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 to host SIUE in a battle of the top two teams in the Ohio Valley Conference, kicking off a three-game series on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT.

Game two of the weekend is slated to start at 2:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, while the series finale is currently scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday afternoon. With inclement weather, including rain and storms, expected in the Cookeville area during the weekend, fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates to this weekend's schedule.

All three contests will be streamed live on ESPN+, with Dylan Vazzano on the call throughout the weekend. Admission to all Tech baseball games is free of charge.

Friday and Saturday will represent OVC Championship Recognition Weekend for the Golden Eagles, honoring the program's alumni and championship squads celebrating milestone anniversaries. In addition to a celebration of all Tech baseball alumni, the OVC Championship teams of 1955, 1970, and 2010 will receive special recognition at both Friday's and Saturday's baseball games.

The 1955 squad is celebrating the 70th anniversary of their OVC championship run, while the 1970 title-winning team is celebrating its 55th anniversary. Celebrating its 15th anniversary is the 2010 team, which won the OVC regular-season crown.

THE SERIES
Friday's series opener represents the 44th meeting between the two ball clubs in the all-time series, with the Golden Eagles holding a 26-17 lead. Tech also holds the advantage when playing in Cookeville, leading 16-8 over the Cougars. 

The Cougars claimed last season's three-game set in Edwardsville, taking the final two contests after a big win by the Golden Eagles in game one. The purple and gold mashed four home runs at Roy E. Lee Field on the way to a 13-6 triumph in the series opener.

SIUE responded with a dominant showing in game two, evening the series with a 9-2 victory. The Cougars then stunned the purple and gold in the finale, plating three runs in the bottom of the ninth to complete a massive comeback in a 4-3 win. 

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.

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.

OVC HONORS
Senior outfielder Nicho Jordan was recognized as the OVC Player of the Week for the first time in his career, as announced by the league Monday afternoon, sharing the honor with UT Martin shortstop Cameron Greene.

Jordan was a key driving force behind Tech's 3-0 start to OVC play, slashing .583/.688/.1.417 over four games with three home runs, six RBI, and eight runs scored. He opened the week with a double and long ball against Austin Peay, prepping himself for a big weekend of offense.

After opening the series at Little Rock 1-for-4, Jordan exploded in the second contest, tallying two home runs (including one of the inside-the-park variety) on a 4-for-4 day with five RBI, five runs, a walk, and a stolen base. He wrapped up the weekend with two more walks and two runs scored.

On Feb. 17, sophomore catcher Mack Whitcomb earned his first career OVC Player of the Week nod, batting .385 with five extra-base hits, six RBI, and five runs in a four-game sweep over Le Moyne on opening weekend. He slugging 1.154 while turning in an OPS of 1.625, smashing two long balls along the way.

LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Eagles enter Friday's series opener following a heartbreaking 6-5 loss against Austin Peay in Clarksville on Tuesday evening. Trailing 4-0 heading into the eighth, the purple and gold delivered a clutch rally, plating five runs to take the lead. The Govs answered with a pair in the bottom half, however, holding on in the ninth for the one-run win.

Prior to Tuesday, the Tech squad opened the OVC season a perfect 3-0 after sweeping defending regular-season champion Little Rock on the road last weekend. The Golden Eagles kicked off the league slate by scoring five unanswered runs in the seventh inning for a 5-2 win. 

The offense exploded for the Cookeville crew on Saturday, pounding out a season-high 18 hits on the way to a 14-9 victory to earn the series win. In the finale, the Golden Eagles refused to settle for just a series win, rallying from deficits of 3-0 and 7-5 to earn a sweep-clinching 9-7 win. Catcher Mack Whitcomb led the way with a go-ahead, two-run bomb with two outs in the top of the ninth.

THE OPPONENT
SIUE comes to Cookeville after dropping a midweek tilt against Illinois State Wednesday, a 9-3 decision in Edwardsville. Prior to the loss, the Cougars joined the Golden Eagles as the only teams in the OVC to open league play undefeated at 3-0.

Last weekend, SIUE delivered a three-game series sweep against Morehead State in Edwardsville. The Cougars rallied from a 4-0 deficit in game one to pick up a 12-6 win.

In game two, SIUE used a brilliant effort from its pitching staff to turn in a 4-1 victory to claim the series. Completing the sweep on Sunday, the Cougars scored in all but the second inning, breaking a 7-7 tie in the bottom of the eighth with three runs for a 10-7 win.

Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball 
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Current Midweek Schedule
Friday, Mar. 28 | 6:00 p.m. CT | vs. SIUE
Saturday, Mar. 29 | 2:00 p.m. CT | vs. SIUE
Sunday, Mar. 30 | 1:00 p.m. CT | vs. SIUE

TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2025 Record: 18-8
2025 OVC Record: 3-0
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 544-487-2 (19th Season)
Career: 595-563-3 (22nd Season)

STATS LEADERS
AVG: Mack Whitcomb (.316)
2B: Whitcomb (7)
3B: Jackson Green / Whitcomb (1)
HR: Owen Lee / Whitcomb (5)
RBI: Whitcomb (27)
R: O. Lee (23)
BB: O. Lee (17)
SLG%: Whitcomb (.568)
OB%: Whitcomb (.431)
SB: Nicho Jordan (5)
ERA: Reece McDuffie (1.66)
W: Jack Brafa (5)
APP: Drew Mattox (10)
IP: Jaxson Pease (31.2)
K: Pease (29)
BAA: McDuffie (.195)
SV: Juan Vargas (5)

SIUE COUGARS
2025 Record: 10-13
2025 OVC Record: 3-0
Head Coach: Sean Lyons
SIUE: 172-235-1 (9th Season)
Career: Same

STATS LEADERS
AVG: Chase Bloomer (.344)
2B: Lane Crowden (8)
3B: Ryan Niedzwiedz (2)
HR: Bloomer (7)
RBI: Bloomer (20)
R: Bloomer (24)
BB: Kyle Ratliff (17)
SLG%: Bloomer (.667)
OB%: Mack Mitchell (437)
SB: Daniel Gierer (12)
ERA: Tyler Davis (1.50)
W: Davis (3)
APP: Davis / Liam McKillop (10)
IP: Tim Teixeira (23.1)
K: Spencer Stearns / Teixeira (27)
BAA: Davis (.186)
SV: Davis (2)

Photo by Betty Myers