Tennessee Tech baseball team its way to Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
For the 18th time in program history, the Tennessee Tech baseball team is on its way to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, making its way west to Jackson, Tenn. for a first-round match-up with a familiar foe at the Ballpark at Jackson.
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By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the 18th time in program history, the Tennessee Tech baseball team is on its way to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, making its way west to Jackson, Tenn. for a first-round match-up with a familiar foe at the Ballpark at Jackson.
The Golden Eagles (25-27, 16-14) are set for a 3 p.m. CT contest with league rival Jacksonville State, a game that will officially kick off the 2015 OVC Tournament. Tech and the Gamecocks (29-25, 15-14) battled in the tournament championship last season, with Jax State finishing off a remarkable run in the event by winning six straight elimination games and the title.
Fans can follow the tournament action all week long via live stats, webstream on the OVC Digital Network and radio on a combination of FM 106.1 The Eagle, FM 107.7 WHUB and AM 1400 The Hub. Dylan Vazzano will be on the call for each and every contest, providing play-by-play for the Golden Eagle Sports Network.
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Ohio Valley Conference Tournament |
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| May 20, 2015 | Jackson, Tenn. | Ballpark at Jackson (6,000) |
TOURNAMENT INFO
Dates: May 20-24, 2015
Times: 3 PM | TBA CT
Location: Jackson, Tenn.
Stadium: Ballpark at Jackson
Bracket: ovcsports.com
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Appearances: 17
Last: 2014
Overall Record: 26-29
Championships: 3
(1997, 2001, 2009)
Bragga in OVC Tourney: 11-10
MULTIMEDIA
Live Stats: Wednesday | Thursday
Audio: Wednesday | Thursday
Video: Wednesday | Thursday
Twitter Updates: @TNTech_Baseball
#4 TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2015 Record: 25-27
2015 OVC Record: 16-14 (4th)
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
Career: 320-333-2 (12th season)
TTU: 320-333-2 (12th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Dylan Bosheers (.333)
2B: Bosheers (19)
HR: Ryan Flick (10)
RBI: Flick (57)
SB: Anthony El Chibani (5)
W/L: Chris Chism (7-3)
ERA: Jeb Scoggins (3.40)
IP: Evan Fraliex (74.1)
SO: Chris Chism (62)
SV: Scoggins (5)
#1 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REDHAWKS
2015 Record: 33-21
2015 OVC Record: 22-8 (1st)
Head Coach: Steve Bieser
Career: 96-74 (3rd season)
SEMO: 96-74 (3rd season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Andy Lennington (.333)
2B: Branden Boggetto (21)
HR: Ryan Rippee (12)
RBI: Rippee (54)
SB: Trevor Ezell (11)
W/L: Joey Lucchesi (7-1) / Travis Hayes (7-6)
ERA: Lucchesi (2.87)
IP: Alex Winkelman (92.0)
SO: Lucchesi (87)
SV: Matthew Wade (4)
#2 MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES
2015 Record: 35-20
2015 OVC Record: 20-10 (2nd)
Head Coach: Mike McGuire
Career: 222-177 (7th season)
MOR: 80-88 (3rd season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Chris Robinson (.416)
2B: Nick Newell (27)
HR: Kane Sweeney (13)
RBI: Robinson (67)
SB: Robinson (10)
W/L: Luke Humphreys (7-2)
ERA: Aaron Goe (2.84)
IP: Humphreys (76.1)
SO: Matt Anderson (66)
SV: Craig Pearcy (5)
#3 SIUE COUGARS
2015 Record: 20-28
2015 OVC Record: 19-11 (3rd)
Head Coach: Tony Stoecklin
Career: 51-87 (3rd season)
SIUE: 51-87 (3rd season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Dustin Woodcock (.323)
2B: Keaton Wright (14)
HR: Alec Saikal (10)
RBI: Saikal (40)
SB: Denton Reed (16)
W/L: P.J. Schuster (8-3)
ERA: Brett Thomas (4.19)
IP: Schuster (73.0)
SO: Schuster (67)
SV: Thomas (6)
#5 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS
2015 Record: 29-25
2015 OVC Record: 15-14 (5th)
Head Coach: Jim Case
Career: 450-365 (13th season)
JSU: 450-365 (13th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Paschal Petrongolo (.361)
2B: Petrongolo / Ryan Sebra (16)
HR: Sebra (9)
RBI: Petrongolo (56)
SB: Gavin Golsan (37)
W/L: Zachary Fowler (8-2)
ERA: Justin Hoyt (1.86)
IP: Fowler (86.0)
SO: Fowler (75)
SV: Travis Stout (13)
#6 BELMONT BRUINS
2015 Record: 27-27
2015 OVC Record: 15-14 (6th)
Head Coach: Dave Jarvis
Career: 847-617-2 (27th season)
BEL: 523-468-2 (18th season)
STAT LEADERS
AVG: Matt Beaty (.380)
2B: Drew Ferguson (24)
HR: Beaty (12)
RBI: Beaty (73)
SB: Ferguson (24)
W/L: Patrick McGrath (8-4)
ERA: Matthew Kinney (1.90)
IP: Dan Ludwig (88.2)
SO: Ludwig (75)
SV: Kinney (6)
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.
At the conclusion of the regular season, Bosheers extended his program record for career doubles, collecting the 59th two-bagger of his career. After playing in his 218th career game (all of which he's started) he moved to second all time. He also ranks second in runs scored with 189.
He currently is second all-time in hits (275), second with 430 total bases, second in at bats (836), and third in career RBI with 174. With seven home runs on the year, Bosheers has moved into a tie for seventh place all time with 28 career bombs. He also became just the fifth player in Tech history to record 100 walks for his career.
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 11 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.
Tech tallied two comeback victories over the first-place Redhawks in Cape Girardeau, Mo., starting with a fifth-inning rally in game two. Trailing 5-2 entering the fifth frame, the squad scored three runs to square things at 5-5 before dropping four more in the sixth and one each in the seventh and eighth innings to walk out with an 11-5 W.
The next day the Golden Eagles did it again, trailing 6-2 heading into the sixth inning. That hardly mattered as the squad dropped a six spot in the sixth to take an 8-6 lead. They then added three important insurance runs to hold on for an 11-10 victory.
Against Belmont in the series opener, Tech crossed two runners across home plate in the bottom fifth, overcoming a 3-2 lead to eventually hold off the Bruins for a critical 4-3 victory.
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 57 RBI on the year (which also ranks in the top 10 in the OVC), thanks to a slugging percentage of .523 and 26 extra base hits. He also leads the team with 10 home runs.
Fellow freshman Chase Chambers owns a .251 average, slugging .421 along the way. He has drawn 32 walks and tallied a .382 on base percentage this season. The first baseman also ranks third on the squad with six home runs and 35 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 Jim Dillon
