COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team
wrapped up its three game series against Bradley on Sunday
afternoon, dropping a pair of games to the Braves 6-1, and 8-6.
Bradley jumped ahead early in the first game, taking a 4-0 lead
before Tech could get on the board on its way to the win. In game
two, Tech built a 6-1 lead, but couldn’t answer a late
seven-run inning from the Braves as Bradley completed the
three-game sweep of Tech with its 8-6 win.
Chad Oberacker went 3-for-4 at the plate in game two for the Golden
Eagles, and had two RBIs after hitting a single, double and a
triple. Tate McMillan and Devin Rivers each went 2-for-3 at the
plate.
Tristan Archer got the start on the mound for Tech, and threw 5.0
innings, allowing five runs in the no-decision. A.J. Kirby-Jones
took the loss for the Golden Eagles, after allowing three runs in
1.2 innings pitched.The Golden Eagles fall to 4-6 on the season,
while Bradley improves to 3-3.
In Sunday’s second game the Golden Eagles drew first blood
for the first time in the series, as Tech rallied for two runs in
the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Tech got a hit from Devin
Rivers to lead off the inning, and after a balk, Rivers was able to
score from second on an RBI single from Trice Powers. Powers would
then score on a single from Oberacker to give Tech its two-run
lead.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the third after a walk and hits
from Rivers and Tate McMillan. But Bradley was able to answer in
the top of the fourth inning, cutting Tech’s lead to 3-1
after an RBI triple from Jordan Colvin.
Tech gave itself some breathing room in the bottom of the fifth
inning with a three-run rally highlighted by a solo home run from
Tate McMillan and an RBI double from Oberacker, to make the score
6-1. But again Bradley would respond, as the Braves first seven
batters reached base in the sixth inning as BU pieced together a
seven-run rally that put Tech down 8-6.
Tech could only put together three hits against Bradley in
Sunday’s first game, as the Braves topped the Golden Eagles
6-1 in a game that began Saturday night, but after a light
malfunction, was postponed until Sunday afternoon.
The teams played two scoreless innings Saturday, before finishing
the seven-inning game Sunday. Bradley jumped out to a 4-0 lead
after a hit, a stolen base and a pair of ground balls scored a run
in the fourth inning. A hit, a Tech error, two walks and a hit
batter helped Bradley plate three runs in the fifth.
Tech got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning after
Casanova Donaldson reach on a dropped-third-strike, then stole
second before eventually scoring on a ground ball. But Bradley
would pull ahead 6-1 after scoring two more runs in the top of the
sixth to seal the victory.
The Golden Eagles and Braves will play the series finale Sunday
afternoon. Tech will be back in action with six games next week,
including a pair of games against South Alabama on March 9 and 10,
before hosting Buffalo in a four-game set on March 12, 13 and
14.
