By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech catcher Hayden Gilliland was recognized as the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career as announced by the league Monday afternoon.
Gilliland was nearly unstoppable at the plate last week, helping guide Tech to four victories and keep its six-game winning streak alive. For the week, the Golden Eagle backstop slashed .625/.667/.938 with 10 hits, seven runs, six RBI, two doubles, a home run, two walks, and a gaudy 1.605 OPS. He also threw out a pair of runners on the basepaths.
He kicked off the week with a perfect 4-for-4 showing at Alabama A&M, driving in a pair with two runs scored and a double. The Maryville, Tenn. native followed it with a 1-for-3 day in the series opener with Sacred Heart on Friday, blasting his first round-tripper of the year for an RBI.
On Saturday, he tallied another hit while scoring once before coming up huge in the finale. In Sunday's final contest with the Pioneers, Gilliland delivered another 4-for-4 performance, denting the dish three times while also plating three runs. He picked up a double and a walk in the contest as well.
Tech returns to the Quill Tuesday afternoon, playing host to in-state rival and former Ohio Valley Conference foe Belmont in a 3:00 p.m. CT match-up.
Photo by Jim Dillon
