Miles above the rest: Miles' record day lifts Tech over Austin Peay, 10-7

Miles above the rest: Miles' record day lifts Tech over Austin Peay, 10-7

 

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – With his team trailing by two and in need of a win following three consecutive losses, Tennessee Tech third baseman Daniel Miles came through in one of the biggest ways imaginable, clubbing three home runs in three straight innings to lead the Golden Eagle baseball team over Austin Peay, 10-7.

The junior infielder tied a Tech record in the Saturday afternoon contest, becoming just the second Golden Eagle to hit three long balls in a single contest. He also joined shortstop Dylan Bosheers in making Tech history, becoming the first teammates to ever hit back-to-back home runs in back-to-back innings, as each crushed homers in the fourth and fifth innings.

Miles finished with a career-high six RBI, collecting three hits, a walk, and a stolen base in five plate appearances. Bosheers finished second on the team with two RBI.

Sophomore David Hess (3-1) earned his third win of the season, pitching 3.2 innings of relief, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out two. Closer Seth Lucio nabbed his sixth save of the season, ranking him second all-time among Tech's single season saves leaders.

First baseman Craig Massoni led the Austin Peay effort, collecting four hits in four trips to the plate. He plated three runners in the contest while scoring once as well. Senior Casey Delgado (5-2) collected just his second loss of the season, struggling mightily against the Golden Eagles in the fourth and fifth innings. He gave up six earned runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings of work.

The Golden Eagles rode a wave of scoring in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings on their way to their 11th Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season. The win also pushed the Tennessee Tech win total to 22, marking a huge improvement over last season's 21 victories.

In the top of the fourth, Miles came to the plate facing a two-run deficit. He promptly blasted his first moon shot of the game over the left field wall on the first pitch he saw. Shortstop Dylan Bosheers quickly followed suit, also hammering the first pitch he saw over the left field fence.

Two quick outs in the top of the fifth were not enough to deter the Tech bats, as designated hitter Brandon Thomasson drew a walk, setting up Miles with a runner on first. The third baseman came up and again swung at the pitcher's first offering, slinging the ball to left center field and out of park. Once again, Bosheers played "Mile's says", clubbing Delgado's first attempt over the right field wall.

Things really started to roll for Tech in the sixth inning as Zach Zarzour was able to reach first on a throwing error by the Governor shortstop. With two outs, junior slugger Zach Stephens decided to get in on the action, slaughtering a ball to the vast space of left center field and coming up with his first triple since his freshman season. Thomasson followed by earning his second walk of the game, setting up Miles for history.

With a 2-1 count, the junior blasted his third home run of the game, a shot down the right field line that capped one of the best single-game performances in Golden Eagle history.

Game three of the series is set for a 1 p.m. CDT start on Sunday as sophomore Jacob Honea will take on junior Ryan Quick for bragging rights and season series.