By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will get its first taste of the road Tuesday afternoon, making a trip south for a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch at Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Ala.
The Golden Eagles bounced back from an opening-day loss to Bellarmine on Friday to claim the weekend series 2-1. Tech answered its 11-3 loss in the opener with victories of 5-1 on Saturday and 8-1 on Sunday, using dominant pitching and timely hitting.
Leading the incredible effort on the mound for the Golden Eagles over the weekend was senior hurler Peyton Calitri, who was recognized Monday afternoon as the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week. The right-hander covered 7.0 innings with just one, unearned run allowed and four strikeouts in Tech's win over the Knights on Saturday.
Tech surrendered just one earned run and two runs total over the final 18 innings of the series with Bellarmine, as four pitchers combined to cover the second and third contests of the weekend. Jaxson Pease handled the final two innings on Saturday after Calitri's masterful performance.
On Sunday, rookie Jack Brafa delivered a spectacular collegiate debut, tossing 5.1 innings with just a single run allowed over four hits. He also struck out three batters. Junior Jack Erdman picked up the team's first save in the affair, finishing off the final 3.2 frames of shutout ball with four punch-outs and just two base runners allowed.
Tuesday's tilt in Huntsville represents the 20th meeting all-time between the programs, with the Golden Eagles boasting a dominant, 18-1 lead in the series. Tech has outscored Alabama A&M 252-68 in the previous 19 contests, including victories of 23-2 and 28-8 in the 2019 campaign, the most recent season the two teams squared off.
The Bulldogs opened the year with a 10-6 win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but fell in the final two games of the series. Playing a doubleheader on Sunday due to inclement weather on Saturday, UAPB responded with a 10-6 victory in the first contest and an 8-0 shutout in the second game of the day.
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Current Weekend Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 1:00 p.m. CT | at Alabama A&M
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 2-1
2024 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 499-454-2 (18th Season)
Career: 550-530-3 (21st Season)
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Troy Baunsgard (.417)
2B: Jackson Green (2)
3B: Troy Baunsgard (1)
HR: Mack Whitcomb (1)
RBI: Jackson Green / Mack Whitcomb (3)
R: Preston Steele / Austin Turner (3)
BB: Austin Turner (6)
SLG%: Mack Whitcomb (.750)
OB%: Nicho Jordan (.667)
SB: Austin Turner (2)
ERA: Peyton Calitri / Jack Erdman (0.00)
W: Jack Brafa / Peyton Calitri (1)
APP: 8 players tied (1)
IP: Peyton Calitri (7.0)
K: Peyton Calitri / Jack Erdman (4)
BAA: Peyton Calitri / Jack Erdman (.154)
SV: Jack Erdman (1)
ALABAMA A&M BULLDOGS
2024 Record: 1-2
2024 SWAC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Elliott Jones
AAMU: 38-91 (4th Season)
Career: Same
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Alex Diaz (.556)
2B: Dre Amaral (2)
3B: Alex Diaz (1)
HR: None
RBI: Blake Martin (3)
R: 3 players tied (3)
BB: Kylan Duncan / Zak Rice (4)
SLG%: Alex Diaz (.889)
OB%: Alex Diaz (.600)
SB: Chevalier Dorris (3)
ERA: Brett Parker (0.00)
W: Evan Hurlburt (1)
APP: 9 players tied (1)
IP: Anthony Mateo (5.2)
K: Evan Hurlburt (9)
BAA: Evan Hurlburt (.133)
SV: None
Photo by Jim Dillon
