By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Midweek Preview (Feb. 20)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will hit the road for the first time in the 2023 campaign, kicking off a four-game stretch away from Cookeville with its first midweek tilt of the season. The Golden Eagles will clash with No. 20 Alabama Tuesday afternoon in a 3:00 p.m. CT match-up at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The contest marks the ninth meeting all-time between the two programs, with the Crimson Tide holding a 6-2 advantage in the series. Tech has claimed victory in each of the previous two contests with Alabama, highlighted by the most recent match-up. The purple and gold prevailed over the No. 14 ranked Crimson Tide back on May 30, 2009, picking up a 6-2 victory in the teams' second game of the NCAA Regional in Clemson, S.C.
The Golden Eagles head into midweek action after picking up a series victory over Bowling Green to open the season last weekend. Tech collected victories in each of the first two contests, edging the Falcons 1-0 on Friday before rallying for an 11-9 decision on Saturday. BGSU salvaged a W on Sunday, defeating TTU 10-4.
Right-hander Peyton Calitri and Hunter Mann combined for the team's 1-0 shutout over the Falcons on Friday, the team's first 1-0 victory since defeating Ohio Valley Conference foe SIUE by the same score back on Mar. 28, 2013. Calitri earned the win after five scoreless frames with six strikeouts, zero walks, and just four hits allowed. Mann picked up a save by finishing the final four innings on the mound, with just one hit allowed and pour punch outs.
Alabama cruised to a 3-0 sweep of Richmond to open the year, dominating on both sides with wins of 12-3, 13-1, and 14-1. Andrew Pinckney paced the Crimson Tide offensively, racking up a whopping .800 batting average while slugging 1.300 and scoring five runs. Former Golden Eagle sluggers Ed Johnson and Ryan Guardino, transfers to Tuscaloosa in the offseason, both saw action over the weekend.
Following Tuesday's ball game, Tech will make a trip to Atlanta for a three-game, weekend slate at No. 23 Georgia Tech. The series will kick off Friday at 3:00 p.m. CT and be followed by a 1:00 p.m. tilt Saturday and 12:00 p.m. contest on Sunday.
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Current Midweek Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 3:00 p.m. CT | at No. 20 Alabama | SEC Network+ | Live Stats
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2023 Record: 2-1
2022 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 478-420-2 (17th Season)
Career: 529-496-3 (20th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Theo Bryant IV (.375)
2B: Theo Bryant IV (2)
3B: Peyton Mills (1)
HR: Troy Baunsgard / Eddie Garza (1)
RBI: Theo Bryant IV / Peyton Mills (3)
R: Eddie Garza (4)
BB: Theo Bryant IV / Hayden Gilliland (3)
SLG%: Troy Baunsgard (.778)
OB%: Troy Baunsgard / Theo Bryant IV (.500)
SB: None
ERA: 3 players tied (0.00)
W: Peyton Calitri / Jacob Morin (1)
APP: 13 players tied
IP: Peyton Calitri / Brody Lanham (1)
K: Peyton Calitri (6)
BAA: Hunter Mann (.077)
SV: Hunter Mann / Colt Taylor (1)
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
2023 Record: 3-0
2023 SEC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Brad Bohannon
BAMA: 139-109 (6th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Andrew Pinckney (.800)
2B: Andrew Pinckney / Dominic Tamez (2)
3B: William Hamiter / Jim Jarvis (1)
HR: 4 players tied
RBI: Caden Rose (7)
R: Andrew Pinckney / Drew Williamson (5)
BB: Drew Williamson (4)
SLG%: Andrew Pinckney (1.300)
OB%: Andrew Pinckney (.818)
SB: Caden Rose (2)
ERA: Ben Hess / Grayson Hitt (0.00)
W: 3 players tied
APP: 10 players tied
IP: Ben Hess (6.0)
K: Grayson Hitt (8)
BAA: Grayson Hitt (.059)
SV: None
Photo by Jim Dillon
