March 13, 2010

Golden Eagles split Saturday double-header with Buffalo

A.J. Kirby-Jones hit his fourth home run in two days and he and Chad Hayes each drove in three runs as the Tennessee Tech baseball team topped Buffalo 12-6 in the first half of a double-header at Bush Stadium Saturday.

Start time on Sunday moved to 11 a.m.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A.J. Kirby-Jones hit his fourth home run in two days and he and Chad Hayes each drove in three runs as the Tennessee Tech baseball team topped Buffalo 12-6 in the first half of a double-header at Bush Stadium Saturday. In the second half of the double-header the Bulls outlasted the Golden Eagles en route to a 9-3 win and a split for the day.

Kirby-Jones' three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning of game one made him the all-time career home runs leader in Tennessee Tech history with 33 in his career, as gave the Golden Eagles a lead they would not give back. Tech added four runs on two-run doubles from both Hayes and Chad Oberacker in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 7-1 lead. The Bulls would respond and pull within one after a five-run rally in the top of the sixth made the score 7-6.

But Tech would add two runs in the bottom of the sixth and three in the bottom of the seventh to secure its 12-6 win.

Tristan Archer got the win on the mound for the Golden Eagles after pitching 5.0 innings and allowing only one run. Run Hopkins pitched the final 3.1 innings without allowing a hit as the Golden Eagles secured their second win over the Bulls in as many days.

In game two of the double-header the Golden Eagles held a 1-0 lead heading into the third inning. But that's when Buffalo's bats woke up, as the Bulls plated three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and two in the seventh on the way to the 9-3 win.

Kirby-Jones finished the day 3-for-6 at the plate with a home run and two doubles, while Casanova Donaldson went 3-for-8 and Zephan Guyear went 2-for-4.

The Golden Eagles move to 7-8 on the season, while Buffalo is now 6-6.

The four-game series continues with the series finale on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Golden Eagles will remain at home for a mid-week game against East Tennessee State on March 17 before traveling to Memphis for a tree-game weekend series March 19-21. Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free.