By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team officially gets the 2024 campaign underway on Friday, kicking off a three-game series against Bellarmine with an 11:00 a.m. CT tilt at the newly renovated Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. Competing on its brand-new turf, the Golden Eagles will also host the Knights Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Due to expected heavy rain in the Cookeville area late Friday afternoon and into the evening, tomorrow's season-opener against Bellarmine has been moved up to an 11:00 AM CT first pitch. Fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates to this weekend's schedule.
Four-time Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Matt Bragga returns for his 18th overall season at the helm of the Golden Eagle program and third after making his return to Cookeville in 2022. Last season, the purple and gold clinched a berth in the OVC Tournament for the second year in a row, making back-to-back appearances at the league's annual event for the first time since 2017 and 2018.
Tech won a pair of elimination games in Marion, Ill., advancing to the final four grouping of teams before being eliminated by eventual champion Eastern Illinois. The Cookeville crew returns a plethora of veteran bats to the mix for the newest rendition of the Golden Eagles.
Leading the group is Preseason All-OVC selection and All-OVC First Team catcher Hayden Gilliland, who led the purple and gold last season with a .454 on-base percentage while tallying a .309 average, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, and 35 runs scored. Also back is second baseman Troy Baunsgard, who hit .284 with nine round-trippers, 30 RBI, 42 runs, and 36 walks.
Limited to just 39 games due to injury last season, center fielder Nicho Jordan will look to build off a spectacular showing when he was on the field, boasting a .339 average, nine long balls, nine doubles, and 25 RBI. Shifting over to third base, OVC All-Freshman Team member Eddie Garza returns a .272 average and six bombs from his rookie campaign.
In left field, Tech will have fifth-year senior Austin Turner back after posting a .276 average, including a .360 mark over the final 18 games of the year. He pairs with speedy right fielder Theo Bryant IV, whose seven swipes on the bags last season paced the Golden Eagles.
Playing all over the field a year ago, senior Preston Ford is expected to be in the mix for the designated hitter spot after batting .312 with six dingers and six doubles last season.
On the hill, ETSU transfer Landon Smiddy will take the opening day start after compiling 62.2 innings in Johnson City last season. Golden Eagle vet Peyton Calitri, the team's leading returner in innings pitched, wins, and strikeouts, will again be a fixture in the weekend rotation while rookie Jack Brafa is expected to take the ball in Sunday's affair.
The Golden Eagles and Knights have met just four times previously in program history with Bellarmine claiming a 3-1 advantage with each contest taking place in Cookeville. The two sides squared off in the final pair of contests in the 1975 season, with Tech claiming a 1-0 win before the Knights bounced back for a 3-2 victory in the doubleheader.
The two programs met again in 1976, with Bellarmine taking a pair of close decisions back to Louisville with them. The Knights won 6-4 and 6-5 in a doubleheader at the end of the campaign.
Bellarmine is coming off a 13-42 season in 2023 during head coach Chris Dominguez's first season, including an 8-22 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
Golden Eagle fans will recognize the Knight's pitching coach, Cookeville native and former Tech hurler Ross Spurgeon. The right hander was a key member of the program's 2013 and 2014 squads, both of which won 40 games. The 2013 team also won the OVC regular season championship.
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Current Weekend Schedule
Friday, Feb. 16 | 11:00 a.m. CT | vs. Bellarmine
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 2:00 p.m. CT | vs. Bellarmine
Sunday, Feb. 18 | 1:00 p.m. CT | vs. Bellarmine
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2023 Record: 21-34
2023 OVC Record: 10-14
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 497-453-2 (18th Season)
Career: 548-529-3 (21st Season)
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Preston Ford (.312)
2B: Troy Baunsgard / Nicho Jordan (9)
3B: Troy Baunsgard / Nicho Jordan (1)
HR: Hayden Gilliland (10)
RBI: Hayden Gilliland (32)
R: Troy Baunsgard (42)
BB: Hayden Gilliland (44)
SLG%: Nicho Jordan (.653)
OB%: Hayden Gilliland (.454)
SB: Theo Bryant IV (7)
ERA: Brody Lanham (6.37)
W: Peyton Calitri (4)
APP: Andrew Guardino / Brody Lanham (19)
IP: Peyton Calitri (54.2)
K: Peyton Calitri (45)
BAA: Brody Lanham (.287)
SV: Brody Lanham (3)
BELLARMINE KNIGHTS
2023 Record: 13-42
2023 ASUN Record: 8-22
Head Coach: Chris Dominguez
BU: 13-42 (2nd Season)
Career: Same
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Casey Sorg (.277)
2B: Reed Blaszczyk (13)
3B: 3 players tied (1)
HR: Reed Blaszczyk (11)
RBI: Reed Blaszczyk (35)
R: Reed Blaszczyk (37)
BB: Davis Crane (27)
SLG%: Reed Blaszczyk (.520)
OB%: Davis Crane (.408)
SB: Will Aubel (11)
ERA: Nolan Pender (5.48)
W: Nolan Pender (5)
APP: Devin Ecklar (23)
IP: Nolan Pender (85.1)
K: Nolan Pender (86)
BAA: Nolan Pender (.286)
SV: Devin Ecklar/Steven Thom (1)
Photo by Drew Mattox
