By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team will make the 100-mile trip east down I-40 Tuesday evening, squaring off in a 5:30 p.m. CT match-up with No. 5 Tennessee at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville. The contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Tuesday's tilt represents the 106th between the two in-state programs, with the Volunteers owning a 72-32-1 lead in the series. When competing in Knoxville, UT boasts a 47-13 advantage overall.
The Golden Eagles have captured each of the last two meetings over the past two seasons. Competing in a wood-bat contest at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tenn. during the 2022 campaign, the purple and gold knocked off the No. 1-ranked Vols in a 3-2 decision. Snapping Tennessee's 23-game winning streak, it marked Tech's first victory over a No. 1 nationally-ranked squad in any sport.
The purple and gold doubled down in last year's affair, this time in Knoxville, building an early lead and never looking back in a 12-5 victory over the No. 19 Vols. Current Tech catcher Hayden Gilliland enjoyed one of the top games of his career, finishing 5-for-6 with three RBI and a pair or runs.
Former Golden Eagle John Dyer drove in a trio while smashing a double and home runs while current Tech slugger Preston Ford accounted for three hits and a pair of ribbies. Current outfielder Theo Bryant IV added two hits to the mix while nine total Golden Eagles recorded at least one of the team's whopping 18 hits.
Over the weekend, Tech finished 1-2 in its first Ohio Valley Conference series at Southern Indiana, eking out an extra-innings victory in the opener before falling in the final two games. Tech pulled off a 9-7 decision in 10 innings on Friday, overcoming a late rally by USI.
The Screaming Eagles stunned the Golden Eagles in the second tilt of the weekend, scoring seven unanswered runs over the final two frames, including six in a ninth inning that ended with a three-run, walk-off dinger. USI bested Tech 8-1 in the finale on Sunday.
Known historically under the watch of long-time head coach Matt Bragga as one of the premier, home-run slugging programs in the country year in and year out, this year's Golden Eagles squad sports a slightly different look on offense. The 2024 edition still ranks third in the OVC in long balls, but it's been the patience and speed that has shined during the season.
Heading into the week, the Golden Eagles lead the nation in triples as a team, boasting 14 so far in the still-young season. Tech ranks tied for 14th nationally in walks, drawing 155 this year to lead the OVC.
Left fielder Austin Turner paces the group with a whopping 32 in 24 games, tying for second among national leaders. Boasting 105 in his Tech career, he now ranks seventh in program history for walks. His eight career triples rank eighth in program history.
Turner is also tied for second in the nation with four triples while center fielder Nicho Jordan ranks tied for 12th with three. Peyton Calitri has been special on the bump, ranking fourth nationally with a strikeout/walk ratio of 13.33, fanning 40 batters with just three free passes on the year.
Tennessee enters Tuesday's game after securing a Southeastern Conference series win over No. 17 Ole Miss over the weekend, gathering a pair of run-rule victories on the bookends of the series. The Vols topped the Rebels 15-3 in seven frames on Friday before dropping an 8-5 decision on Saturday at saw Ole Miss plate four runs in the top of the ninth.
UT recovered quickly, exploding offensively again on Sunday for a 15-4 triumph in seven innings.
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Current Midweek Schedule
Tuesday, Mar. 26 | 5:30 p.m. CT | at #5 Tennessee
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 13-11
2024 OVC Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 510-464-2 (18th Season)
Career: 561-540-3 (21st Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Tanner Shiver (.359)
2B: Troy Baunsgard (10)
3B: Austin Turner (4)
HR: Preston Steele (7)
RBI: Hayden Gilliland (27)
R: Nicho Jordan (29)
BB: Austin Turner (28)
SLG%: Tanner Shiver (.766)
OB%: Nicho Jordan (.495)
SB: Austin Turner (11)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.31)*
W: Peyton Calitri (3)
APP: Jack Erdman / Drew Mattox (9)
IP: Peyton Calitri (39.0)
K: Peyton Calitri (40)
BAA: Peyton Calitri (.219)*
SV: Jack Erdman (3)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
2024 Record: 21-4
2024 SEC Record: 3-3
Head Coach: Tony Vitello
UT: 256-103 (7th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Kavares Tears (.405)
2B: Blake Burke (14)
3B: 3 players tied (1)
HR: Billy Amick / Christian Moore (10)
RBI: Dylan Dreiling (30)
R: Kavares Tears (35)
BB: Dylan Dreiling (18)
SLG%: Blake Burke (.800)
OB%: Kavares Tears (.500)
SB: Blake Burke (4)
ERA: AJ Causey (1.91)*
W: AJ Causey / Nate Snead (5)
APP: Kirby Connell (9)
IP: Drew Beam (35.0)
K: AJ Causey (44)
BAA: AJ Causey (.190)*
SV: 4 players tied (1)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
Photo by Jim Dillon
