Jimenez, Bennett earn all-Ohio Valley Conference honors
Jimenez posted one of the top seasons in the OVC, while Bennett showed promise as a breakout star in freshman action
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
MARION, Ill. – As the Ohio Valley Conference releases its postseason honors, the Tennessee Tech baseball team came away with two selections on Tuesday with senior outfielder Jorsixt Jimenez earning a spot on the OVC's first-team roster, while freshman infielder Tyler Bennett was named to the all-newcomer team.
Jimenez, who was also a nominee for the OVC's Player of the Year award, is still in the hunt for national recognition as he is a semifinalist for the prestigious Dick Howser Trophy. However, the senior from Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic put up tremendous numbers as he finished the campaign with a .401 batting average with 55 runs scored, 81 hits – including 16 doubles, four triples and 20 home runs – with 69 RBI, while also stealing six bases.
As it stands as of this writing, Jimenez is 11th nationally in batting average, 24th in hits, 17th in hits per game (1.56), 17th in home runs, 23rd in home runs per game (0.38), 63rd in on-base percentage (0.483), 117th in runs scored, 16th in RBI, 14th in RBI per game (1.06), eighth in slugging percentage (0.817), ninth in total bases (165) and 42nd in triples.
He led the OVC in batting average, RBI and slugging percentage, while he was second in hits per game, home runs, on-base percentage, total bases and triples. He was third in total hits and fifth in doubles.
Jimenez's season ranks 12th in single-season batting average, tied for 23rd in hits, tied for 11th in triples, tied for sixth in home runs – and one of six Tech players to hit 20 homers in a season; 12th in RBI, second in slugging percentage and 15th in on-base percentage.
Bennett, in his first season with the Golden Eagles, put up solid numbers as the Knoxville native put together a .303 batting average over 76 at-bats with 23 hits – including five doubles and a home run – while scoring 15 times and driving in nine RBI with a stolen base. Bennett also posted a .970 fielding percentage.
SIUE first baseman Ryan Niedzwiedz and UT Martin outfielder T.J. Grines shared the Player of the Year honor, while Eastern Illinois righty Bryce Riggs was named the Pitcher of the Year and Lindenwood second baseman Will Geary was the Freshman of the Year. SIUE head coach Sean Lyons was tabbed as the OVC Coach of the Year.
