By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team competes in its final midweek action of the season Tuesday evening, making the trip to Nashville for a 6:00 p.m. CT affair at No. 17 Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field. The contest will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
THE SERIES
Tuesday's tilt marks the 73rd match-up between the two programs, with the Commodores owning a 49-23 lead in the series. Vanderbilt has taken each of the past four meetings with the Golden Eagles, including a 12-1 decision last season.
Tech has earned three wins over the Vandy Boys under the direction of Matt Bragga, including back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Eagles had a tough go over the weekend, dropping three Ohio Valley Conference contests at in-state rival UT Martin. Just the second time on the year Tech was swept by its opponent, the Skyhawks used big early innings in the first two contests to earn wins of 7-2 and 15-6.
In the finale, UT Martin went hitless through the first 5.1 innings before breaking through and pulling out an 8-4 victory.
TEAM NOTES
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 weekend, the Golden Eagles ranked tied for 14th in the nation in triples as a team, boasting 17 so far on the year. Tech also ranked 47th nationally in walks, drawing 230 this year to lead the OVC.
Left fielder Austin Turner paces the group with a whopping 47 in 44 games, tying for fourth nationally. Boasting 120 in his Tech career, he now ranks sixth in program history for walks, boasting five more than current teammate and Golden Eagle catcher Hayden Gilliland, who ranks eighth. Turner's eight career triples rank eighth in program history.
Turner and shortstop Tanner Shiver are both tied for 19th in the nation with four triples each. Peyton Calitri has been special on the bump, ranking fifth nationally with a walks/nine innings mark of 1.16 and seventh with a strikeout/walk ratio of 7.78, fanning 70 batters with just nine free passes on the year.
Tech head coach Matt Bragga is starting to climb the OVC's all-time coaching wins list, closing in on sixth place. Bragga and TTU Sports Hall of Famer David Mays represent the only pair of coaches from the same school to rank in the league's top eight of OVC wins.
| 1. | Gary McClure, Austin Peay (1988-15) | 847 | ||
| 2. | Johnny Reagan, Murray State (1980-01) | 776 | ||
| 3. | Jim Ward, Eastern Kentucky (1980-01) | 628 | ||
| 4. | Jim Case, Jacksonville State (2004-21) | 564 | ||
| 5. | David Mays, Tennessee Tech (1974-98) | 554 | ||
| 6. | Mark Hogan, Southeast Missouri (1995-12) | 526 | ||
| 7. | Matt Bragga, Tennessee Tech (2004-18, 22-present) | 523 | ||
| 8. | Jim Schmitz, Eastern Illinois (1997-15) | 480 | ||
| 9. | John Stanford, Middle Tennessee (1974-87) | 402 | ||
| 10. | Steve Peterson, Middle Tennessee (1988-00) | 401 |
THE OPPONENT
Vanderbilt endured a tough weekend of its own, dropping a pair of contests against visiting Mississippi State in Nashville. The Commodores did open the series with a 4-0 decision on Friday behind a complete-game shutout from Bryce Cunningham, the SEC's Pitcher of the Week.
The Bulldogs answered back with a 7-4 victory on Saturday to square the series before stunning Vandy on Sunday. Trailing 7-6 in the top of the ninth, MSU first baseman Hunter Hines blasted a two-out, two-run home run to right field to flip the script for an 8-7 victory.
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Current Midweek Schedule
Tuesday, Apr. 30 | 6:00 p.m. CT | at #13 Vanderbilt
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2024 Record: 26-18
2024 OVC Record: 10-8
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 523-471-2 (18th Season)
Career: 574-547-3 (21st Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Hayden Gilliland (.349)
2B: Troy Baunsgard (16)
3B: Tanner Shiver / Austin Turner (4)
HR: Hayden Gilliland (10)
RBI: Hayden Gilliland (48)
R: Austin Turner (45)
BB: Austin Turner (47)
SLG%: Hayden Gilliland / Tanner Shiver (.590)
OB%: Hayden Gilliland (.463)
SB: Austin Turner (18)
ERA: Peyton Calitri (2.70)*
W: Peyton Calitri (7)
APP: Drew Mattox / Jaxson Pease (15)
IP: Peyton Calitri (70.0)
K: Peyton Calitri (70)
BAA: Jaxson Pease (.212)*
SV: Jack Erdman / Jaxson Pease (3)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
2024 Record: 31-13
2024 SEC Record: 11-10
Head Coach: Tim Corbin
VU: 914-433-1 (22nd Season)
Career: 1,020-571-1 (28th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Matthew Polk (.331)
2B: Jonathan Vastine (14)
3B: 3 players tied (2)
HR: Alan Espinal (8)
RBI: RJ Austin (42)
R: RK Austin / Alan Espinal (38)
BB: Davis Diaz (24)
SLG%: Jonathan Vastine (.581)
OB%: Alan Espinal (.423)
SB: RJ Austin (20)
ERA: Bryce Cunningham (3.98)*
W: Bryce Cunningham / Carter Holton (6)
APP: Brennan Seiber (16)
IP: Bryce Cunningham (61.0)
K: Carter Holton (86)
BAA: Bryce Cunningham (.198)*
SV: Ryan Ginther / Brennan Seiber (4)
* minimum 1.0 innings pitcher per team game played
Photo by Jim Dillon
