COOKEVILLE, Tenn. --- To say that the Tennessee Tech bats came alive Sunday afternoon would be an understatement, as the Golden Eagles scored 18 runs on 18 hits in their 18-5 victory over SIU Edwardsville.
Nine of TTU's 18 hits went for extra bases, including three home runs off the bats of Ben Burgess, Chad Hayes and Jordan Hopkins. Combined, Burgess, Hayes and Hopkins accounted for nine of Tech's hits and 13 of TTU's 16 runs batted in.
Despite the score, it was SIUE that would strike first as Zach Hawkins notched a three-run shot in the first inning off TTU starter David Hess to give the Cougars an early 3-0 lead.
Tech would fire back quickly in the bottom of the second a Hayes notched his first home run of the season off SIUE starter Thad Hawkins, a three-run shot to right, to knot up the score at three.
Still tied at three heading into the bottom of the third, the Golden Eagles blew the game wide open as the put together a seven run inning, using six hits, including a two-run shot from Burgess and a two-run double from Austin Wulf, to put Tech in front 10-3.
As SIUE went to the bullpen, the Golden Eagle continued to pour it on as they tallied six more runs in the bottom of the sixth, four of which came from Hopkins grand slam to put TTU up 16-3.
While TTU was putting up a bunch of runs on the scoreboard, Hess settled in to a nice routine on the mound in the second as he kept the Cougar hitters in check through the sixth inning as he struck out three batters, while allowing no additional runs to score.
After getting the first out in the sixth, Hess was lifted for Zane Morton who set down all five batters he faced. Josh Bryant took the hill in the ninth and allowed two runs as he closed out the game for the Golden Eagles.
Hess (2-3) earned the win, while Thad Hawkins (1-3) took the loss, as he gave 10 runs, in 2.2 innings. Hess allowed three runs in 6.1 innings, while striking out three.
Six Golden Eagles posted a multi-hit game, with Burgess leading the way with four. Four TTU players also drove in at least two runs, with Hopkins posting a game-high six RBI.
TTU (15-20, 6-6 OVC) wraps up its homestand Wednesday as it hosts Belmont at 6 p.m.
