By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team wraps up its 11-game home stand this weekend, playing host to Queens University of Charlotte in a three-game set at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The series opener has been moved up to a 2:00 p.m. CT first pitch due to expected rain in the area early Friday morning. Game two is currently set for a 2:00 p.m. start on Saturday while Sunday's series finale will kick off at 1:00 p.m. With continued rain in the forecast throughout the weekend, fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates/changes to this week's schedule.
The Golden Eagles righted the ship on Tuesday after falling in four straight contests, topping visiting Alabama A&M in steady rain at the Quill. Tech used a 20-9 onslaught to down the Bulldogs in a seven-inning, run-rule contest.
A whopping 14 Tech batters came to the plate in the first frame, one that saw the purple and gold compile eight runs, four hits, and five walks. Despite continuous precipitation the entire contest, the new turf surface at the Quill held up to allow the Golden Eagles to bang out 17 hits and 20 runs.
This weekend's series marks the second all-time between the two programs, with Tech making the visit to Charlotte, N.C. last season for the inaugural meeting. The Cookeville crew took two of the three tilts last year against the Royals, but Queens claimed the opener in thrilling fashion.
Despite a comeback bid by Tech, Queens earned the win in game one, using a two-run single for a walk-off, 13-12 decision. The Golden Eagles plated two runs of their own in the top of the ninth to take a 12-11 lead before surrendering the winning runs in the bottom half.
Tech's rally in the second game in Charlotte held up, as a six-run seventh brought the purple and gold back from a 4-2 deficit for an eventual, 8-6 win. The Golden Eagles ran away with game three to take the series, topping the Royals 13-2.
Queens snapped its own four-game skid on Tuesday, overcoming a huge ninth-inning collapse to edge UNC Asheville on the road, 11-10, in 12 innings. The Royals outscored the Bulldogs 10-1 over the opening four frames, but an incredible rally by UNCA in the ninth took the contest to extras.
UNC Asheville used a pair of two-run long balls, four bases-loaded walks, and a hit-by-pitch with the bases juiced to score nine runs in the bottom of the ninth. Queens finally responded with an RBI single in the 12th to earn the win.
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Current Weekend Schedule
Friday, Mar. 8 | 11:00 a.m. CT | vs. Queens
Saturday, Mar. 9 | 2:00 p.m. CT | vs. Queens
Sunday, Mar. 10 | 1:00 p.m. CT | vs. Queens
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 7-5
2024 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 504-458-2 (18th Season)
Career: 555-534-3 (21st Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Hayden Gilliland (.429)
2B: Troy Baunsgard (4)
3B: Austin Turner (3)
HR: Preston Steele (5)
RBI: Preston Steele (17)
R: Austin Turner (17)
BB: Austin Turner (18)
SLG%: Preston Steele (.765)
OB%: Hayden Gilliland (.556)
SB: Austin Turner (6)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.60)*
W: Peyton Calitri (2)
APP: 5 players tied (4)
IP: Peyton Calitri (17.1)
K: Peyton Calitri (14)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.206)*
SV: Jack Erdman (2)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
QUEENS ROYALS
2024 Record: 4-9
2024 ASUN Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Jake Hendrick
QUC: 4-9 (1st Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Nick Alderfer (.364)
2B: Matthew Corlew / Dillon Lewis (4)
3B: Matthew Corlew (1)
HR: JJ Sousa (4)
RBI: Dillon Lewis (12)
R: Tyler Cotto (10)
BB: Jake Barbour / Tyler Cotto (9)
SLG%: Nick Alderfer (.636)
OB%: Tyler Cotto (.423)
SB: Dillon Lewis (8)
ERA: Landry Jurecka (5.40)*
W: Joseph Rodriguez (2)
APP: 3 players tied (6)
IP: Landry Jurecka (18.1)
K: Landry Jurecka (22)
BAA: Landry Jurecka (.260)*
SV: None
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
Photo by Jim Dillon
