In-state match-up awaits Golden Eagles, Tech hosts Middle Tennessee Wednesday evening
A brief stop at home is next on the docket for the Tennessee Tech baseball team as the Golden Eagles take a brief respite from its long road stretch of competition for a midweek, in-state rivalry match-up with Middle Tennessee Wednesday evening.
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By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A brief stop at home is next on the docket for the Tennessee Tech baseball team as the Golden Eagles take a brief respite from its long road stretch of competition for a midweek, in-state rivalry match-up with Middle Tennessee Wednesday evening.
The Golden Eagles (20-21) enter the 5 p.m. CT contest against the Blue Raiders (24-19) after upsetting the No. 5 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils Saturday afternoon. MTSU is set to play Lipscomb Tuesday evening before taking on Tech for the second time this season.
In the season's first meeting, in Murfreesboro, the Golden Eagles hung on for a 6-5 victory thanks to a save by Cain Sloan. It marked the third straight victory for the Tech squad over its in-state rival in the long-running series.
Fans can follow Wednesday's action live via live stats here.
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Tennessee Tech vs. Middle Tennessee |
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| Apr. 29, 2015 | Cookeville, Tenn. | Bush Stadium (1,100) | |
| WED. | 5:00 P.M. | |
| Probable Starters: | |
| TTU - RHP Austin Tolle 0-2, 6.10 ERA, 31.0 IP, 17 K |
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| TBA 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP, 0 K |
SERIES INFO
Dates: Apr. 29, 2015
Times: 5 PM CT
Location: Cookeville, Tenn.
Stadium: Bush Stadium
Radio: None
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: MTSU leads, 109-66-1
Bragga vs: 3-2
First Meeting: Unknown
Last Meeting: Apr. 7, 2015
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: Wednesday
Audio: None
Video: None
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 20-21
2015 OVC Record: 11-10 (5th)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 315-327-2 (12th season)
TTU: 315-327-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Dylan Bosheers (.318)
2B: Bosheers/Ryan Flick (14)
HR: Flick (9)
RBI: Flick (46)
SB: Anthony El Chibani (5)
MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
2015 Record: 24-19
2015 C-USA Record: 15-6 (T-1st)
Head Coach: Jim McGuire
Career: 83-74-0 (3rd season)
MTSU: 83-74-0 (3rd season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Ronnie Jebavy (.350)
2B: Jebavy (11)
HR: Jared Allen (10)
RBI: Allen (39)
SB: Jebavy (21)
CLOSING IN...
All-American shortstop Dylan Bosheers has been the iron man of the Tennessee Tech baseball program his entire career, missing just three games (this season) over his four-year span in the purple and gold. Over that time period, the senior has paved his way into the top 10 career marks in several statistical categories.
Following last Wednesday's trip to Alabama A&M, Bosheers tied the program record for career doubles, collecting the 54th two-bagger of his career to tie Mike Meihls. After playing in his 207th career game (all of which he's started) he moved to sixth all time. He also ranks second in runs scored with 184.
He currently is second all-time in hits (257), fourth in at bats (789), third with 407 total bases, fourth in career RBI with 169. With seven home runs on the year, Bosheers has moved into a tie for seventh place all time with 28 career bombs.
DOWN MAYBE, BUT NEVER OUT
If there's been anything to learn about this year's version of the Golden Eagles, it's that you can knock them down, but don't you dare count them out. In 31 games this season, Tech has mounted eight come-from-behind victories when trailing in the fifth inning or later.
In the second game of the year, the Golden Eagles headed into the bottom of the ninth, trailing 7-2 to a feisty Longwood squad. Six runs later, Tech walked off with its first victory of the year. A week later, the squad found itself trailing to a dangerous Davidson team in the fifth by two runs. Tech tied it in the bottom half before the flood gates opened up with an eight-run sixth for a 12-5 win.
Morehead State mounted its own rally, taking a two-run lead in the top of the sixth while looking for a series sweep. Two quick runs in the bottom half of the frame led to an exhilarating 9-8, walk-off W for the Golden Eagles in the ninth.
In Nashville, the Golden Eagles looked sure to be done in the fifth, trailing in-state rival Lipscomb by six runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. The Golden Eagles proved they don't care, dropping a seven-spot to take the lead for good in an unreal 12-8 victory.
The series-opener against Eastern Illinois saw the Panthers take a 6-4 lead into the fifth inning before the Tech squad tied things up in the bottom half. The Golden Eagles scored three more times in the sixth and then held off a seventh-inning rally to take down EIU 9-7.
The Golden Eagles showed more resiliency in a midweek bout with in-state rival Middle Tennessee, exploding for six runs in the seventh inning to rally from a 2-0 deficit. Tech captured the contest 6-5 behind a huge three-run RBI by senior Jordan Hopkins and big four-out save by closer Cain Sloan.
Facing Jacksonville State in game one of a three-game set, the Golden Eagles came out on top of contest featuring nine lead changes, rallying from a 6-5 deficit in the sixth and 8-7 deficit in the eighth to take yet another come-from-behind victory, 10-8.
In by far their most impressive comeback victory, the Golden Eagles posted four runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally from a one-run deficit and down No. 5 Arizona State, 7-4. Tech led 2-0 early after a two-run homer by Chase Chambers, but the Sun Devils scored four unanswered runs to take a 4-2 advantage into the seventh inning. Tech nabbed one run in the seventh, before mounting the incredible comeback in the ninth.
FRESHMAN FOCUS
Freshman Ryan Flick, Tech's designated hitter, has been a huge boon to the offense all season long. Number 11 leads the Golden Eagles with 46 RBI on the year (which also ranks in the top five in the OVC), thanks to a slugging percentage of .575 and 23 extra base hits. He also leads the team with nine home runs.
Fellow freshman Chase Chambers ranks fifth on the TTU squad with a .283 average. He has drawn a team-high 26 walks and tallied a .448 slugging percentage and .406 on base percentage this season. The first baseman also ranks third on the squad with four home runs and 29 RBI.
MR. 300
With a 14-2 win over Northern Illinois on Feb. 28, head coach Matt Bragga earned his 300th career victory, just the second coach in program history to accomplish the feat. He currently ranks second to Hall of Fame coach David Mays in total wins.
Photo by Tony Marable
