Golden Eagles Battle Back but Fall to SEMO, Drop Series
Tennessee Tech put together multiple rallies Sunday afternoon, but Southeast Missouri held off the Golden Eagles for a 9-7 decision at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium, as Tech dropped two of three in the Ohio Valley Conference series.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech put together multiple rallies Sunday afternoon, but Southeast Missouri held off the Golden Eagles for a 9-7 decision at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium, as Tech dropped two of three in the Ohio Valley Conference series.
After SEMO jumped out to a 4-0 lead through two innings, the Golden Eagles responded with a four-run bottom of the second to even the contest. Tyler Bennett and Jackson Rooker each delivered RBI singles, Landon Smelser added a sacrifice fly, and Cade Fuller drove in a run after being hit by a pitch to spark the comeback.
Tech continued to chip away throughout the middle innings. Rooker added an RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the fourth, and Eddie Garza launched a solo home run in the fifth to keep the Golden Eagles within striking distance.
Despite the offensive effort, the Redhawks answered in key moments, plating runs in six different innings to maintain control. Tennessee Tech pulled within one in the seventh inning, as Connor Crowson and Garza set the table and Bennett brought home a run on a fielder's choice to make it 8-7.
SEMO, however, limited the damage and added an insurance run in the ninth. The Golden Eagles were unable to mount a final rally in the bottom half.
Garza paced the Tech offense with a 3-for-4 performance, including his second home run of the season and two runs scored. Bennett added two hits and two RBI, while Rooker contributed a pair of hits and two RBI of his own.
On the mound, Eli Huddleston was tagged with the loss after working 4.1 innings in relief.
As a team, the Golden Eagles recorded 10 hits but left 10 runners on base in the contest, while SEMO totaled 12 hits.
NEXT UP
Tennessee Tech returns to Quillen Field at Bush Stadium on Tuesday to host rival MTSU at 6 p.m. CT.
