Golden Eagles embark on 2025 OVC Tournament run with 7:30 PM tilt on Wednesday
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team visits Marion, Ill. and Mtn Dew Park for the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament presented by SERVPRO starting Wednesday, May 21. The No. 3-seeded Golden Eagles are set to square off with either No. 6 Lindenwood or No. 7 UT Martin in an elimination game at 7:30 p.m. CT.
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By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team visits Marion, Ill. and Mtn Dew Park for the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament presented by SERVPRO starting Wednesday, May 21. The No. 3-seeded Golden Eagles are set to square off with either No. 6 Lindenwood or No. 7 UT Martin in an elimination game at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Should the Golden Eagles defeat the Lions or Skyhawks, they would then take on No. 2 SIUE in a 3:00 p.m. tilt on Thursday, starting the double-elimination portion of the tournament. Fans can follow all the action throughout the tournament on ESPN+, with Max Thoma and Graham Doty on the call.
With inclement weather expected in the Marion area throughout the weekend, fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any more potential updates to this season's schedule.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Eagles enter the 2025 OVC Tournament after capturing their final series of the season with a pair of historic wins at Morehead State last weekend. The Eagles edged out the purple and gold in the opener on Thursday, 5-4 at Allen Field.
Tech bounced back in the biggest way on Friday, exploding for a 27-11 win and setting a new program record for runs in an OVC contest. Senior right fielder Jackson Green exploded for a career day at the dish, leading the charge by going 5-for-5 with two doubles, two home runs, two walks, five runs scored, and eight RBI.
The Cookeville crew doubled down on Saturday in the finale, dropping another 20-burger on its rival in a 26-15 triumph. It marked the first time Tech scored 20 or more runs in back-to-back games. Green cracked two more home runs while tallying four total hits, while catcher Mack Whitcomb drove in four.
THE SERIES WITH LINDENWOOD
Wednesday's potential match-up would represent just the 10th meeting all time between the two programs, with the Golden Eagles boasting a slight, 5-4 lead in the series. The first time the Lions visited Cookeville, back in 2023, they claimed victory in the first two contests. Tech was blanked in the first meeting behind Lindenwood's complete-game shutout from Preston Salazar, an eventual 6-0 decision.
The Lion bats led the way in game two, racking up 17 hits in a 19-12 barn burner. The Golden Eagles salvaged a win in the series finale, edging the visitors 4-3 behind a strong pitching performance from eventual MLB Draft Pick of the Colorado Rockies, Hunter Mann. The right-hander tossed 6.0 innings with three total runs allowed and 11 strikeouts in the win.
Last season, in St. Charles, Mo., the Golden Eagles answered back to basically duplicate the Lions' effort the previous season on their home turf. Tech hurler Landon Smiddy twirled a complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win in the series opener with a career-high 11 strikeouts.
Peyton Calitri took the baton and kept the masterful showing rolling, tossing six more scoreless frames against the Lions before yielding just a solo run in the seventh. He finished seven innings with six strikeouts in a 3-1 victory. Lindenwood avoided the sweep with a 5-3 win in the finale.
During this season's series, the Lions out-dueled the purple and gold in a 1-0 shutout in the opener on Friday, but Tech took over from there.
In game two, the Tech offense backed more brilliant pitching from its staff for a 9-1 victory, with reigning OVC Pitcher of the Week Jared Herzog tossing up 6.0 scoreless frames with seven punch-outs. Reece McDuffie finished things off for the three-inning save.
Sophomore catcher Mack Whitcomb paved the way to Sunday's 7-4 victory, tying the program's single-game home run record with three round-trippers in the affair. The defense and pitching held up their side as well, leading to another huge home victory on Senior Day.
THE SERIES WITH UT MARTIN
Wednesday's potential match-up would represent the 99th match-up since 1949 between the two programs, with the Golden Eagles owning a 60-38 lead in the series. Tech had a tough go against UT Martin last season, dropping three OVC contests on the road before falling to its in-state rivals in an elimination game in the OVC Tournament.
Competing in Martin last year, the Skyhawks used big early innings in the first two contests to earn wins of 7-2 and 15-6. In the finale, UT Martin went hitless through the first 5.1 innings before breaking through and pulling out an 8-4 victory.
When the two sides squared off in Marion, Ill. for the OVC Tournament, it was the Skyhawks coming out on top in a 3-1 pitcher's duel. The purple and gold scored on a Preston Ford sacrifice fly in the first, but UT Martin answered with a lead-off home run in the fifth to tie the game and a bloop and blast in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead.
During this season's series, the purple and gold earned an improbable victory in Friday's opener, tying the game in the eighth inning with an unearned run and rallying from a one-run deficit in the bottom of the 10th.
Tech took advantage of two costly errors by the Skyhawks with two outs in the 10th, tying the game on a throwing miscue and walking things off, 6-5, on an RBI single by Riley Black. Mack Whitcomb raced home from second base, delivering a perfect swim move to avoid the tag and plate and dent the dish for the winning run.
In Saturday's affair, UT Martin's Zach Wager tossed a gem for the visitors, holding Tech to just two runs over 8.0 innings of work before passing things to the bullpen for a 4-2 win. The Cookeville crew swung back in the finale on Sunday, again providing a late rally to earn the win.
Trailing 6-4 heading into the eighth, the purple and gold used a pair of RBI singles to tie the contest before Whitcomb delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly to left-center field. Reece McDuffie finished things off with a perfect ninth on the mound.
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 continues to climb the OVC's all-time coaching wins list, currently ranked fifth overall in league history with a Golden Eagle program-record 555 victories. This season, Bragga passed TTU Sports Hall of Famer David Mays on the all-time list, and the Tech duo represents 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. | Matt Bragga, Tennessee Tech (2004-18, 22-present) | 563 | ||
| 6. | David Mays, Tennessee Tech (1974-98) | 554 | ||
| 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 |
HISTORY BOOKS
A number of Golden Eagles have been making their mark on history during the season.
Sophomore catcher Mack Whitcomb broke the program's single-season home run mark by a backstop over the weekend at Morehead State, passing Hayden Gilliland's 13 long balls from last season. He became the 14th different Golden Eagle to crush three round-trippers in a single game against Lindenwood on May 11, joining redshirt freshman Owen Lee (crushed three at Middle Tennessee in early March) as new members to the list this season. Whitcomb also ranks tied for the fourth-most hit-by-pitches in a single season with 17 on the year. His 15 long balls are tied for 19th in a single season in school history.
Senior outfielder Nicho Jordan currently ranks tied for 20th with 23 career home runs, matching the effort of recent TTU Sports Hall of Fame inductee Daniel Miles from the 2013-14 campaigns. His 88 career walks rank 21st in school history, while his 29 stolen bases are tied for 22nd. With 19 swipes on the year, Jordan is currently tied for 14th on Tech's single-season list.
Fellow senior outfielder Jackson Green currently ranks tied for ninth in program history with 39 career stolen bases and tied for 14th on the single-season charts with 19 thefts on the year.
Sophomore closer Juan Vargas moved to fifth on Tech's single-season saves list with eight on the year, also ranking sixth in program history with eight for his career. Junior reliever Reece McDuffie's five saves are tied for eighth in a single season, while his six career saves rank tied for eighth.
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
Tuesday morning, the OVC handed out its annual postseason awards, with eight members of the Tech squad earning recognition from the league for the 2025 season. Sophomore catcher Mack Whitcomb became just the fifth different Golden Eagle to be named OVC Player of the Year and first since three-time winner Kevin Strohschein (2016, 2018, 2019). He also picked up All-OVC First Team accolades at catcher.
Joining him on the All-OVC First Team were sophomore reliever Juan Vargas and junior utility man Jorsixt Jimenez. Senior outfielders Jackson Green and Nicho Jordan were both named to the All-OVC Second Team, while shortstop Owen Lee, right-hander hurler Logan Moller, and outfielder Landon Smelser all landed on the OVC All-Freshman Team.
On Monday, Green earned OVC Player of the Week accolades for the first time in his career following a breakout showing against Middle Tennessee and at Morehead State. The veteran dropped three doubles, four home runs, 10 runs scored, and 12 RBI over the four games, batting .558 with a 1.471 slugging percentage and a 3-for-3 showing on stolen bases.
Last week, Whitcomb earned his second OVC Player of the Week honor of the season and his career following a career showing against Lindenwood. In the finale, the backstop tied a program record with three home runs and finished the weekend with five RBI, six runs, a .500 batting average, and a 1.400 slugging percentage.
Just a couple of weeks ago, on May 5, senior southpaw Jared Herzog claimed the first OVC Pitcher of the Week nod of his lone season in the purple and gold after a sensational showing at Southeast Missouri on Saturday. The Ottawa, Ill. native tossed the team's first complete game of the year, completing 9.0 innings while holding the Redhawks to just one run on seven hits while striking out four.
On Apr. 28, junior hurler Reece McDuffie was honored with his first career OVC Pitcher of the Week accolade, sharing the honor with Lindenwood's Josh Newell. The right-hander completed 6.1 innings out of the pen, allowing just three base runners while striking out four and picking up a pair of wins in three appearances.
Earlier this season on Apr. 14, junior infielder Eddie Garza picked up the first OVC Player of the Week honor of his career after helping lead the Golden Eagles to a three-game sweep of Southern Indiana. The second baseman hit .667 with three home runs, four runs scored, and nine RBI during the week, slugging a ridiculous 1.417.
Back on Mar. 24, Jordan was recognized as the OVC Player of the Week for the first time in his career, slashing .583/.688/.1.417 over four games with three home runs, six RBI, and eight runs scored. After opening Tech's first OVC 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.
On Feb. 17, 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 slugged 1.154 while turning in an OPS of 1.625, smashing two long balls along the way.
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Current Week Schedule
Wednesday, May 21 | vs. #6 Lindenwood / #7 UT Martin | 7:30 p.m. CT
Thursday, May 22 | vs. #2 SIUE | 3:00 p.m. CT *
Friday, May 23 | vs. TBA | TBA
Saturday, May 24 | vs. TBA | TBA
*requires a win over Lindenwood or UT Martin
#3 TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2025 Record: 37-19
2025 OVC Record: 18-9
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 563-498-2 (19th Season)
Career: 614-574-3 (22nd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Mack Whitcomb (.362)
2B: Jorsixt Jimenez (14)
3B: 3 players tied (2)
HR: Whitcomb (15)
RBI: Whitcomb (55)
R: Whitcomb (54)
BB: Nicho Jordan (41)
SLG%: Whitcomb (.657)
OB%: Whitcomb (.489)
SB: Jackson Green / Jordan (19)
ERA: Reece McDuffie (2.75)
W: Jack Brafa / Lucas Vega (6)
APP: 3 players tied (20)
IP: Jaxson Pease (66.0)
K: Pease / Juan Vargas (52)
BAA: Jared Herzog (.216)
SV: Vargas (8)
#6 LINDENWOOD LIONS
2025 Record: 27-28
2025 OVC Record: 14-12
Head Coach: PJ Finigan
LIN: 43-66 (2nd Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Kam Edwards (.347)
2B: Sam Grunberg (15)
3B: Charlie Isom-McCall (5)
HR: Grunberg (12)
RBI: Grunberg (47)
R: Edwards / Isom-McCall (44)
BB: Edwards (33)
SLG%: Grunberg (.558)
OB%: Edwards (.458)
SB: Isom-McCall (15)
ERA: Bennett Stice (1.91)
W: Josh Newell (10)
APP: Easton Rakers (21)
IP: Newell (90.2)
K: Eli Brown (67)
BAA: Stice (.198)
SV: Rakers / Stice (4)
#7 UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS
2025 Record: 20-33
2025 OVC Record: 11-14
Head Coach: Ryan Jenkins
UTM: 134-237 (8th Season)
Career: Same
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Arderrius Townsend (.342)
2B: Jalen Fithian (16)
3B: Jordan Hudson (4)
HR: Townsend (14)
RBI: Brody Capps (54)
R: Fithian (41)
BB: Cameron Greene (32)
SLG%: Townsend (.671)
OB%: Townsend (.445)
SB: Fithian (37)
ERA: Jeb Bartle (3.89)
W: Zach Wager (5)
APP: Kaleb Baskin / Mason Shropshire (23)
IP: Jacob Sitton (71.0)
K: Bartle (51)
BAA: Shropshire (.257)
SV: Bartle / Baskin (3)
Photo by Betty Myers
