KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team got
four RBIs from sophomore A.J. Kirby-Jones, who hit his sixth and
seventh home runs of the season, but the Golden Eagles
couldn’t top Tennessee, falling to the Volunteers 7-5.
Kirby-Jones finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and
an RBI single, and starting pitcher Chad Oberacker went 3-for-5
from the plate, and also pitched four innings, giving up three
runs, but a four-run fifth inning put Tennessee up for good.
The Golden Eagles (10-5) out-hit the Vols (9-9) 11-7, but untimely
walks from the Tech pitching staff sparked Tennessee’s big
inning.
It didn’t take the Golden Eagles long to light up the
scoreboard, as pitcher Chad Oberacker helped his own cause by
hitting a single into right field. That set up A.J. Kirby-Jones to
blast a 380-foot two-run homer to up Tech up 2-0 in the top of the
first inning. It was Kirby-Jones’ sixth home run of the
season.
The Volunteers cut into the deficit with a two-out rally in the
bottom of the third inning. Cantrell Davis legged out a triple to
left field, before Oberacker walked the next two batters, loading
the bases for Cody Brown, who singled to center, scoring Davis.
Blake Forsythe also tried to score on the play, but Alex Henry made
a perfect throw to the plate from center field to get Forsythe out
and end the inning with Tech still ahead 2-1.
Kirby-Jones added to his RBI total in the top of the fifth, when
his single scored Henry from second. Then a Tech double steal put
runners on second and third, but Ryne Simpson got out of the jam,
popping up Cory Wright and getting Tate McMillan to ground out.
In the bottom of the frame Oberacker walked the first two batters
before being replaced by senior Blake Forst, who walked his first
two batters, scoring P.J. Polk. Brown then knocked in a run on sac
fly to right, which tied the game at 3. The Volunteers tacked on
two more runs in the inning to take a 5-3 lead into the sixth.
Another Kirby-Jones home run in the seventh inning pulled Tech back
within one, but the Vols got the run back in the bottom of the
inning, to go ahead 6-4.
Down 7-4 in the top of the ninth, the Golden Eagles got runners on
the corners with nobody out for Kirby-Jones, who grounded into a
double play, scoring Henry from third base. After Evan Webb walked
and Wright singled, Brandon Crossman stepped in to pinch hit, and
hit a blooper to shallow left field which was caught by second
baseman Cory Grisham and gave the Vols the upset.
The Golden Eagles return to action Saturday when they open a
three-game series against Southeast Missouri to open Ohio Valley
Conference play. The first game of a double header will begin at 1
p.m. on Saturday in Bush Stadium.
June 27, 2009
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April 15, 2009
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April 12, 2009
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April 11, 2009
Golden Eagles drop 10 on EKU in game one win
April 2, 2009
Donaldson reaches single-game hit mark in Tech win
March 31, 2009
Golen Eagles host ETSU, hit the road for three OVC contests
March 30, 2009
Tech drops a pair at defending OVC champ EIU
March 24, 2009
Tech on the road for four of five games this week
March 22, 2009
Golden Eagles swept by SEMO to open OVC play
March 21, 2009
SEMO takes OVC-opening doubleheader from Tech
March 18, 2009
Kirby-Jones' four RBIs not enough to top Volunteers
March 13, 2009
Golden Eagles split double header with Valparaiso
March 11, 2009
Tech erases five run deficit, tops Belmont 8-6
March 8, 2009
Rockets prevent sweep, top Golden Eagles 11-7 in finale
March 7, 2009
Golden Eagles take two in double-header against Toledo
March 6, 2009
Golden Eagles score late to grab 4-2 win over Toledo
March 5, 2009
Daniel Northern named to NABC all-district second-team
March 2, 2009
Tech's Adam Liberatore named OVC Tri-Pitcher of the Week
February 27, 2009
Liberatore keeps Thundering Herd off the scoreborad, Tech wins 1-0
February 27, 2009
Tech hoops team wrap up regular season with pair at Jacksonville State
February 26, 2009
Golden Eagles can't catch up to Blue Raiders
February 24, 2009
Tech visits Middle Tennessee before heading to The Citadel Tournament
February 21, 2009
Tech splits twinbill with St. Peters; Win 12-6 but fall in nightcap, 5-2
February 21, 2009
Ball State narrowly tops Tech in ESPNU Bracket Buster game, 59-55
February 20, 2009
Baseball season begins today with four-game series against St. Peters
February 19, 2009
Tech storms back, but Tennessee State escapes with 77-74 OVC win
February 17, 2009
Seniors look to go out with win over Tennessee State
February 16, 2009
Baseball team opens this weekend, building on record-setting 2008
February 16, 2009
Tech's Kevin Murphy honored as OVC Freshman of the Week
February 13, 2009
UT Martin stops Tech 71-62 despite big games from Murphy, Northern
February 13, 2009
Road trip takes Tech hoops teams to Martin for Saturday doubleheader
February 12, 2009
Murray State uses second half surge to down Golden Eagles, 73-52
February 11, 2009
Golden Eagle basketball teams face tough chores in Kentucky
February 8, 2009
Golden Eagles take on perennial power Austin Peay Governors
February 8, 2009
Golden Eagles hang close but fall to league-leading Morehead State
February 6, 2009
Golden Eagle baseball schedule features 31 home games in '09
February 6, 2009
Suttons squad looking to knock off league leaders
February 5, 2009
Tech junior Frank Davis named to Academic All-District team
February 5, 2009
Eastern Kentucky holds on to secure 80-73 OVC victory
February 3, 2009
Golden Eagle Bracket Buster: Tech to play at Ball State Feb. 21
January 31, 2009
Northern leads Tech in 91-75 road romp at SEMO
January 29, 2009
Golden Eagles off target, lose 75-58 at Eastern Illinois
January 24, 2009
Tech shoots well, downs TSU 86-78 as Alex Davis drains 21
January 17, 2009
Tech nabs 61-55 OVC win over Racers in final two minutes
January 16, 2009
Hottest Tech hoops rivalry adds another chapter against Racers
January 15, 2009
UT Martin Skyhawks rally in second half for 83-72 OVC win at Tech
January 13, 2009
National TV audience looks on as Golden Eagles host UTM
December 9, 2008
Golden Eagle baseball nabs nine standouts in early signing period
October 14, 2008
Maberry one of five in Hall of Fame Class of 2008
September 24, 2008
Tech baseball team to host final Fall Camp Saturday
August 15, 2008
Benjamin, Redhawks rolling along in Pacific Coast League