By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will host its first midweek contest of the season Tuesday afternoon, taking on in-state rival and former Ohio Valley Conference foe Belmont in a 3:00 p.m. CT tilt at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Tuesday marks the 97th meeting between the two programs since 1948, with the Golden Eagles holding a 52-44 advantage in the series. The contest represents the first visit to Cookeville by the Bruins since the 2021 campaign.
The Golden Eagles are coming off their first series sweep of the season, picking up a trio of victories over Sacred Heart over the weekend to grow the team's winning streak to six games. The purple and gold opened the weekend with a 4-1 over the Pioneers, gathering a spectacular showing from hurlers Landon Smiddy and Jack Erdman. The two combined to allow just a single, unearned run.
In game two, Peyton Calitri shoved on the mound for the Cookeville crew, tossing 6.0 scoreless frames with six punch-outs in what would become a 7-4 win for the Golden Eagles. Tech capped the sweep on Sunday with a 21-8 triumph, gathering 10 extra-base hits and 18 total to keep the winning ways rolling.
On Monday afternoon, Tech catcher Hayden Gilliland was named OVC Player of the Week for the first time in his career after slashing .625/.667/.938 with 10 hits, seven runs, six RBI, two doubles, a home run, two walks, and a gaudy 1.605 OPS. The senior gathered at least one hit and one run in all four games over the week, including 4-for-4 showings in the first and fourth contests.
Belmont enters the midweek match-up with a 5-3 mark overall, gathering a 3-1 opening weekend over Eastern Michigan and a midweek victory at North Alabama to kick off the season. Last weekend, the Bruins went 1-2 at No. 21 South Carolina, turning in an 11-2 win on Saturday following an 8-1 loss on Friday and before a 12-1 decision in eight innings on Sunday.
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Current Weekend Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 27 | 3:00 p.m. CT | vs. Belmont
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 6-1
2024 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 503-454-2 (18th Season)
Career: 554-530-3 (21st Season)
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Hayden Gilliland (.414)
2B: 5 players tied (2)
3B: 2 players tied (2)
HR: Troy Baunsgard (2)
RBI: Hayden Gilliland (8)
R: Troy Baunsgard (10)
BB: Austin Turner (12)
SLG%: Troy Baunsgard (.778)
OB%: Nicho Jordan (.556)
SB: Nicho Jordan / Austin Turner (3)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (0.00)
W: Peyton Calitri (2)
APP: 11 players tied (2)
IP: Peyton Calitri (13.0)
K: Peyton Calitri (10)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.149)
SV: Jack Erdman (2)
BELMONT BRUINS
2024 Record: 5-3
2024 MVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Dave Jarvis
BU: 742-681-2 (27th Season)
Career: 1,066-833-2 (42nd Season)
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Landon Godsey (.318)
2B: Max Jones (2)
3B: Max Blessinger (1)
HR: Landon Godsey (3)
RBI: Mason Landers (6)
R: Pete Daniel (9)
BB: Landon Godsey (5)
SLG%: Landon Godsey (.773)
OB%: Landon Godsey (.448)
SB: Max Blessinger (3)
ERA: Bill Duby (0.00)
W: Jake Timbes (2)
APP: 3 players tied (3)
IP: Jake Timbes (10.0)
K: Will Pryor (11)
BAA: Zach Hernandez (.133)
SV: Hank Liss / Jett Thielke (1)
Photo by Jim Dillon
