COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Every starter collected a hit and Andy Williams (1-0) picked up his first win of the season as the Tennessee Tech baseball team (29-12, 16-5) used consistent scoring to defeat Alabama A&M (3-36, 1-13), 12-5, Tuesday evening.
The Golden Eagles scored in each of the first five innings, never giving the Bulldog pitchers a break or the Alabama A&M offense a chance to catch up. Starter Garrett Baugh gave Tech plenty of space to build a lead, not allowing a hit until the third inning while striking out five of the first six batters he faced.
The Tech bats put up one run in the first, two in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth, three in the fifth, and one more for good measure in the seventh. Zach Stephens and Evan Frazier led the Golden Eagles with three RBI apiece. Stephens gathered one of Tech's four sacrifice flies on the day, driving in the first run of the game. He later ripped a double down the left field line, driving in two more runs.
Frazier collected all three RBI in one shot, pumping a three-run home run over the left field fence with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. His dinger provided the knock-out punch for the Golden Eagles, doubling its three-run lead to make the score 11-5.
Williams collected his first win of the season, striking out six batters in two innings of relief. The six strikeouts were just one away from the junior's career-high and put a stop to three consecutive innings of scoring for the Bulldogs.
Senior Austin Wulf went 3-for-3 in the contest, driving in two runs with two sac flies. Zach Zarzour crossed home plate three times, scoring each time he reached base. Dylan Bosheers collected three hits, scoring a run and driving in a run as well. Senior outfielders Michael Morris and James Abraham each went 2-for-3 while scoring two runs apiece.
Leading the Bulldogs was designated hitter Jordan Benford, who hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning to bring Alabama A&M within three runs one last time. Patrick Dodson also recorded two RBI in the contest, leading the Bulldogs with three hits in five at-bats. Allen Belue (0-7) was tabbed with his seventh loss of the season, giving up five runs (three earned) in three innings.
With the win, Tech recorded its 29th win of the season, putting them just one victory away from becoming the seventh Golden Eagle squad to post a 30-win season. It would also mark head coach Matt Bragga's fourth 30-win team in his 10 years of coaching.
The Golden Eagles will look for win No. 30 on Friday when they host Ohio Valley Conference opponent Murray State in the first of a three-game set. Game one will feature a 6 p.m. CDT first pitch.
