Golden Eagles fall to Mercer in 11 innings
Tennessee Tech battled back multiple times Friday night but ultimately fell to Mercer, 14-11, in 11 innings at Bush Stadium at Averitt Baseball Complex.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (11) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 2 |
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Tech battled back multiple times Friday night but ultimately fell to Mercer, 14-11, in 11 innings at Bush Stadium at Averitt Baseball Complex.
The loss marked the fifth straight for the Golden Eagles, who dropped to 7-11 on the season, while Mercer improved to 16-2.
Tennessee Tech struck first in the opening inning when Connor Crowson doubled to left field to score Jackson Rooker, giving the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Tech then surged ahead in the third with a four-run frame. Owen Lee delivered the big swing, lining a bases-clearing triple to right-center that plated three runs. Manny Garza followed with an RBI groundout to bring Lee home, pushing the Golden Eagles in front 5-1.
Mercer gradually chipped away, scoring twice in the fifth and twice more in the sixth to pull within one before adding single runs in the seventh and eighth to take an 8-5 lead.
The Golden Eagles answered in the eighth inning. Eddie Garza ripped an RBI double to left-center to score Nash Crowell, and Rooker followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-7.
Mercer pushed its lead back to three with a three-run homer in the ninth, but Tech refused to go away. In the bottom half, Crowell drove in a run with a single before Eddie Garza delivered another RBI double. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed Garza to score, tying the game at 10-10 and forcing extra innings.
After Mercer plated a run in the 10th, Jorsixt Jimenez responded immediately with a solo home run to right field to even the game at 11-11.
The Bears broke through in the 11th with a solo homer followed by a two-run shot to take a 14-11 lead. Tennessee Tech was unable to answer in the bottom half.
Lee finished with two hits and three RBIs to pace the Golden Eagles offensively, while Eddie Garza added two doubles and two RBIs. Rooker reached base five times with two hits and three walks and scored twice.
Reece McDuffie took the loss in relief for Tennessee Tech after pitching the final 2.2 innings.
NEXT UP
Tennessee Tech continues the three-game series against Mercer on Saturday with the first pitch set for 2 p.m. in Cookeville.
