Tech hosts in-state rival Middle Tennessee in home finale on Tuesday
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team hosts its final contest at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex of the season on Tuesday night, squaring off in a rematch with longtime in-state rival Middle Tennessee at 6:00 p.m. CT.
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By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team hosts its final contest at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex of the season on Tuesday night, squaring off in a rematch with longtime in-state rival Middle Tennessee at 6:00 p.m. CT.
The contest is slated to be streamed on ESPN+, with Dylan Vazzano on the call. Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free of charge. With inclement weather expected in the Cookeville area throughout the day, fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any more potential updates to this season's schedule.
THE SERIES
Tuesday's match-up represents the 198th meeting between the two ball clubs in the all-time series, with the Blue Raiders holding a 124-71-2 lead. Last season, the Golden Eagles swept the home-and-home series, picking up wins at each team's ballpark.
Following a two-hour weather delay back on Apr. 2 of last season, the purple and gold overcame a five-run deficit to top their rival to the west in a back-and-forth, 11-9 affair at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. Trailing 7-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Tech's offense went to work, scoring four runs in the frame, two more in the sixth, and a very important three insurance markers in the eighth.
On Apr. 17, the sides squared off again with the Cookeville crew boasting a 5-2 victory in Murfreesboro. Mack Whitcomb belted a go-ahead, two-run long ball in the sixth to provide the necessary offense to secure the win. Tech's bullpen racked up seven shutout frames to close the contest.
The two in-state foes clashed in Murfreesboro back on Mar. 11, with the Golden Eagles rolling to a 13-3 victory in seven innings. Shortstop Owen Lee led the charge by tying the program's single-game home run record with three jacks on the night. Tech piled up 10 hits and 10 walks in the contest, constantly pressuring the Blue Raider pitching staff.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Eagles enter Tuesday's contest after winning their sixth OVC series of the season with a pair of victories over visiting Lindenwood this past weekend. 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 OPPONENT
The Blue Raiders come into Tuesday's affair following a banner weekend in their final home tilts of the season, sweeping a three-game set over Conference USA rival Sam Houston. Middle Tennessee picked up a 4-1 win in the opener, bouncing back from a solo run in the first to set the tone for the weekend.
A late charge in game two produced an 11-6 victory for the Blue Raiders, dropping eight runs across the sixth, seventh, and eighth frames. The offense continued to hum in the finale, setting the tone in a 13-3 run-rule victory in seven innings.
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) | 560 | ||
| 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 |
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
On Monday, sophomore catcher Mack 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.
Last week, 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 month, 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, senior outfielder Nicho 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.
Twitter: @TNTech_Baseball
Facebook: /TennesseeTechBaseball
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Current Week Schedule
Tuesday, May 13 | vs. Middle Tennessee | 6:00 p.m. CT
Thursday, May 15 | at Morehead State | 5:00 p.m. CT
Friday, May 16 | at Morehead State | 1:00 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 17 | at Morehead State | 12:00 p.m. CT
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
2025 Record: 34-18
2025 OVC Record: 16-8
Head Coach: Matt Bragga
TTU: 560-497-2 (19th Season)
Career: 611-573-3 (22nd Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Mack Whitcomb (.339)
2B: Whitcomb (12)
3B: Jackson Green (2)
HR: Whitcomb (13)
RBI: Whitcomb (45)
R: Whitcomb (47)
BB: Nicho Jordan (35)
SLG%: Whitcomb (.619)
OB%: Whitcomb (.466)
SB: Jordan (18)
ERA: Juan Vargas (2.58)
W: Jack Brafa (6)
APP: 3 players tied (19)
IP: Jaxson Pease (63.1)
K: Vargas (51)
BAA: Herzog (.184)
SV: Vargas (8)
MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
2025 Record: 23-28
2025 CUSA Record: 8-16
Head Coach: Jerry Meyers
MT: 70-93 (3rd Season)
Career: 237-251 (9th Season)
STATS LEADERS
AVG: Eston Snider (.351)
2B: Snider (16)
3B: 6 players tied (1)
HR: Brett Vondohlen (17)
RBI: Vondohlen (46)
R: Snider (43)
BB: Matt Wolfe (29)
SLG%: Vondohlen (.606)
OB%: Snider (.448)
SB: Snider (22)
ERA: Drew Horn (1.75)
W: Chandler Alderman (4)
APP: Landen Burch / Ethan Imbimbo (18)
IP: Alderman (64.2)
K: Horn (57)
BAA: Horn (.149)
SV: Burch (3)
Photo by Jim Dillon
