February 17, 2020

Hinchman named National and OVC Player of the Week after monster opening weekend

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It didn’t take long for junior first baseman Jason Hinchman to establish his presence on the diamond for the 2020 season. The Tennessee Tech slugger took home both Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors Monday.

By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It didn't take long for junior first baseman Jason Hinchman to establish his presence on the diamond for the 2020 season. The Tennessee Tech slugger took home both Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors Monday.

In a three-game sweep over Evansville, Hinchman hit .692 (9-for-13) with five home runs, seven runs, seven RBI, two stolen bases, a 1.846 slugging percentage and .692 on-base percentage. Last season's Division I leader in home runs per game (0.44), he again found himself on the top of the nation's leaderboard Monday morning with a mark of 1.67. His five round-trippers also ranked him in a tie for first nationally.

In game one against the Purple Aces, the Winston, Ga. native clobbered a pair of solo shots to help the Golden Eagles to a 5-3 victory. He finished 3-for-4 at the dish in game two, leading Tech to a 7-6 win.

It was game three where the slugger truly shined. Hinchman blasted three home runs with five RBI in the contest, helping the Golden Eagles rally from an eight-run deficit over the final three frames. He crushed a walk-off, solo bomb to center field in the bottom of the ninth to cap the incredible comeback and essentially clinch of the best opening weekends by a Tech batter in program history.

He became the first Tech player in program history to record multiple three-home run games in a career, having accomplished the feat last season against Valparaiso. He finished the 11-10 victory an impressive 4-for-5 with four runs scored and a stolen base as well.

Photo by Thomas Corhern