By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team continues its 11-game home stand with a huge weekend series against the Atlantic Coast Conference's Notre Dame at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex starting Friday with a 3:00 p.m. CT match-up.
Game two of the series is slated for 2:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday while Sunday's finale is currently scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start. With rain in the forecast, fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates/changes to this weekend's schedule.
This weekend's three-game set will mark the first-ever meeting between the Golden Eagles and Fighting Irish. It marks the first time Tech has hosted a three-game weekend series with a Power 5 Conference opponent since sweeping Northwestern during the 2014 campaign.
The purple and gold enter the weekend's action after falling in a midweek heartbreaker to in-state rival Belmont, 9-8, at the Quill. The visiting Bruins led by as much as 6-2, but Tech rallied to tie the game at 8-8 in the eighth inning. Belmont turned in a two-out rally in the ninth to plate the winning run with a close play at the plate and held on to earn the win over the Golden Eagles.
Tech catcher Hayden Gilliland has been on a tear of late, proven by his selection as the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Last week, he slashed .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. Including Tuesday's tilt with the Bruins, the veteran backstop has now reached base in each of his last 10 at-bats.
Notre Dame comes to Cookeville after splitting a four-game series at FIU last weekend, sandwiching a pair of losses between two victories. The Fighting Irish topped the Panthers 13-4 in the opener in Miami, but dropped both ends of a Saturday doubleheader, 10-8 and 10-5. They rallied for a win on Sunday, edging FIU 3-1.
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Current Weekend Schedule
Friday, Mar. 1 | 3:00 p.m. CT | vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, Mar. 2 | 2:00 p.m. CT | vs. Notre Dame
Sunday, Mar. 3 | 1:00 p.m. CT | vs. Notre Dame
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 6-2
2024 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 503-455-2 (18th Season)
Career: 554-531-3 (21st Season)
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: Hayden Gilliland (.452)
2B: Troy Baunsgard / Eddie Garza (3)
3B: 3 players tied (2)
HR: Troy Baunsgard / Preston Steele (2)
RBI: Hayden Gilliland (10)
R: Austin Turner (11)
BB: Austin Turner (14)
SLG%: Troy Baunsgard (.719)
OB%: Hayden Gilliland (.553)
SB: Nicho Jordan / Austin Turner (3)
ERA: 3 players tied (0.00)
W: Peyton Calitri (2)
APP: Brody Lanham / Jaxson Pease (3)
IP: Peyton Calitri (13.0)
K: Peyton Calitri (10)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.149)
SV: Jack Erdman (2)
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
2024 Record: 5-2
2024 ACC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Shawn Stiffler
ND: 35-26 (2nd Season)
Career: 375-224 (12th Season)
RETURNING STATS LEADERS
AVG: TJ Williams (.500)
2B: Joey Spence (2)
3B: None
HR: David Glancy (4)
RBI: Tito Flores / David Glancy (10)
R: David Glancy (9)
BB: Jack Penney (9)
SLG%: TJ Williams (.850)
OB%: TJ Williams (.583)
SB: 3 players tied (3)
ERA: 2 players tied (0.00)
W: 5 players tied (1)
APP: Bennett Flynn (4)
IP: Jackson Dennies (7.1)
K: Bennett Flynn (8)
BAA: Rory Fox (.000)
SV: Nate Hardman (2)
Photo by Jim Dillon
