By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team hits the road for just the second time this season on Wednesday afternoon, heading to Nashville for a 4:00 p.m. CT rematch with in-state rival Belmont at E.S. Rose Park.
Fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates to this weekend's schedule.
THE SERIES
Wednesday's tilt represents the 99th between the two ball clubs in the all-time series, with the Golden Eagles holding a 53-45 advantage over the Bruins. In last season's midweek match-up in Cookeville, Belmont left with a 9-8 win in a roller-coaster battle.
The Bruins took as large a lead as 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but the Golden Eagles battle back with three runs over the next two frames. After Belmont added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to make it an 8-5 advantage, Tech responded in the bottom half with a two-run double and RBI single to square things at 8-8. Belmont collected the winning run in the top of the running, stringing together a two-out rally with a first-pitch double and first-pitch RBI single through the left side.
When the two sides met earlier this season on Feb. 18, the purple and gold rallied from a 5-0 deficit after the top of the second to deliver a 10-8 victory. Rookie Landon Smelser delivered the big hit in the ball game, working a 2-1 count in his favor before lacing a two-run double down the left-field line with a beautiful, opposite-field approach to the outside pitch.
TEAM NOTES
Four-time Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Matt Bragga is back for his 19th overall season at the helm of the Golden Eagle program and fourth after making his return to Cookeville in 2022. The Tech legend is starting to climb the OVC's all-time coaching wins list, currently ranked sixth overall. 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 (1958-93) | 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. | Matt Bragga, Tennessee Tech (2004-18, 22-present) | 535 | ||
| 7. | Mark Hogan, Southeast Missouri (1995-12) | 526 | ||
| 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 purple and gold were selected to finish third in the OVC in a preseason vote of league head baseball coaches and communications directors, falling behind only defending tournament champion Southeast Missouri and defending regular-season champ Little Rock.
Tech fell to WKU on Monday afternoon, dropping a 15-4 decision in eight innings at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. The Hilltoppers exploded for big innings in an otherwise competitive ball game, plating five in the first and, after taking a 9-4 lead, dropping six, unearned runs with two outs in the top of the eighth.
Despite the loss, Tech enjoyed a strong weekend heading into the contest, completing a weekend sweep of UIC at the Quill. The Cookeville crew opened the slate with an offensive explosion, piling up 14 hits in an 11-5 win on Friday.
The Golden Eagles followed it up by winning a tough-nosed battle on Saturday. After trailing 3-0, the purple and gold rallied with a four-run third and two-run fourth for a 6-4 victory. Jorsixth Jimenez led the charge in Sunday's series sweep, driving in six of the team's runs in an 8-3 triumph.
THE OPPONENT
The Bruins were in the midst of a battle with North Alabama at the time of this release, looking to gain some momentum with home win at E.S. Rose Park. Belmont picked up its lone victory of the season last Tuesday, topping in-state and cross-town rival Lipscomb at Dugan Field with a 14-9 triumph.
The win snapped a seven-game skid to open the 2025 campaign by the Bruins, a stretch that included three home losses at the hands of Kentucky. Last weekend, Belmont suffered another weekend sweep at home, this time to visiting Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish overcame three tests by the Bruins, topping Belmont 12-8, 2-1, and 6-2.
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball
Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball
Instagram: TNTech_Baseball
Current Midweek Schedule
Monday, Mar. 3 | L (8), 15-4 | vs. WKU
Wednesday, Mar. 5 | 4:00 p.m. CT | at Belmont
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2025 Record: 9-4
2025 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 535-483-2 (19th Season)
Career: 586-559-3 (22nd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Mack Whitcomb (.341)
2B: Whitcomb (4)
3B: Jackson Green / Whitcomb (1)
HR: Whitcomb (3)
RBI: Whitcomb (15)
R: Whitcomb (11)
BB: Nicho Jordan (8)
SLG%: Whitcomb (.682)
OB%: Whitcomb (.464)
SB: Jordan / Owen Lee (3)
ERA: Patrick Johnson / Jaxon Pridgen (0.00)
W: Jaxson Pease (3)
APP: Drew Mattox (5)
IP: Pease (16.1)
K: Pease (17)
BAA: Pridgen (.000)
SV: 3 players tied (2)
BELMONT BRUINS
2025 Record: 1-10
2025 MVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Dave Jarvis
BU: 764-720-2 (28th Season)
Career: 1,088-873-2 (43rd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ty Allen (.326)
2B: Charlie Davis / Michael Lareau (4)
3B: Blake Barton / Pete Daniel (1)
HR: Ty Allen (3)
RBI: Allen (11)
R: Barton (9)
BB: Kaden Galason / Lareau (6)
SLG%: Allen (.581)
OB%: Allen(.408)
SB: Daniel / Davis (5)
ERA: Jake Timbes (0.00)
W: Jordan Zuger (1)
APP: 3 players tied (5)
IP: Joe Ruzicka (14.0)
K: Will Pryor (13)
BAA: Jake Timbes (.161)
SV: None
Photo by Betty Myers
