By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech hurler Hunter Mann was recognized as a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week powered by Diamond Sports as announced by the entity on Monday, the first such honor of his career.
Mann delivered a gem on the mound for the purple and gold Saturday afternoon to garner his first win as a Golden Eagle, helping Tech best Lindenwood in Ohio Valley Conference action at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, 4-3.
In Saturday's affair, the junior struck out a whopping 11 Lion batters without issuing a walk over six innings, yielding just two earned runs and three total for the contest. He held Lindenwood scoreless through the opening four frames, allowing the Tech offense to secure a lead he maintained through the sixth.
After fanning 12 batters in a tough-luck, six-inning loss last weekend at Morehead State, Mann became the first Golden Eagle to punch out 10 or more in back-to-back outings since David Hess back in the 2014 campaign. The Columbia State CC transfer also became the first Tech pitcher to post multiple 10-strikeout performances in the same season since Hess recorded three such outings in the 2014 season.
The Golden Eagles will head back out on the road for a five-game swing, starting with a midweek rematch in Nashville against in-state rival Lipscomb on Tuesday. After besting the Bisons in Cookeville, 10-5, back on Feb. 28, the Tech squad will head to Dugan Field for a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt.
Photo by Jim Dillon
