By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview (Mar. 16)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team is back in Cookeville to host in-state rival ETSU in a weekend slate, welcoming the Buccaneers to Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex beginning Friday evening with a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday while Sunday's finale will feature a 1:00 p.m. start. All three games are slated to be streamed live on ESPN+. Admission to all Tech baseball games is free of charge and open to the public.
The Golden Eagles come into the contest after falling in their midweek match-up with in-state foe Middle Tennessee on Wednesday, an 11-3 decision in Murfreesboro. Prior to the midweek contest, Tech picked up a series victory over North Alabama, earning a 5-4, walk-off win and a 7-3 victory to sweep a Saturday doubleheader against the Lions in Cookeville.
When Tech and ETSU met last season in Johnson City, the Golden Eagles picked up a pair of 10-inning victories, highlighted by an incredible pitching display by Peyton Calitri. The right-hander tossed all 10 innings while striking out a career-high 11 batters in a 4-2 win in the series opener, the third-longest outing in program history.
In the second contest, first baseman John Dyer played hero, blasting a go-ahead home run in the top of the 10th to propel the purple and gold to a 10-9 victory. The Bucs salvaged a win in the finale, besting the Golden Eagles 11-3.
ETSU saw its originally scheduled midweek game against No. 17 Virginia Tech postponed due to inclement weather in Johnson City. The Bucs come into the weekend after taking two of three in a home series with Winthrop. The visiting Eagles scored four times in the opener last Friday to earn a 4-3 win.
The Bucs bounced back to sweep a doubleheader on Saturday, starting with an 11-0 victory in seven innings in the first contest. Winthrop tied the second game at 4-4 in the eighth inning, but ETSU responded, walking off with a 5-4 victory following a bases-loaded passed ball with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
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Current Weekend Schedule
Friday, Mar. 17 | 6:00 p.m. CT | vs. ETSU | Live Video | Live Stats
Saturday, Mar. 18 | 2:00 p.m. CT | vs. ETSU | Live Video | Live Stats
Sunday, Mar. 19 | 1:00 p.m. CT | vs. ETSU | Live Video | Live Stats
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2023 Record: 7-9
2023 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 483-428-2 (17th Season)
Career: 534-504-3 (20th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Theo Bryant IV (.291)
2B: Theo Bryant IV (5)
3B: Peyton Mills (1)
HR: Peyton Mills (5)
RBI: Peyton Mills (19)
R: Troy Baunsgard (14)
BB: Theo Bryant IV / Hayden Gilliland (13)
SLG%: Peyton Mills (.600)
OB%: Hayden Gilliland (.438)
SB: Theo Bryant IV (3)
ERA: Brody Lanham (1.42)
W: Tyler Zarella (2)
APP: Colt Taylor (8)
IP: Peyton Calitri (19.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (17)
BAA: Brody Lanham (.178)
SV: 4 players tied (1)
ETSU BUCCANEERS
2023 Record: 8-7
2023 SOCON Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Joe Pennucci
ETSU: 136-102 (6th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Tommy Barth (.364)
2B: Tommy Barth (8)
3B: 4 players tied (1)
HR: Marshall Awtry (4)
RBI: Garett Wallace (11)
R: Tommy Barth (12)
BB: Noah Gent (11)
SLG%: Garett Wallace (.500)
OB%: Noah Gent (.431)
SB: Tommy Barth (6)
ERA: Derek McCarley (0.00)
W: Landon Smiddy (3)
APP: Derek McCarley (7)
IP: Nathanial Tate (22.0)
K: Nathanial Tate (22)
BAA: Austin Emener (.167)
SV: Owen Kovacs / Derek McCarley (1)
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Communications office
