COOKEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tennessee Tech baseball team opened their 2012 home schedule with a 9-4 loss to the Illinois State Redbirds.

Despite the final score, the game remained very competitive through the first six innings, as junior Tristan Archer gave the Golden Eagles another great pitching performance.

Using 105 pitches, Archer managed to quell any would-be Redbird rallies as he threw six innings and struck out four batters, while allowing three runs, two of which were earned.

The Golden Eagle offense heated up in the bottom of the third as they put up a three spot, with all of the runs coming with two outs. Evan Frazier, James Abraham and Michael Morris each notched an RBI, with Frazier and Morris each posting a double.

Tied at three in the bottom of the sixth the Golden Eagles managed to get the go-ahead run across the plate to take the lead at 4-3, but the Redbirds rallied in the top of the seventh as they scored six runs on three hits and two Tech errors to go ahead 9-4. ISU managed to keep the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard through the final three innings to secure the victory.

Ryan Camp earned the win for the Redbirds, while senior Matthew Shepherd took the loss. ISU starter Chris Razo was chased by the TTU batters, after surrendering four runs in five innings.

At the plate, Abraham, Morris and Zephan Guyear each posted a pair of hits, while Austin Wulf extended his hitting streak to five with a leadoff single in the bottom of the third.

Kyle Stanton led the Redbird offense as he drove in four runs on two hits. Matt Mirabal and Kevin Tokarski each scored two runs as well.

The Golden Eagles continue their three-game series with Illinois State Saturday at 1 p.m.