Sports

Baseball begins 2016 campaign with home series

The Golden Eagle baseball team kicks its season off this weekend with a home series against Western Illinois beginning Friday, Feb. 19.

Junior outfielder Tyler Brazelton said he is excited for the regular season to begin.

“We put in a lot time and hard work this offseason with practice and playing against each other,” said Brazelton. “Now, we are all excited to start playing together and going out there to play the game we all love.”

Senior third baseman Josh Pankratz said the team is ready to play games that count.

“We have done everything possible to get as ready in the offseason as we can,” Pankratz said. “We are extremely eager to move forward and start playing real games and put the effort and hard work this fall into fruition.”

Fans will have plenty of opportunities to see the Golden Eagles in action. They have 29 home matchups on the 55 game schedule.

The two standout games are on the road against SEC powerhouse and the 2015 College World Series runner-up Vanderbilt Commodores March 1 and the Tennessee Volunteers March 22.

Tech will host in-state foe Middle Tennessee April 27. The regular season wraps up with a home series against Eastern Kentucky May 19-21.

Brazelton said there weren’t any games more important than the other.

“Every game is equally important as the next no matter who the opposing team is, so right now our games against Western Illinois are the games we are focused on,” said Brazelton.

Pankratz said this season would be one to remember.

“I think that this coming year will be a historic year for the baseball team here at TTU,” said Pankratz. “We are equipped with all of the major components required to have an extremely successful team.”

Brazelton said they have the right group of guys to win championships.

 “This is a very special team,” Brazelton said. “We have a lot of talented guys in our locker room that are going to have a big impact on the field to help us win and accomplish our goals, which is to win championships.”