Tech baseball returns home to host OVC foe Eastern Illinois in three-game series
March 30, 2017

Tech baseball returns home to host OVC foe Eastern Illinois in three-game series

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team makes its return to Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex Friday evening, kicking off a three-game, Ohio Valley Conference series against Eastern Illinois.

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By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

Tennessee Tech Baseball Weekend Preview  (3/30)

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team makes its return to Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex Friday evening, kicking off a three-game, Ohio Valley Conference series against Eastern Illinois.

Game one of the series is set for a 6 p.m. CT start, while game two is slated to begin at 2 p.m. and game three owns a first pitch of 1 p.m., weather permitting.

The Golden Eagles will look to keep their undefeated mark in league play rolling, standing just one victory away from the best start to OVC play in program history. Tech enters the series winners of 13 of its past 15 games.

Fans are encouraged to follow social media and the TTUsports.com website for updates concerning start times and delays due to weather.

Tennessee Tech (20-7, 9-0) vs. Eastern Illinois (5-19, 2-4)

Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball | Facebook: TTU Sports | Instagram: TTUGoldenEagles

PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION
 Friday, Mar. 31, 6:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Michael Wood (RHP)
5-1 | 5.17 ERA | 38.1 IP | 34 K | 9 BB
vs.
EIU Jake Haberer (RHP)
0-0 | 3.63 ERA | 17.1 IP | 18 K | 11 BB

Saturday, Apr. 1, 2:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Jake Usher (RHP)
1-1 | 5.58 ERA | 30.2 IP | 32 K | 11 BB
vs.
EIU Michael McCormick (RHP)
0-3 | 6.37 ERA | 29.2 IP | 21 K | 21 BB

Sunday, Apr. 2, 1:00 pm | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | STATS | VIDEO
TTU Chase Burkett (RHP)
4-1 | 4.50 ERA | 32.0 IP | 17 K | 8 BB
vs.
EIU TBA (RHP)
– | – ERA | – IP | – K | – BB

SERIES HISTORY
 Overall: EIU leads, 35-34
First Meeting: Mar. 23, 1982 | EIU 2, TTU 0 | Panama City, Fla.
Last Meeting: Apr. 9, 2016 | TTU 8, EIU 6 | Charleston, Ill.

TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2017 Record: 20-7
2017 OVC Record: 9-0 (1st)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 373-366-2 (14th season)
Career: 500-460-2 (18th season)
Since 2008: 301-229-2 

TEAM STATS (National Rank)
 AVG: .321 (12)
H: 322 (1)
2B: 64 (9)
3B: 6 (93)
HR: 43 (3)
R: 234 (2)
R/G: 8.7 (5)
SLG%: .526 (4)
OB%: .395 (42)
BB: 98 (112)
HBP: 32 (27)
SB: 29 (69)
ERA: 5.10 (186)
WIN%: .741 (23)
K/9: 8.9 (52)
SH/O: 3 (20)
FLD%: .978 (33)

BATTING LEADERS (National Rank)
AVG: Ryan Flick – .417 (23)
H: Ryan Flick – 45 (2)
2B: Ryan Flick – 17 (1)
3B: Chase Chambers – 2 (81)
HR: Collin Harris – 8 (16)
RBI: Ryan Flick – 32 (14)
R: Ryan Flick – 33 (7)
SLG%: Ryan Flick – .769 (13)
OB%: Ryan Flick – .480 (72)
BB: Ryan Flick – 15 (NR)
HBP: Chase Chambers – 12 (3)
SB: Alex Junior – 9 (61)
Toughest to K: Trevor Putzig – 30.0 AB/K (4)

PITCHING LEADERS
ERA: Devin Lancaster – 4.25 (NR)*
WINS: Michael Wood – 5 (3)
APP: Ethan Roberts – 9 (NR)
IP: Michael Wood – 38.1 (NA)
K: Michael Wood – 34 (NR)
SV: Ethan Roberts – 6 (16)
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played

EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS
2017 Record: 5-19
2017 OVC Record: 2-4 (T-8th)
Head Coach: Jason Anderson
EIU: 20-58 (2nd season)
Career: Same

BATTING LEADERS
AVG: Joseph Duncan – .301
H: Joseph Duncan – 31
2B: Logan Beaman – 6
3B: Dougie Parks – 2
HR: Matt Albert – 8
RBI: Matt Albert – 29
R: Logan Beaman / Joseph Duncan – 17
BB: Logan Beaman – 15
SB: Joseph Duncan – 6

PITCHING LEADERS
ERA: Michael McCormick – 6.37*
WINS: Alex Stevenson – 2
APP: Michael Starcevich – 12
IP: Michael McCormic – 29.2
K: Brent Stephens – 23
SV: Michael Starcevich – 2
*1.0 inning pitched per team game played

Photo by Tony Marable