Golden Eagles split OVC opener with Eastern Illinois

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Junior starter Justin Fields limited Eastern Illinois to three hits over seven strong innings on the mound and Steve Soper ripped three hits including a  triple and drove in two runs as Tennessee Tech opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a solid 7-3 victory over the Panthers Saturday at Averitt Express Complex.

EIU took the second game, 4-0, as both teams got complete-game efforts from their starters including a three-hitter in the loss by Tech's Matt Smith.

The teams wrap up the three-game series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. 

Fields' fifth start of the year matched the longest stint of his career and was one of his best outings. He didn't allow an earned run, walked two and struck out eight to improve to 1-1. It was the second consecutive solid start for Fields, a right hander from LaVergne, Tenn., who worked six innings and allowed just one hit with no decision last weekend against Chicago State.

It equalled his longest effort, matching a seven-inning, three-hit performance last year in a win over Murray State.

Tech threatened in the first two innings off EIU starter Chris Vaculik (2-3), then finally put two runs on the scoreboard in the third. A five-run fourth inning, when the Golden Eagles combined to hit for the cycle, made it 7-0.

The Panthers scored three unearned runs in the top of the fifth on just one hit, taking advantage of two Tech errors, two wild pitches, a balk and a sacrifice fly. That made it 7-3.

Fields yielded one hit over the next two innings, then gave way to sophomore Matt Kearney for the final two innings. Kearney allowed a one-out single in the eighth, then closed the game with a double play grounder to third base after issuing a one-out walk in the ninth.

EIU had a chance to score in the first inning with a leadoff walk and sacrifice bunt placing a runner in scoring position but Fields pitched out of trouble with his first strikeout. Tech came back in the bottom of the frame and loaded the bases but Vaculik escaped that jam.Tech also threatened in the second, getting the first two runners aboard with a single by Brantley Kilgore and a walk to Stuart Meinhart. Once again, EIU escaped any damage, with shortstop Adam Varassi making a diving catch of a sharp line drive by Brian Sprowl.

Tech scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. A leadoff double by Josh Goodwin was followed by an RBI single from Steve Soper. Senior Kyle Rowekamp doubled to the right field warning track to send Rowekamp across the plate for a 2-0 lead. Jake New walked but the rally ended when Vaculik coaxed back-to-back strikeouts.

The difference came in the fifth, beginning with Sprowl's first home run of the season, a high fly over the right field fence. Mihoci singled and, with one out, Soper lashed a triple to right center. Rowekamp was hit by a pitch and stole second, and Jake New punched a two-run double down the right field line for a seven-run cushion.

Drew Gierich took over in relief fpr EIU and was nearly perfect, allowing one hit and one walk over the final 4 2/3 innings.

Tech had 11 hits, with eight of nine batters in the lineup each contributing at least one hit. Soper was 3-for-4 with two RBI, Goodwin had two hits and New had three RBI in the opener. For EIU, Varassi had three of the Panthers' four hits.

In game two, Smith (1-1) made the first start of his career for the Golden Eagles and looked sensational through the first three innings of no-hit ball. For EIU, Mike Manns (2-0) went the distance, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out eight.  

In the fourth, Smith suffered some tough luck and EIU took advantage with four runs on three hits.

With one out, Mark Chagnon reached on an error and stole second. Erik Huber walked and Chagnon went to third on the fourth ball when it slipped to the backstop, putting runners on the corners with one out. Ryan Campbell laid down a bunt and it went for an RBI single when nobody covered first base.

Dan Fox followed with a two-run triple to make it 3-0, and he eventually scored on a passed ball for the 4-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles looked like they would get some of those runs back in the bottom of the frame, with a walk and a double by Soper putting two in scoring position with one out. Rowekamp hit a blooper down the right field line that nobody could get to, but it fell foul by inches. He then was retired on a foul popup to the catcher and the left-handed Manns caught lefty New looking at a third strike to end the threat.

Tech also had a runner aboard in the bottom of the sixth when Mihoci punched a one-out single down the right field line. Pinch-hitter Scott Dunham's bunt toward first was caught by Huber, who doubled off the breaking Mihoci to end the inning.