Team accolades at shortstop. Third baseman Gabe Lacy and outfielder Ryan Guardino were also named to the All-OVC Second Team while rookie Jackson Green was selected to the All-Freshman Team.
This season, the purple and gold rank seventh nationally in home runs per game (1.98), 10th in home runs (103), and 14th in slugging percentage (.518). The 103 bombs also rank second in program history, trailing only the OVC and Tech record of 135 set in 2018.
Tech leads the OVC with a .303 batting average, .518 slugging percentage, .400 on-base percentage, 416 runs, 568 hits, 383 RBI, 103 home runs, 971 total bases, 60 hit-by-pitches, and 26 sacrifice flies.
The 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship field is now set. The event will be held May 25-28 at Wild Health Field in Lexington, Kentucky. This year marks the 43rd OVC Baseball Tournament (the first elimination-style event was held in 1979). It is the first time it has been held in Lexington.
The event has been held at five neutral site locations after moving from the campus of the regular season champions in 2001. The event has been held in Paducah, Kentucky (2001-09), Jackson, Tennessee (2010-16, 2021), Oxford, Alabama (2017-18), Marion, Illinois (2019), and now Lexington (2022).
This year marks a change in the bracket which will include four single-elimination games on Wednesday, with the winners advancing to the double-elimination portion of the bracket which will include the No. 1 and 2 seeds (who receive a bye until Thursday games). Saturday's Championship Game will be a one-game "Winner Take All" matchup.
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball
Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball
Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
#6 Tennessee Tech vs. #7 Murray State | Wednesday, May 25, 11:30 AM
Lexington, Ky. | Wild Health Field (6,994)
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 Record: 27-25
2022 OVC Record: 11-13
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 473-417-2 (16th Season)
Career: 524-493-3 (19th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Jason Hinchman (.373)
2B: Ed Johnson / Gabe Lacy (12)
3B: Austin Turner (4)
HR: Jason Hinchman (22)
RBI: Jason Hinchman (66)
R: Ed Johnson (56)
BB: Austin Turner (45)
SLG%: Jason Hinchman (.736)
OB%: Jason Hinchman (.469)
SB: Ed Johnson (6)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (5.26)
W: Peyton Calitri / Brock Myers (5)
APP: Travis Odom (20)
IP: Peyton Calitri (78.2)
K: Peyton Calitri (55)
BAA: Connor Adams (.271)
SV: Jackson Berry / Brock Myers (2)
MURRAY STATE RACERS
2022 Record: 30-24
2022 OVC Record: 11-13
Head Coach: Dan Skirka
MSU: 97-86 (4th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Jake Slunder (.326)
2B: Drew Vogel (14)
3B: Jake Slunder (7)
HR: Bryson Bloomer (12)
RBI: Bryson Bloomer (66)
R: Jake Slunder (50)
BB: Bryson Bloomer (34)
SLG%: Bryson Bloomer (.521)
OB%: Jordan Holley (.432)
SB: Jake Slunder (24)
ERA: Hayden Wynja (3.47)
W: Hayden Wynja (7)
APP: Alec Whaley (25)
IP: Hayden Wynja (70.0)
K: Hayden Wynja (81)
BAA: Hayden Wynja (.219)
SV: Alec Whaley (4)
Photo by Emily Armstrong
