COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Not even a 40-minute power outage couldn't keep the Tennessee Tech baseball team (9-6, 2-1) from winning its ninth game of the season as the Golden Eagles overcame the delay to erupt for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and down Northern Kentucky (2-13, 0-0), 13-2, Tuesday evening.
Clutch hitting and hot bats emerged as the theme during the contest, as nine different Golden Eagles recorded at least one RBI.
While the Golden Eagles already owned a 5-2 lead heading to the eighth inning, the story of the contest came soley from the explosive attack of the Tech bats in the bottom half. Junior Zach Stephens actually began the inning by grounding out to the first baseman. Designated hitter Brandon Thomasson came to the plate and drilled a single through the left side.
Daniel Miles followed with a single to second base, advancing to second on an errant throw by the second baseman.Thomasson advanced to third as the inning began to turn ugly for the Norse. The next batter, James Abraham, reached first on an error by the NKU second baseman, driving in Thomasson and allowing himself and Miles to advance one base each.
Northern Kentucky intentionally walked Michael Morris to try and set up a double play opportunity, but Dylan Bosheers would have none of it as the sophomore singled through the left side to drive in Miles and keep the bases loaded. After a Jordan Parris fly ball to center field, Tevis Sherfield pinch hit for lead-off man Zach Zarzour.
Sherfield proceeded to earn a nine-pitch at-bat, finally walking and bringing in another Tech run. Center fielder Austin Wulf cleared the bases with a massive two-out double down the right field line. Stephens redeemed himself, coming to the plate for a second time in the inning and roping a single to center field, driving in Wulf for his lone RBI on the night.
Thomasson doubled in the next at-bat, driving in Stephens and finally forcing NKU to make a pitching change. Zephan Guyear pinch-hit for Miles and was forced into a fly-out to right field to end the insane inning for the Golden Eagles.
Norse center fielder Josh Myers and first baseman Brad Clement gathered their team's RBI on the night, combining for three of NKU's seven hits.
Despite the score, Northern Kentucky gave up just five earned runs in the contest. Mike Derby was dealt with his first loss of the season, surrendering two earned runs on just three hits.
Several Tech players were huge in the win, specifically Wulf, Thomasson, and Miles on the offensive side and all three Golden Eagle pitchers. Wulf went 3-for-6 in the contest, driving in three runs while scoring once. Thomasson continued his massive year, recording four hits in six tries, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Miles went an impressive 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a walk.
Earning his second win of the season was junior righty Garrett Baugh, who managed five innings for Tech, allowing just one earned runs on five hits while striking out three. Stanton Taylor came in for three innings of relief, surrendering just one hit and no walks while setting down four NKU batters on strikes. Zane Morton relieved Taylor for the final three outs, giving up just one hit.
The Golden Eagles and Norse will wrap up the two-game series Wednesday afternoon with a 3 p.m. CDT contest at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
