Eighth-inning comeback lifts Tech to OVC series-clinching win over Skyhawks
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Just when the Tennessee Tech baseball team needed it most, the offense came through for another comeback victory over the UT Martin on Sunday, as the Golden Eagles rallied for a 7-6 win at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex to clinch a key Ohio Valley Conference series.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
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0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | X | 7 | 9 | 2 |
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Just when the Tennessee Tech baseball team needed it most, the offense came through for another comeback victory over the UT Martin on Sunday, as the Golden Eagles rallied for a 7-6 win at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex to clinch a key Ohio Valley Conference series.
The win not only kept the purple and gold (28-17, 11-7) in the top four of the league standings, it also represented another historic victory in the career of Tech head coach Matt Bragga. The 19-year Golden Eagle veteran earned win number 554 for his tenure with the Cookeville crew, tying TTU Sports Hall of Famer David Mays for the most in program history and the fifth-most in OVC history.
It was a back-and-forth affair between the two in-state rivals at the Quill, with the Skyhawks (16-26, 7-10) taking the initial lead in the second with an RBI single up the middle. The Golden Eagles answered back in the bottom half of the frame, taking their first lead of the day.
First baseman Riley Black led off the inning with a walk, and right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez followed by getting plunked in the back to put a pair of runners on. Two batters later, designated hitter Ryan Lee put the purple and gold on top, blasting a three-run blast to left field for his fourth round-tripper of the year.
In the fourth, the visitors from Martin used a long ball of their own to recapture control of the contest. With two outs in the frame, Frank Micallef smacked his first home run of the year to left-center field, providing the Skyhawks a 4-3 advantage. UT Martin added another in the sixth for a two-run lead before the purple and gold answered in the bottom half.
Jimenez singled to left field to lead things off before second baseman Eddie Garza drew a four-pitch walk. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch, setting up Ryan Lee for his fourth RBI of the day. The senior nearly smashed his second jack of the game, settling for a sacrifice fly to deep center field to cut the deficit to one.
Again the Skyhawks drove in an insurance run, this time in the top of the seventh. Tech threatened in the bottom half of the inning, with left fielder Landon Smelser drawing a lead-off walk and catcher Mack Whitcomb following with a base knock to right field.
Black laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the pair into scoring position before UT Martin walked Jimenez on five pitches to load the bases. The Skyhawks got through the inning unscathed, however, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to stay on top, 6-4.
Undeterred from the scoreless seventh, the purple and gold went back to work in the eighth, this time delivering when it mattered most. Working an eight-pitch at-bat, Ryan Lee led off the frame with an infield single to shortstop.
After subbing into the contest in the seventh on defense, shortstop Preston Steele came through with a base hit to right field. Both Lee and Steele moved into scoring position on the play, as the right fielder booted the ball on a short hop to provide time for the extra base for each Golden Eagle.
Wasting no time, third baseman Jackson Rooker ripped the first pitch he saw up the middle, easily beating out an infield single to the Skyhawk second baseman, who stopped the ball from reaching the outfield. The redshirt freshman drove in a run on the play, cutting the deficit to just one.
The Skyhawks picked up their first out of the frame, but Rooker made it count, stealing second base during the at-bat to put two Golden Eagles in scoring position and stay out of a double play. Falling behind 0-2 in the count, Smelser picked up new life after a quick visit with Coach Bragga and the baserunners, clutching up with a poke through the RBI side to plate the tying run.
Whitcomb finished off the comeback in the next at-bat, launching a long fly ball to deep left-center field for the game-winning sac fly. Now backed by the team's first lead since the fourth, the Golden Eagles left the affair to bullpen arm Reece McDuffie.
The junior, who entered with a runner on and one out in the eighth, completed a perfect day on the hill to move to 3-0 on the year. Requiring just three pitches to force a fly out and ground out in the eighth, the right-hander was a little more methodical in the ninth.
McDuffie struck out the first batter of the frame on seven pitches to set the tone. He picked up a routine ground out to shortstop for out number two before inducing one more grounder to third to end the ball game.
Lucas Vega provided 3.0 solid innings out of the bullpen earlier on the day, scattering four hits, one walk, and two runs across the outing. Rookie Logan Moller tallied two outs, picking up a big one to escape the seventh with minimum damage.
Lee led the purple and gold with a 2-for-2 day, four RBI, and two runs scored. Jimenez and Whitcomb each recorded a pair of knocks as well, with Jimenez scoring twice.
The Cookeville crew will embark on a four-game road swing next week, starting with a 6:00 p.m. CT rematch with in-state rival Lipscomb on Tuesday, Apr. 29. Tech will then visit Cape Girardeau, Mo., for a three-game set with OVC foe Southeast Missouri Friday through Sunday.
Photo by Jim Dillon
