By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team returns to the comfort of Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex for its first Ohio Valley Conference series at home this season, hosting Western Illinois in a three-game set starting Thursday evening in a 6:00 p.m. CT affair.
Game two of the series will also feature a 6:00 p.m. first pitch, this time on Friday night. The finale is set for a 2:00 p.m. start Saturday afternoon. Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free of charge.
Thursday's opener marks the 14th match-up all time between the two programs, with the Golden Eagles owning an 8-3-2 record in the series. Tech has won each of the last seven meetings with the Leathernecks, including series sweeps in 2016 and 2019 in non-conference action.
The last time the two programs met, the Cookeville crew picked up three wins to open the 2019 campaign, including a 3-2 decision in the season opener. Competing in a doubleheader the next day, Tech took both ends with victories of 8-3 and 7-4.
On Tuesday, the Golden Eagles fell in a midweek battle in Knoxville, dropping an 11-1 decision in seven innings by run rule to No. 5 nationally-ranked Tennessee at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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 15th nationally in walks, drawing 155 this year to lead the OVC.
Left fielder Austin Turner paces the group with a whopping 32 in 25 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 third in the nation with four triples while center fielder Nicho Jordan ranks tied for 14th with three. Peyton Calitri has been special on the bump, ranking third nationally with a strikeout/walk ratio of 13.33, fanning 40 batters with just three free passes on the year.
Western Illinois comes into the series after topping UT Martin twice last week to open its first season in the OVC, eking out a pair of one-win victories on Thursday and Saturday. The Skyhawks got the best of the Leathernecks in the middle game of the weekend with a 14-3 blowout.
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Current Midweek Schedule
Thursday, Mar. 28 | 6:00 p.m. CT | vs. Western Illinois
Friday, Mar. 29 | 6:00 p.m. CT | vs. Western Illinois
Saturday, Mar. 30 | 2:00 p.m. CT | vs. Western Illinois
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 13-12
2024 OVC Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 510-465-2 (18th Season)
Career: 561-541-3 (21st Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Tanner Shiver (.343)
2B: Troy Baunsgard (10)
3B: Austin Turner (4)
HR: Preston Steele (7)
RBI: Hayden Gilliland (27)
R: Nicho Jordan (29)
BB: Austin Turner (32)
SLG%: Tanner Shiver (.731)
OB%: Hayden Gilliland (.487)
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
WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS
2024 Record: 6-15
2024 OVC Record: 2-1
Head Coach: Terry Davis
WIU: 6-15 (1st Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Maxton Polad (.323)
2B: Adam Juran / Maxton Polad (6)
3B: 3 players tied (1)
HR: Cesar Franco (3)
RBI: Kyree Alexander (14)
R: Liam Bushey / Maxton Polad (15)
BB: Chris Hege (21)
SLG%: Maxton Polad (.508)
OB%: Maxton Polad (.476)
SB: Kyree Alexander / Grant Palmer (2)
ERA: Tyler Kapraun (8.56)*
W: 6 players tied (1)
APP: Mason Telford (11)
IP: Tyler Kapraun (29.0)
K: Tyler Kapraun / Kyle Rosenfeld (22)
BAA: Jason Buhl (.307)*
SV: Caden Kratz (6)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
Photo by Jim Dillon
