By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team heads back out on the road to officially open Ohio Valley Conference action with a three-game series at Little Rock beginning Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT at Gary Hogan Field.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday while Sunday's finale is slated to start at 12:00 p.m. in Little Rock. All three contests are slated to be streamed live on ESPN+ with Max Coltrane on the call. Fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates to this weekend's schedule.
THE SERIES
Friday's series opener represents the 14th meeting between the two ball clubs in the all-time series, with the Trojans holding an 8-5 lead. When competing in Little Rock, the series is tied at a 3-3 stalemate.
In last year's weekend slate in Cookeville, Little Rock earned a huge three-game sweep of the purple and gold, clinching the OVC regular-season title at the Quill. The Trojans opened play with a 15-6 victory on Thursday, May 16, racking up 18 hits.
Playing in a doubleheader on Friday due to inclement weather, Little Rock continued to roll on offense, starting with a 16-4 win in the first tilt behind another 19 hits. In the finale, the Trojans held off a late Tech rally, finishing off the sweep with a 10-7 decision.
CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARD
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) | 541 | ||
| 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 |
PRESEASON OUTLOOK
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.
During its 2025 OVC Season Preview, D1baseball.com selected southpaw Jared Herzog as the No. 1 prospect in the league for the 2025 MLB Draft while outfielder Jorsixt Jimenez was ranked 11th. The D1baseball crew listed catcher Mack Whitcomb as the No. 2 prospect from the OVC for the 2026 MLB Draft, right-handed pitcher Jack Brafa No. 7 and right-handed hurler Juan Vargas No. 9. Rookie righty Carter Casabella was selected as an Impact Freshman, sitting at No. 10.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend following a tough, 13-3 loss in eight innings to in-state rival Austin Peay on Tuesday night in Cookeville. It marked the first meeting between the two programs since the Governors' departure from the OVC following the 2022 campaign.
A close battle early turned into a one-sided affair from the fourth inning on, with the Govs scoring nine of their 13 runs over the final five frames. Austin Peay drummed up 16 hits in the contest while holding the purple and gold to just five on a windy night.
THE OPPONENT
Little Rock heads into the series with a 9-12 mark overall after delivering a 23-9 blowout victory over in-state rival Central Arkansas on Tuesday in Little Rock. The visiting Bears opened the affair with a six-run first inning, using a two-run home run and a grand slam to burst out of the gates with the lead.
The Trojans responded in kind over the next three frames, scoring three times in the first, seven in the second, and five more in the third to take a commanding, 15-6 lead. For good measure, Little Rock dropped eight more on the Beras in sixth after UCA scored twice in the top of the frame.
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Current Weekend Schedule
Friday, Mar. 21 | 6:00 p.m. CT | at Little Rock
Saturday, Mar. 22 | 4:00 p.m. CT | at Little Rock
Sunday, Mar. 23 | 12:00 p.m. CT | at Little Rock
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2025 Record: 15-7
2025 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 541-486-2 (19th Season)
Career: 592-562-3 (22nd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Mack Whitcomb (.333)
2B: Whitcomb (6)
3B: Jackson Green / Whitcomb (1)
HR: Owen Lee (5)
RBI: Whitcomb (21)
R: O. Lee (21)
BB: Whitcomb (15)
SLG%: Whitcomb (.600)
OB%: Whitcomb (.469)
SB: Green / Nicho Jordan (4)
ERA: Reece McDuffie (1.62)
W: Jack Brafa (4)
APP: Drew Mattox (9)
IP: Jaxson Pease (25.2)
K: Pease (24)
BAA: McDuffie (.190)
SV: McDuffie / Juan Vargas (3)
LITTLE ROCK TROJANS
2025 Record: 9-12
2025 OVC Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Chris Curry
LR: 245-273 (11th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Ryan Geck (.309)
2B: Geck / Ty Rhoades (5)
3B: Zach Henry (2)
HR: Rhoades (4)
RBI: Rhoades (21)
R: Cooper Chaplain (17)
BB: Chaplain (14)
SLG%: Rhoades (.475)
OB%: Chaplain (.453)
SB: Chaplain (7)
ERA: Preston Davis (1.69)
W: Jack Cline (4)
APP: Malcolm Brown / Hunter Royal (8)
IP: Cline (30.2)
K: Jackson Wells (30)
BAA: Davis (.118)
SV: Davis (1)
Photo by Jim Dillon
