Baseball Hosts Tennessee Tech in Key Non-Conference Series

Friday, March 2

Troy, Ala.

6:00 PM

Troy University

Tennessee Tech

Tickets

Photo by: Joey Meredith

Baseball Hosts Tennessee Tech in Key Non-Conference Series

3/1/2018 4:54:00 PM | Baseball

By: Adam Prendergast

Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats

TROY, Alabama – Troy will put the nation's fifth-longest active home winning streak on the line this weekend as the Trojans play host to Tennessee Tech in a three-game series at Riddle-Pace Field. First pitch is schedule for 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

The matchup with the Golden Eagles (5-2) marks Troy's (5-4) third NCAA Regional opponent from last year already this season – seven of Troy's first 12 games this season will be against an NCAA postseason team from a year ago. Troy enters the series having won 10 straight games at Riddle-Pace Field dating back to the 2017 season, and the Trojans are in the midst of a stretch where they play 11-of-13 games at home.

If the early returns are a sign of what's to come this weekend at Riddle-Pace Field, offense will be the name of the game. Troy and Tennessee Tech have combined for 35 home runs so far this season with the Golden Eagles leading the country at 22 and the Trojans ranking 12^th with 13.

Troy senior shortstop Matt Sanders ranks 10^th nationally with four home runs on the young season and is fourth with 33 total bases. He carries a career-long 17-game hitting streak into the weekend series after picking up a key triple in the seventh inning of Troy's victory over UAB on Wednesday.

The Trojans will turn to senior right-hander Andrew Crane (1-1, 4.35) on the bump in the series opener. Crane was perfect in five innings in the opener against UT Martin before seeing his lengthy regular season scoreless streak halted by No. 3 Florida State last weekend.

Another senior righty will get the call on Saturday as Troy will hand the ball to Daren Osby (0-0, 4.09) for his third start of the season. Osby enters the weekend averaging 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings this season and has allowed just one extra-base hit in his 11 innings of work.

Tennessee Tech has yet to announce any of its starting pitchers for the entire weekend series. In addition to leading the country in home runs, the Golden Eagles also are tops in batting average (.393) and doubles per game (3.43), while ranking second with 14.3 runs per game. Tennessee Tech is allowing 8.7 runs per contest with a staff ERA of 8.43.

PROMOTIONS
Friday: Troy University faculty and staff can receive two complimentary tickets to the game.
Saturday: Fans who purchase season tickets on Saturday will receive four free tickets to any game of their choosing the remainder of the season.
Sunday: Kids can run the bases following the conclusion of the game.

BROADCAST INFO
TV: none
Online: Facebook | TroyTrojans.com
Radio: WTBF 94.7 FM (Friday & Sunday) | WTBF 970 AM (Saturday)
            Online: TroyTrojans.com
Live Stats: TroyStats.com

SERIES HISTORY
Tennessee Tech (5-2, 0-0 OVC)
Overall Series: Troy leads 7-3
            at Troy: 5-1
Streak: TTU W1
Last: Feb 14-16, 2003
Troy won series 2-1

PITCHING MATCHUPS - (Troy v. Tennessee Tech)
Game One:
RHP Andrew Crane (1-1, 4.35) v. TBA

Game Two:
RHP Daren Osby (0-0, 4.09) v. TBA

Game One:
TBA v. TBA