Leathernecks down Golden Eagles in OVC series finale
MACOMB, Ill. – For just the second time in the past six contests, the Tennessee Tech baseball team was stymied offensively on Monday afternoon, as Western Illinois staved off the Golden Eagles’ attempt at an Ohio Valley Conference sweep at Alfred D. Boyer Baseball Stadium with an 8-1 win.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | X | 8 | 9 | 0 |
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MACOMB, Ill. – For just the second time in the past six contests, the Tennessee Tech baseball team was stymied offensively on Monday afternoon, as Western Illinois staved off the Golden Eagles' attempt at an Ohio Valley Conference sweep at Alfred D. Boyer Baseball Stadium with an 8-1 win.
After recording at least 10 hits and 10 runs in four of the previous five games, the Cookeville crew (21-12, 6-3) was held to just seven knocks in Monday's contest, with the lone run courtesy of a solo home run. The Leathernecks (7-20, 2-7) used small ball to build an early advantage before pulling away in the seventh with a five-run showing.
WIU gathered its first lead of the day in the opening frame, leading things off with a double. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner before the home squad jumped on top with an RBI ground out to third.
Both sides traded zeroes in the second and third before the Golden Eagles picked up their lone run of the day, tying the game in the top of the fourth. Designated hitter Ryan Lee led off the frame with a big fly, smashing a solo jack to left-center field for his third round-tripper of the season.
The Leathernecks responded by loading the bases with one out in the bottom half, prompting a Tech pitching change. Reece McDuffie limited the damage to just a single run off a sac fly to left field, but it proved enough in the end.
Western Illinois doubled its advantage in the fifth, again using a lead-off double to set up some small ball. With a sac bunt moving the runner to third, a base hit to right-center field easily plated the home purple and gold's third run of the game.
In the seventh, the Leathernecks kept the pressure on the Golden Eagle pitching staff, loading the bases before scoring on a balk. A wild pitch and three RBI singles capped a five-run frame for Western Illinois, providing a seven-run advantage.
Center fielder Nicho Jordan led Tech with two hits on the day, picking up his team-leading eighth stolen base of the year as well.
The Golden Eagles will return to Cookeville for the remainder of the week, opening a four-game homestand on Wednesday evening with a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt with in-state rival Lipscomb at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. Tech will then host Southern Indiana for three games of OVC action starting Friday at 6:00 p.m.
File photo by Jim Dillon
