Choate leads Tech to victory over Alabama A&M, Tech wins third straight
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Eight innings of one-run ball from
pitcher Chason Choate, and five RBIs from Tate McMillan were more
than enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team, as the Golden
Eagles cruised past Alabama A&M 7-1 in Bush Stadium.
Choate started the game, and allowed only one run on four hits,
while striking out five batters, for his first decision of the
season.
“We got a great performance from Chason tonight,” head
coach Matt Bragga said. “Not only tonight, but in the last
seven days we’ve called upon him three times, and he has come
through for us each time.”
Tech (22-17, 7-9) broke open the scoring in the first inning when
Casanova Donaldson tripled, and later scored on a single from A.J.
Kirby-Jones, before McMillan hit a three-run homer that carried all
the way into the adjacent softball field, putting the Golden Eagles
up 4-0.
“Tate put a really nice swing on that ball,” Bragga
said. “We’re very pleased with the way he has been
performing.”
McMillan, who hit a walk-off double to give Tech a 1-0 against UT
Martin over the weekend, finished the day Monday going 2-for-4 from
the plate with five RBIs and a run scored. Freshman Ben Burgess
also went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the game.
Ryan Dennick came in to pitch the ninth inning, and struck out the
side in order.
The Bulldogs got their lone run off a home run Marcus Spencer in
the fifth inning. The hit was AAMU’s first of the game, and
made the score 4-1.
The Golden Eagles would respond with a pair of runs in the bottom
of the frame, and add their seventh run on a sacrifice fly from
Chad Hayes that scored Evan Webb, who reached on his 14th double of
the season.
The Golden Eagles continue non-conference action with a game
Wednesday at Western Carolina. Tech will stay on the road over the
weekend for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Murray
State, before returning to Cookeville for their final conference
series of the season against Jacksonville state on May 9-10.
